The violence against women continues to be a global epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. It is one of the most pervasive of human rights violations, denying women equality, security, dignity, self-worth, and their right to enjoy fundamental freedoms.
It is present in every country, cutting across boundaries of culture, class, education, income, ethnicity and age. Even though most societies proscribe violence against women, the reality is that violations against womens human rights are often sanctioned under the garb of cultural practices and norms, or through misinterpretation of religious tenets. Moreover, when the violation takes place within the home, as is very often the case, the abuse is effectively condoned by the tacit silence and passivity displayed by the state and the law-enforcing machinery.
Violence in the domestic sphere is usually perpetrated by males who are, or who have been, in positions of trust and intimacy and power husbands, boyfriends, fathers, fathers-in-law, stepfathers, brothers, uncles, sons, or other relatives. Domestic violence is in most cases violence perpetrated by men against women. Violence against women is often a cycle of abuse that manifests itself in many forms throughout their lives.
Most times we believe that men are the ones who are always involved in domestic violence, but we are wrong; women can be heard every day in our various communities cussing their children and their husbands. One of the major causes of domestic violence is illiteracy, but the highly educated and wealthy also commit domestic violence, and in many cases the men will have extra-marital affairs because they believe they have money. Another major cause of domestic violence in our country today is alcohol abuse and the use of drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, etc.
It is very necessary for us to control this violence; its ratio is increasing day by day. Government and police should take solid and active steps against this violence.
SADIA ZAHEER
Lahore
