The Issue of Violence against Women Violence against

The Issue of Violence against Women ____________________

• Violence against women is a global phenomenon. • It goes back to ancient times. • Historically the physical weakness of women, their childbearing and their economic dependence made men protector, provider and superior to women. • In modern time simple physical strength does not control life today. Knowledge and science rule the world.

Violence ranges from abuse to torture, which is physical, mental, sexual, psychological and emotional. Women are usually ignorant of the fact that violence is crime. • Aggressor is mostly a close relative and most of the cases are not reported. • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. •

• In marital disputes the women can be killed as she is regarded the property of her husband. • Murdered may be committed on petty domestic disputes. • Women are sometime brutally beaten like animals. • Thirty percent of rural women and seventeen percent of urban women are reported to be victims of physical abuse by their husbands. • Abuse doubled if women were not very religious. Because women having religious leaning readily accepted the given conditions and accept women subordination.

What triggers violence? �The main reason found behind the violence is economic reason. � Economic stress leads towards violence. �Unemployment, lack of resources also disturb family life. �Use of drugs, no off springs also lead towards violence.

Types of Violence �Slapping, �pulling of hair, �pushing or shoving, �grabbing, �hitting with an object like stick are the most common form of abuse. �Kicking punching, suffocating and intentional burns and hitting resulted in facture are severe types of violence.

Impacts �The long term effect is that women self -confidence and self-esteem is shattered. �The phenomenon of wife abuse is not confined to low -income families. �Several well to do and educated, young and middle aged women are thrashed by their husbands. They did not report or file divorce to avoid public scandal.

Islam is Misinterpreted �Many persons believe that Islam gives a husband the right to beat his wife. � This false assumption is based that if woman disobeys the husband, he can beat her. �However, it is advised that if she disobeys or is disloyal she (1) first be given verbal advise, (2) secondly sexual relation may be suspended, (3) if not corrected slight physical correction may be administrated if all fails (4) a family council is recommended. �On many occasions Quran stresses that men must be kind towards women.

Laws against Violence �Formerly there was no specific law or forum to protect victims of domestic violence. �However, due to efforts of (PAWLA) Pakistan Women Lawyers Association Mushraf added issue of domestic violence under the jurisdiction of Family courts.

Measures to eradicate Violence against Women �Better Intervention Program (Intervention of State) �Crises Centers (counseling, help) �Shelter House �Violence Against must be declared a crime �Abortion of Rape Victims �Police Station for Women

• Health Care • Empowerment of Women (economic empowerment) • Tackling gender discrimination (Educate for mutual respect) • Offender Accountability