Monday, May 19, 2014

Domestic Violence




Article BY: Durr-e-Hira
                    Student of BS final year
                    Department of women studies
                    Karachi university.




Domestic violence directed against women by their intimate partners (current or former spouses) is an epidemic of global proportions that has divesting physical, emotional, financial and social effects on women, children, family and the community (1).
According to the United Nations : “Violence against women 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”(2).
Violence against women is a very big and serious issue increasing day by day. For example:
1.     In a high profile case in January 2007 Karachi police arrested a national sporting hero, Moin Khan, a former captain of Pakistan’s cricket team, after his wife complained of being beaten by him.
2.     In Lahore, Shahina  Imran describes her marriage as happy she says that she remains busy all day with house hold chores, cooking for her  husband and two children she does not see herself as a victim of domestic violence that she says meted out to her by her husband.
3.     Ameena, a mother of two girls said that her husband had splashed acid on her face and said her husband suspected her having extra marital relations (3).

In Pakistan laws regarding violence had been made to prevent or secure women who are facing domestic violence but there is no implementation of these laws. Women who face domestic violence usually don’t have family support to fight their case in the court.
Domestic violence not only harms physical and mental health but also harm reproductive health of women. In pregnancy intimate partner violence increases the risks of miscarriages, still birth, preterm delivery. Health effects can also include headaches, back pain, abdominal pain, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, limited mobility and poor overall health.
Children who grow up in families where there is violence may suffer a range of behavioral and emotional disturbances these can also be associated with perpetrating or experiencing violence later in life (4).
Silence around violence against women should be broken, women should be encouraged to speak about their experiences and to highlight the issue legal system of protection and shelter homes should be established to protect women who are either victims of domestic violence. To achieve lasting change it is important to enact legislation and develop policies that address discrimination against women, promote gender equality and also implementation of these laws.


References:
            4.www.who.com/mediacenter/factsheet

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