WOMEN ABUSE Contemporary Challenge

If you want to know what it’s

like to survive hell and still
come out shining brighter than
the sun, just look into the eyes
of a woman who has survived
intense damage and refused
to allow it to destroy her
softness.
-Nikita Gill
GENDER INEQUALITY
 Every 26 minutes a woman is molested’
 Every 34 minutes a rape takes place
 Every 42 minutes an incident of sexual
harassment occurs
 Every 93 minutes a woman is burnt
alive for dowry.
 Out of 195 countries in the world
 44 countries have laws against domestic
violence
 17 countries have made marital rape a
criminal offence
 27 countries have passed laws on sexual
harassment.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
 Physical
 Sexual
 Psychological
 Economic abuse
EFFECT OF EXPOSURE
Children as young as 16 months can
nonverbally express effects of
exposure.
Infants:
 disrupted sleep
 feeding difficulties
 poor weight gain
 excessive screaming
 developmental delay
ECONOMIC CONCERNS
“It’s important to note that domestic
violence crosses all socioeconomic
classes, professions, education levels,
religious and ethnic groups. It’s not
just the poor and uneducated.”
In fact, experts say, when domestic
violence happens to people of a
higher income and educational level,
the stakes can be much higher and
the shame much greater.
EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SOLUTIONS
Create laws and enforce existing laws that protect women from discrimination and violence,
including rape, beatings, verbal abuse, mutilation, torture, “honor” killings and trafficking.
Educate community members on their responsibilities under international and national human
rights laws.
Promote the peaceful resolution of disputes by including the perspectives of women and girls.
Strengthen women’s ability to earn money and support their households by providing skills
training for women.
Sensitize the public to the disadvantages of early and forced child marriages.
Highlight the value of girls’ education and of women’s participation in economic development.
Encourage women to participate in the political process and educate the public about the
value of women’s votes.
Raise public awareness of the poor conditions some women face, particularly in rural areas.