VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)

WHAT IS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (VAW)?

The Beijing Platform for Action defines VAW as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.” It encompasses but not limited to the following:

a. Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence related to exploitation;

b. Physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, trafficking in women and forced prostitution;

c. Physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned and forced prostitution.

The most common perpetrators of VAW are known to the victim or related to her, i.e., male spouses or boyfriends. Most often, violence in the home is a manifestation of violence against women.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,

CAN IT HAPPEN TO ME?

- It happens to women from all walks of life – housewives, professionals, rich, poor, legally married or living in, with or without children.

- Studies show that 6 out of 10 battered women have been abused for more than 5 years and that some have been beaten up for more than 20 years.

- It happens because men wrongly believe that they own women, have rights over them and can do whatever they please with them.

*DOMESTIC VIOLENCE is a specific form in which the victim and the perpetrator are either related to each other by blood or affinity, or are not related by blood but live in the same domicile or constitute a household. Our households usually include a nuclear or extended family as a domestic helpers or staying in the house as permanent guests.

STOPPING THE VIOLENCE

Victims of VAW have a right to assistance from the police and other government agencies. Violence against women is as much crime as any violence on the street

WHAT CAN I DO?

If you are in a violent relationship, these are steps you can take:

1. Recognize that it is happening to you.

2. Accept that it is happening to you.

3. Seek help and support.

HOW CAN I HELP A FRIEND

WHO IS EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE?

Be understanding. Explain that there are many people in this situation. Acknowledge that it takes strength to trust someone enough to talk about the abuse. Allow her time to talk, and don’t push her to give too much detail if she doesn’t want to.

Be supportive. Say that no-one deserves to be threatened or beaten, despite what the abuser may have said. Be a good listener, and encourage her to express her hurt and anger. Let her make her own decision.

Ask if she suffered physical harm. Offer to go along with her to the hospital if she needs to go. Help her report the assault to the police if she chooses to do so.

Provide information, as far as you can, on the help which is available. Explore the option together to visit a counselor if the person is ready to take the step.