The Issue of Violence Against Women - Essay Example

Violence against Women Women are often the target for violence because they are perceived to be less capable of protecting themselves as compared to men. Violence against women is among the top human rights violations. This violation of human rights knows no boundaries be they geographical economic or social. One in every three women will experience violence in their life be it physical or sexual abuse. Violence against women comes with a myriad of consequences including unsafe abortion, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, traumatic gynecologic fistula, and sometimes death. The prevalence of this problem has prompted the emergence of agencies dedicated to overseeing of efforts towards gender equality. The paper explores the prevalence, effects, and efforts towards eradication of violence against women. Prevalence of Violence against Women The problem exists in all corners of the world traversing political, social, and economic boundaries. For every three women at least one has experienced abuse either in the form of sexual or physical abuse and at least one in every four women has been abused during pregnancy. Women who have experienced physical or sexual abuse are sixteen percent more likely to have babies with a low birth weight. These women are twice as likely to procure an abortion, and in areas with a high prevalence of HIV they are fifty percent more likely to contract HIV from incidences of rape. More than six hundred women worldwide live in countries that are yet to make violence against women a criminal offense. Reluctance to make this act illegal only perpetuates the problem further. Types of Violence against Women Commercial sexual exploitation: Many women and young girls especially in developing countries are forced into prostitution by harsh economic situation in their countries. Women and girls get into prostitution under the guise of sex tourism. UNICEF has documented evidence that shows that rich men who visit countries such as Brazil and Thailand have sexual intercourse with girls as young as thirteen years. When tourists visit these countries they visit hotel where young girls serve them nude. Subjecting young girls to such condition is a violation of the legal rights of children and it is real violence against women. Such acts cause women and girls grave psychological and physical harm (Salami, 52). Girls and women in this position are less likely to seek legal assistance because they often end up being frustrated by the legal system since the wealthy have means to dodge the legal consequences of their actions. Rape: This is the act of having sexual intercourse with someone against their will. Rape is a violent act that causes humiliation and physical harm to the victim. The usual victims are females because they are perceived to be less capable of defending themselves. Females ranging from as early as a few months to those in their old age past their nineties can fall victim to rape. Rapists are usually known to their victims and this makes minimizing of vulnerability of women difficulty since one can fall victim even to family members such as a father or a spouse. Rape cases are especially prevalent in times of war when it is used as a way of humiliating the enemy. The act of rape is not only damaging physically but it can also damage one’s status in the society. Victims may not look for people to get married to especially when the rape case is known to the members of the community. In India, for example, a girl who is the victim of rape is considered a disgrace to her family. Such a girl is either condemned to prostitution or married off to the rapist as the only way of saving her reputation (Feming, 2000). Female Genital Mutilation: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the cutting off of some parts o the female genitalia that is practiced as a rite passage (Mohammed, Ali and Yinger, 69). The Population Reference Bureau reports that FGM is practiced in twenty-eight countries in Africa and approximately twenty countries in the Middle East and Asian nations. FGM is performed on girls as in order to impose control over them (Mugenzi, 36). Women who have undergone FGM are denied the opportunity to fully enjoy sex and experience orgasms. Often the people who are entrusted with performing FGM are traditional doctors without any formal medical training. As such, FGM exposes women to health risks such as bleeding to death, and HIV. Women are also prone to long term effects such as cysts, urinary incontinence, and difficulties during childbirth, psychological and sexual problems. Traditional doctors make FGM an extremely painful experience which may lead to trauma or shock because they do not have any formal medical training. As opposed to circumcision for boys, FGM does not have any medical benefit for girls, but rather exposes them to myriad of medical risks. In the communities where FGM is practiced the elderly women are also part of the process or they have no power to voice their concerns because the communities are both patriarchal and masochistic. The position makes it difficult to change such long-standing practices which are retrogressive and oppressive towards women. Women continue to suffer in silence because they cannot change the situation. Effects of Violence against Women Violence against women results in both immediate and long-lasting effects. Some of the immediate effects include immense pain, for example in the case of FGM, rape or domestic violence. The best way to protect women from these outcomes is to implement legislative policies that punish these acts. Women also need to be educated on their rights so that they can report to authorities whenever their rights are violated. Education of the entire community is also important so that all members are made aware of the contribution that women make in the political, social, and economic arena. The long-standing effects of violence against Women are the most devastating because eventually they can lead to death. The long-standing effects of domestic violence may either be physical or psychological. Some of the physical effects include; contracting sexually transmitted infection, unwanted pregnancies, loss of sexual enjoyment in the case of FGM, and painful menstruations. Both the act of violence against women and the physical effects of violence result in psychological problems for women. Acts such as rape may scar women for life and they may never form intimate relationships with others. Where the acts of violence against women cause a lot of stigma for example in the case of unwanted pregnancies resulting from rape, women may decide to commit suicide. Support of Victims of Violence Among the leading agencies in the support of women who have been victims of violence is the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The focus of UNFPA is on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Health services among the first services that victims of violence seek and this gives an opportunity to UNFPA to reach these women. In addition to this, most women are likely to seek family planning or maternal services at least one in their life and this makes health services an important entry point for information and assistance related to violence. UNFPA further informs women of their rights and their freedom from abuse. UNFPA also supplies health-related supplies such as rape kits and the agency also provides psychosocial and legal counseling to victims of violence (“United Nations Population Fund”). The agency also makes efforts towards alleviation of the effects of violence against women on a large scale. The agency collects and documents data on incidents of violence against women which helps in developing, enforcing, and reforming national laws and policies related to violence against women. The support of UNFPA was, for example, invaluable in the establishment of the first center for survivors of rape cases in Mauritania. The center was established after a support program mobilized by midwives and Imams campaigned against rape (“United Nations Population Fund”). Another agency that is at the forefront in fighting violence against women is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID approaches the problem of violence against women by addressing the cause of the problem, making improvements on protection services for women, responding to health concerns of women that are related to violence, and finally by supporting legislative laws that are against violence against women. Violence against women concerns USAID because it is a hindrance to the development of both the individual and the society. The United States government has a long-standing goal of eliminating violence against women because the participation of women the social, political, and economic arenas is instrumental towards democratic development. The continued falling short of development all over the world can be explained by the denial of women of their human rights f which freedom from violence is a vital part (“USAID”). Meeting with a Boise University Student My meeting with a Boise University student by the name Christine put the topic of violence against women into perspective. Christine was a victim of rape at the age thirteen. She came from a single parent home and lived with her father since her mother had run off due to her alcohol addiction. Christine’s father constantly beat her and coerced her into having sex with him and threatened to do even worse if she said a word to anybody. It was Christine’s neighbors who alerted social services about what was going on since they could hear Christine scream nearly every day. Christine’s father was arrested, and Christine got the opportunity to access medical care. Today, Christine is a counseling psychology major at Boise University and she is inspired to help girls, and women who have suffered violence through her counseling skills. In conclusion, violence against women is a violation of their right to freedom from abuse. This violence results in many negative physical and psychological effects on women. Reluctance of governments to implement laws and policies that protect the welfare of women has been a major contributor towards the acts of violence against women. There are, however, agencies that are dedicated to eliminating violence against women such as UNFPA and USAID. The influence of these agencies has been instrumental improving the welfare of women all over the world. Women are important for the political, social, and economic development of any country. It is, therefore, important that everyone contributes towards the elimination of violence against women because this is the ticket to development. Work Cited Brady, A. “Female Genital Mutilation: Complications and Risk of HIV Transmission, AIDS Patient Care and STDS”. In Abandoning Female Genital Cutting. New York. Population Reference Bureau, (2001). Print. Feming, A. “Rape-Are you at Risk?” in Conveying Concerns: Women Report on Gender-based Violence. New York: Population Reference Bureau, (2000). Print. Mohammed, A; Ali, N. and Yinger, N. “Female Genital Mutilation: Pogrammes to Date” What Works and What Doesn’t. Geneva: World Health Organisation Press. (1999). Print. Mugenzi, Joan. “Killing Women’s Sexuality” In: Conveying Concerns: Women Report on Gender-based violence. New York: Population Reference Bureau, (1998). Salami, I .I. “The Girl-Child: Work and Health Hazards”. Journal of Women in Academics. 8.1 (2000): 44-56. Print. “United Nations Population Fund.” Gender based Violence. Web. 23 April 2015. . “USAID.” United States strategy to prevent and respond to gender-based violence globally. 21 January 2012. Web. 23 April 2015 . Read More