Violence Against Women And Girls

Discussing the nature of the issue, violence against women includes females of all ages, race, and socioeconomic status, who are being violated through acts of physical and sexual violence, as well as psychological abuse. It is not just

Violence against women is "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women”. The violence against women could be considered to always be an issue since from the beginning women were lower than men. But over time it got worse and men could beat and just overall control women and it all goes unpunished. Its impact can be physical, sexual and cause mental issues for women and girls, even including death.

Domestic violence against women is prevalent in almost all the societies in the world. It is an issue which was not even recognised as a crime 40 years ago and is still not recognized as a crime by many societies. Women suffer from violence, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological violence by strangers and their partners all over the world (Kaya, 2010). Even though it is a worldwide occurrence, there are some women who face more intense and frequent violence depending on their culture, country, religion,

Throughout history, women have continuously found themselves as the subjects of oppression. Although the treatment of women has drastically changed over time, women are still exposed to much of the violence that exists today. Per the National Organization for Women, “young women, low-income women and some minorities are disproportionately victims of domestic violence and rape” (National Organization for Women, 2016). Women-centered violence is highly prevalent and reoccurring all over the world, even in our local communities. Individuals may be hesitant to consider just how much violence against women affects their communities.

Another negative effect of gender inequality is the increased fear of violence for women. Women are often portrayed as weak and helpless beings that can easily be taken advantage of. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon states that, “Violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence –yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned” (Unite to End Violence Againist Women, 2006). Violence against women in the form of rape, spousal abuse, child abuse or spousal killing has become routine behavior over the years, so it rarely even makes the news anymore. “Women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria, according to World Bank data”( Unite to End Violence Againist Women, 2006). Women are often blamed and questioned about their actions if they become the

Did you know that every 9 seconds a women is being beaten or assaulted? It is known that around the world, at least one and every three women has been beaten into having sex or some rudely thing in her entire lifetime. There are many cases where the abuser is a family member. Domestic violence is that the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sex crime, and different abusive behavior perpetrated by an intimate partner against another. It is a virulent disease touching people in each community, notwithstanding age, economic standing, race, religion, status or academic background. Violence against girls is usually amid showing emotion abusive and dominant behavior, and so is a component of a scientific pattern of dominance and

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO,2010) a key element to preventing gendered violence is achieving gender equality. Similarly, the Senate report on Domestic Violence and Gender Inequality (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016) recognises that gender inequality in all aspects of life is a main contributor to the prevalence of domestic violence in Australia (p. 3). The United Nations’ (UN) likewise argues that Violence against women is rampant throughout history because of unequal power relations between men and women (UN,

Millions of adults each year in the USA are affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). “The National Violence Against Women (NVAW) survey conducted from November, 1995 to May, 1996 indicates that each year an estimated 8.5 million intimate partner victimizations occur among the US population ages 18 and older” (Fang & Corso, 2008, p. 303). “As recognition of IPV as a serious societal problem increases, more attention has been directed to risk and protective factors for IPV perpetration, especially the link between child maltreatment, victimization and future perpetration of IPV” (Fang & Corso, 2008, p. 303). More than 80 percent of all victims are maltreated by one or both parents. Several studies have found that children who have experienced child maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse) are more likely as adults to conduct IPV. Of these children, 54 percent suffered neglect, while almost a quarter, 23 percent, suffered physical abuse and nearly 12 percent of the victims were sexually abused (Fang & Corso, 2008).

Gender-based violence impacts women and girls mental health and plays a role in the types of trauma women are more likely to experience and their responses to those types or traumas.

“Domestic violence is a type of abuse by one or both partners in marriage, friends, family, dating or cohabitation” (Aziz & Mahmoud, 2010). There are many forms of abuse from verbal and emotional to physical that often escalates over time in intensity for the victim. Data from the criminal justice system, hospital patient medical records and mental health records, police reports, surveys and social services reports of thousands of women revealed that many are injured and killed as a result of violence from someone close to them. “The US Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender” (Robertson & Murachver, 2009). Researchers and the criminal justice system have not been able to agree on a clear definition to domestic violence which can range from physical injury, stalking, verbal abuse and humiliation, denial of shelter and access to money, and intimidation through aggressive behaviors. The definition of domestic violence may vary but the results from physical injury, mental and emotional trauma, and sometimes even death can last a life time.

Violence is defined as: “The use of physical force intended to hurt, to kill someone or something, to damage or to harm someone”. It is a major public health and human rights problem that often goes unrecognized and unreported. It is a common source of physical, psychological, and emotional morbidity that occurs in all communities, regardless of social, economic, religious, or cultural group. There are different types of violence and abuse such as homicide, school violence, intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, sexual abuse etc.… but this presentation will mostly emphasize on women violence, especially on intimate partner violence. Although women can be violent in relationship with men, the overwhelming burden of partner violence is considered by women at the hands of men. Violence against women becomes a growing problem accepted as a normal behavior. As part of the community, nurses play a major role in assessing women suffering some type of violence when visiting the health care agencies as they come in contact with violence and sexual abuse no matter what health care setting they work in. This topic will mostly describe the characteristics of intimate partner violence, the risk factors, the screening process and the necessary interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality it in our communities.

I watched a Ted Talk documentary named Silent No More – Using Your Voice to End Violence Against Women by Andrea Menard. The video focused on violence against women and how women should not silent or blame themselves. I learned that one in three women will experience violence in their life. The type of violence will vary from sexual or physical abuse. The most common forms of abuse are sexual assault, sex trafficking, molestation, domestic violence, stalking, date rape, sexual harassment and murder.

Societies who failed to acknowledge marital violence to be a violation of women’s human rights, blamed women who are beaten or abused by their intimate partner (Francine Pickup, 2007). Thus making them to feel guilty as they were responsible for choosing the wrong partner (HRSC, 2014). As such they choose to remain silent about their abuse and do not look for legal remedies because they believed it is their fault for being abused (HRSC, 2014). Women may accept to be victimized by men’s violence because they have continuously witnessed their mother, and other female relatives assuming this role. Many women also concealed their abused because they feared stigmatization, rejection and social exile by their families and communities until their

In relation to this, domestic violence is a major issue. It is a controversial subject at hand in today’s society and many people are affected, whether it is public or privately known. This type of family violence is complex and many people ask why it is so violent and why it is considered violent. To respond to these questions, an article was released on countries that outlaw domestic violence. This article stated that “in recent years, sexual harassment has been publicly acknowledged as harmful to women, and countries are taking the first steps by adopting legislation prohibiting it” (www.unicef.org). Because of many speculations and confusion, domestic violence is categorized into specific offences: marital rape is a criminal offence and sexual harassment laws. “[The] laws that criminalize gender-based violence are positive steps but they offer not guarantees. Worldwide, even where laws are in place, prosecution of perpetrators is rare, and successful prosecutions uncommon” (www.unicef.org). Although these laws are passed and enforced in many countries around the world, violence still occurs and women are still being violated and abused, whether it is publically or privately, in a family relationship.

AS THE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN, YOU RECEIVE A REPORT THAT THE LEVEL OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN CHIEF MUNYUMWBE’S AREA HAS GONE UP. DESCRIBE THE SEQUENTIAL PLATFORM OF ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN MAKE TO ADRESS THIS ISSUE.