Let’s start with domestic violence. According to Wikipedia, it refers to abusive behavior by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as; marriage, friendship, dating, family or cohabitation. It also takes various forms for example; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and financial abuse. When you look at all the above through the mirror of gender, you can see what I see. In society, it is mainly women and children who fall on the vulnerable side of the equation, they are more prone to violence. Gender Based Violence (GBV) against women has been said to be “the most persuasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world!” Similarly, Australia records have it that 75 percent of domestic violence cases are among children! A most recent case study in Guyana, South America, shows the absurdity of the situation: where two women were murdered by their partners, one lady critically injured and hospitalized, and an 11-year-old girl was raped by—of all people he had to be—a police officer! Mind you, all of this was reported in just January, February and March of 2011! What does that say? The very tools of implementation, the police aren’t fulfilling their duty in Guyana, they claim they lacked enough resources to calm the loud cries of GBV. But this is what surprises me; over 15million dollars was allocated to fighting GBV. I wish that could be allocated to Rwanda. Ladies and gentlemen, GBV jeopardizes women’s lives, bodies, psychological integrity and for goodness’ sake, their freedom! It also affects their reproductive health and may lead to; miscarriages, unwanted pregnancy and psychological problems and the transmission of associated diseases. The bottom line is, something needs to be done; the message needs to be spread, lessons need to be taught to the Rwandans who held bondage by GBV. Violence should be strongly denounced. This isn’t the job of the police only. It is mine and your job as citizens. I believe gender inequality begins from the roots, at a young age. It starts with the young men’s view of themselves and their shallow view of girls and women which is mostly based on physical strength. Equality and respect should be enforced from childhood. As they say “the man is the head of the family, the woman is the neck!” Today, we need to stop preaching and nodding to the term ‘Human Rights’ and begin to put into action policies that influence human rights. We need to start today! Contact: hozatash@yahoo.co.uk
