25 November is the kick-off date for the annual international campaign of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. It starts on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. The campaign was started in 1991 by activists who believed that raising awareness about this scourge will start the process towards complete elimination of violence against women and girls.
Violence has many facets and shows itself as bullying a young girl about how she looks, rape including date rape, physical violence and abusive speech, human trafficking, prostitution and female genital mutilation, to mention but a few. More and more cases are being reported every year and it is certain that the number will increase drastically if all cases were reported. Governments and other organisations should provide holistic services and support that prioritise the needs of victims and survivors of violence, thus encouraging all those who are victims of violence to come forward.
On the other hand justice must be meted out to perpetrators as a deterrent, it must not be delayed as this will inflict more violence against the victim by it being denied in time. Governments must acknowledge the legacy of past failures and the need for new collaborative approaches to preventing violence against women.
The civil and criminal justice systems need to protect women and their children who have been victims of violence by having systems that are accessible and responsive for the victims’ own safety. Some women, such as those with limited abilities, face further barriers to accessing justice and processes should recognise different access needs.
In abusive relationships, a common factor of unequal distribution of power and resources between the man and woman, rigidity in adhering to narrow gender roles and stereotypes gives a prevalence and perpetration of violence. If the woman’s partner is engaged in controlling behaviour she is six times more likely to experience physical violence and dominance often resulting in psychological abuse. Building greater equality and respect between men and women can reduce the development of attitudes that support or justify violence.
The National Council of Women calls upon all people from all walks of life, across generations and cultures, to take a bold stand in the elimination of violence against women. Through movements such as the #Me Too, survivors and activists have reached a crescendo that can no longer be ignored, however violence against women continues to increase.
We call on government to start educational campaigns in schools, on the media and in work places to create awareness of what constitutes violence, to have adequate reporting accessibility where the woman or girl will find professional assistance, to give support services and housing to women and children running away from domestic violence, justice to be efficient through strengthening of justice sytems and to assist NGOs who are doing sterling work by providing them with the tools and funds.
It is time that each and everyone of us becomes a change-maker by supporting the message and campaigns in order to eliminate violence against women. Today we are also calling on governments and services to take the positive steps necessary to scale up the response, which must include, above all, increasing accountability by making rape universally illegal.
Mary Gaerty is president of the National Council of Women