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| Preventing Violence | | | Dr. Bhavneet Kaur
Over time and distance, the equal rights of women have been progressed. The achievements of women are being celebrated worldwide. But the big question remains - Is it a camouflage?
According to the UN reports women continues to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide. Majority of the world's 1.3 billion absolute poor are women and on average, women receive between 30 and 40 percent the less pay than men earn for the same work.As part of its determination to stop violence against women and girls, the Department of International Development is calling on the UN to demand global action. And the theme of this year's International Women's Day is preventing violence.
International Women's Day has been observed since the early 1900's and is annually held on March 8 to celebrate women's achievements throughout history and across nations.
It is a day celebrated to respect, show appreciation and bring social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide and to examine things in a hopeful manner. With the focus this year on preventing violence on women, a global momentum for championing women's equality is hoped.
"O Lord Why have you not given woman the right to conquer her destiny?
Why does she have to wait head bowed,
By the roadside, Waiting with tired patience,
Hoping for a miracle in the tomorrow?"
These words of great poet Rabindranath Tagore may seem to be changing in the modern times when Indian women as compared with past have achieved a lot but in reality they have to still travel a long way.
Although there is a rising claim in women being empowered in the modern society but the status of women in modern India is a sort of a paradox. If on one hand she is at the peak of ladder of success, on the other hand she is mutely suffering the violence afflicted on her by her own family members and her own society. She has travelled a lot in fighting for her rights and surviving in the world with grace and dignity but there is still a long journey to cover. Till date it is a daily occurrence that on one hand we read newspapers highlighting the various achievements of women, and on the other reporting the different forms of crime inflicted on them. Sadly statistics reveal that though progress has been made to protect and promote women's rights in recent times, however, nowhere in the world can women claim to have all the same rights and opportunities as men.
The theme of International Woman's Day on preventing violence on women has to be carefully analyzed as the roots of this evil have spread into the society on every level. Violence on women can be in many forms ranging from emotional, physical, sexual and social abuse. For ensuring that the future is better we need to get into the core of the problem and understand that the minds of the criminals inflicting horrendous crimes on women are not born in a day. To name a few, risk factors for being a criminal doing crime against women and children may include low education, past exposure to child maltreatment or witnessing violence in the family, harmful use of alcohol, attitudes accepting of violence and gender inequality. Most of these traits emerge during childhood and adolescence. So strong conjoined efforts from family members, schools, physicians, government, law regulating bodies and various organizations are required to detect, diagnose and manage these disturbed personality traits early so that one can harness those minds before they become unbridled and turn loose. Medicine, behavioral counseling and many other forms of therapies should be initiated at the earliest to stop creation of potential criminals in the society. Even though there have been tremendous gains in women empowerment world wide , it is important to realize that the need of preventing violence and protecting women's dignity belongs to no single feminist nor to any organization, government or nation. It is the collective efforts of all who care about human rights that can bring a change. Women have to learn to respect themselves and their race. Men have to be taught to respect the dignity of a woman. Honor the women in your life and join together the campaign this year and for all the years to come to eradicate the evil of violence on women from the entire world and make this planet a better place to live in! |
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