By Eeman Fatima
After a woman has come home after work, she takes a longer route back home, does not check her phone, and holds onto her keys. This is not a behaviour that is motivated out of choice but it is a behaviour that is motivated out of fear. Millions of women around the world have their everyday life influenced by the issues of personal safety.
Rape of women is among the most prevalent human rights violations across the world. In order to achieve this, the United Nations estimates that one out of every three women around the world are sexually or physically violated or abused in their lifetime, most commonly by an intimate partner. Violence against women is listed by the World Health Organization as one of the most significant social problems that impact women irrespective of their country of residing, culture, or income level.
This kind of violence is of various types other than physical. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, mental health and autonomy may be long term effects of emotional and psychological abuse, such as intimidation, isolation, and forced control. Women are less independent and more vulnerable because of economic violence, including limiting their ability to access education, jobs, or finances. Besides that, UN Women notes that cases of digital violence, such as online harassment, cyberstalking, and non-consentual sharing of images have increased dramatically, and that women journalists, activists, and students are overrepresented in these cases.
The impact that violence against women has is not confined to the victims. The World Bank accounts that gender-based violence limits women participation in education and the labour force, which can be translated into economic losses to the countries. The fear of violence may make women restrict their movement, reject job opportunities, or withdraw down to the normal life, and these support the chain of inequality and poverty.
The issues that go on to perpetuate violence against women have institutional and structural causes. The United Nations has pointed out that the reporting and accountability is discouraged by poor legal enforcement, lengthy judicial proceedings, and lack of training of the law enforcing officials. Survivor support services (shelters, legal assistance, mental-health services, etc.) are underfunded and inaccessible in most areas compared to the level of need.
The issue of violence against women needs a long-term and evidence-based intervention. UNESCO and UN Women focus on the value of education that advances gender equality, agreement, and emotional wisdom since a young age. Effective responses should include stronger enforcement of laws, survivor-justice systems and more funding on prevention and protection services.
Rape of women is not a mere social issue but it is a major obstacle to equality and sustainable development. The United Nations understands that the development objectives such as poverty reduction and economic growth have been at a minimum where women are living in fear. It is of essence to provide women both with safety and dignity hence constructing equitable, resilient, and prosperous societies.
The writer is a student of M.Phil (Media and Development Communication Studies) at the University of the Punjab, Lahore.