Violence Against Women

1. Violence Against Women Hope TuryasinguraCenter for Domestic Violence Prevention WOUGNET workshop Hotel Africana Kampala, Uganda2nd June 2010

2. Definition of violence against women (VAW) • The United Nations defines VAW as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

3. Definition cont… • Violence against women is a technical term used to collectively refer to; • Violent • Cruel • Brutal • Inhuman • degrading acts that are primarily or exclusively committed against women of all ages.

4. Forms/categories of VAW • Violence against women is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. It can include physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse, and it cuts across boundaries of age, race, culture, wealth and geography. • Violence against a woman is a crime, and a violation of her human rights.

5. Forms/categories cont… • Physical violence • Sexual • Emotional • Economical • Traditional harmful practices

6. Physical violence (physical pain) • Hitting with objects/on wall, beating, punching, slapping, kicking, biting • Cutting with sharp instruments (axe, panga, knife, broken bottles e.t.c) • Burning with hot water, acid, fire, hot irons • Hair pulling • All these mostly by spouses (domestic violence)

7. Emotional/psychological violence (hurting feelings and emotions) • Refusal to eat meals at home • Prolonged silence • Comparing you with other women • Blaming you for everything that goes wrong • Isolation (keeping you from spending time with friends and family) • Over possessiveness/jealousy • Threatening to hurt you/children/relatives • Late coming

8. Economical violence (control of resources) • Control of all family resources (financial, labor, time, land, animals e.t.c.) • Denial or refusal to engage in gainful employment • Taking away ones income or produce • Refusing/denying a partner/spouse to own property • Destruction of property • Refusal to provide the needs • Refusing a partner/spouse to participate in financial decision-making.

9. Sexual violence (control of sexuality) • Rape (public/marital) • Defilement • Incest • Attempted rape/defilement • Extra marital relationships/multiple sexual partners/unfaithfulness • Human Trafficking for prostitution purposes • Insertion of foreign objects in the partner /spouse’s genitals (sticks, bottles or pouring red pepper) • Forced oral sex • Forcing someone to watch sexual acts • Sexual harassment

10. Traditional harmful practices • Forced early marriages • Female genital cutting • Widow inheritance • Denial of inheritance rights • Denial of eating certain food stuffs • Woman belonging to the whole clan • Polygamy

11. Location It takes place in; • homes • in communities • on the streets • in schools • in churches • the workplace • in farm fields • refugee camps • during conflicts and crises

12. Who are the perpetrators? • Fathers • Stepfathers • Grandfathers • God fathers • Husbands • Brothers • Cousins • Uncles • Neighbors

13. Perpetrators cont… • Boda Boda riders, Taxi drivers and conductors • Family friends • Teachers • Colleagues at school • Colleagues and bosses at work places • Religious leaders • Strangers

14. Root causes of VAW • Violence against women is about power and control. • The root causes of all forms of VAW lie in a society’s attitudes towards and practices of gender discrimination (roles, responsibilities, limitations, privileges, and opportunities afforded to an individual according to gender)

15. Root causes of VAW • Male and societal attitude of disrespect or disregard for women • Lack of belief in human rights for all • Lack of knowledge for human rights • Lack of value for women and women’s work • All the above lead to male dominance/patriarchy/abuse of power

16. Contributing factors (perpetrate/increase risk) • Alcohol/drug abuse • Religious, cultural/family beliefs and practices • Inadequate laws against VAW • Poverty • Different education levels • Inter-marriages • Different religious affiliations • Different political inclination • Age differences • E.t.c.

17. Consequences of VAW • VAW affects all kinds of women every day. It doesn't matter what race or culture you come from, how much money you have, how old you are, or if you have a disability. Violence does not discriminate. • A wide range of physical, mental, sexual , socio-economical and reproductive, and maternal health problems result from VAW

18. The link between VAW and HIV/AIDS “Violation of women’s rights through Violence is both a cause and a consequence of HIV/AIDS.” – UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNIFEM in Women and AIDS: Confronting the Crisis, p. 45 • HIV infection as a consequence of VAW (both biological and social vulnerability) • VAW as a consequence of HIV infection (social vulnerability)

19. Challenges of addressing VAW • Domestic violence is still socially sanctioned. • Perpetrators believing that they are victims • Culture Impunity (perpetrators not held accountable) • Inadequate interventions (community and institutional) • Inadequate public policy and legislation • Gender insensitive laws and policies • Insensitive JLOS • Lack of political will to address VAW

20. Conclusions • VAW is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights. • Violence by an intimate partner is one of the most common forms of VAW • A wide range of physical, mental, sexual and reproductive, and maternal health problems result from VAW. • Low social status of women in society is the root cause of VAW • Many women do not seek help or report violence when it occurs. • Not all men are abusive, but overwhelmingly, men are the major perpetrators and women are majority of the victims

21. Conclusion cont… • Violence against women is a chosen action against a woman or girl child simply because of her gender, simply because she is female. • Violence against women cuts across race, religion, income, class and culture. • Violence Against Women is deeply embedded in all cultures, so much so that millions of women consider it a way of life. • A call for zero tolerance of VAW • No one deserves to be abused in any way

22. Recommendations • Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention ( address the root causes and contributing factors) • Integration of VAW prevention and response in all programs • Institutional change; implementation of new procedures (education, health, judiciary e.t.c) • Multi sectoral approach: Coordination with other sectors e.g. JLOS, health, microfinance and social welfare sectors e.t.c • Human rights based approach

23. Thank you! "Commit, Act , Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!". Questions and Comments