A Glimmer Of Hope For Sexual And Gender Based Violence Victims
That sexual and gender based violence has assumed a frightening proportion is an understatement, and must be stopped forthwith.
Women are not punching bags; they are mothers! Children, on their own, are bundles of joy to any family household, so they should not be subjected to any form of trauma or maltreatment. Rather, they deserve maximum protection. It is therefore distressing to read or hear of any form of violence unleashed against them especially as they are defenseless.
What is particular is that the menace has assumed a monstrous proportion and should be stopped forthwith. Nothing will satisfy social and political observers more than seeing the implementation of the set of brilliant ideas that is expected to eradicate the crime within the shortest possible time. Anything that will signal the end of the road for perpetrators and redress for identified victims is welcomed.
This is like a reawakening of our collective consciousness and a wake-up call for everyone not only to align with this renewed initiative, but to contribute in any way possible to make the programme, one of resounding success.
SGBV is the acronym for Sexual and Gender Based Violence against women, children and in some cases, men. It is violence committed against a person because of his or her sex or gender. It is forcing another person to do something against his or her will, through violence, coercion, threats, deception, cultural expectation or economic means.
Although majority of the victims and survivors are women, girls and boys, men have been known to be also affected. All forms of sexual and gender based violence including domestic violence, forced marriages, child marriage, physical violence, rape, molestation, genital mutilation, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, teenage pregnancy, incest, forced abortion and stalking, violate fundamental human rights. In addition, intentional bodily injury, slapping, punching, choking, kicking, shoving, inappropriately using drugs or physical restraints denying medical care, forcing alcohol and or drug use, including forced prostitution are not left out. Some of the identified causes have been traced to poverty, breakdown of services, conflicts and wars, displacement, stress at home especially the days of tension induced by financial pressures.
Some men have been known to raise their voices and sometimes flip over in times of acute financial difficulties; inability to meet up with intended expenses, increased debts and even unexpected dismissal from employment. In such cases, tempers boil over and may result to exchange of blows with spouses at home. There are stories of husbands and wives exchanging blows in broad daylight and even dragging themselves to public domain. Such is the magnitude of fury that can grip uncontrolled rage in most households!
Truly, when faced with no escape route at home with demanding situations, men could become assailants and do the unthinkable. But then, these are isolated cases; according to the International Labor Organization, the orientation of a culture or the shared belief within a sub-culture helps define the limits of tolerable behavior. Social norms about the proper roles of each gender, the man perceived as aggressive, powerful, unemotional, acceptance as dominant; while women are perceived as passive, nurturing, submissive, emotionally weak and powerless. This socialization has resulted to an unequal power relationship. Most cultures do not tolerate women responding when men, perceived as the bread winners are talking; they consider that as affront and unfortunately may degenerate into exchange of fiery blows!
Recently videos have circulated of some men beating their wives to pulp and some rape incidences involving underage. You even hear of what is called “gang-rape” which often results to murder. Add that to the increasing cases of child forced marriages with distressing footages of some of the victims trying to escape, then you will understand why the initiative of the First Lady and the SGBV Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice should be gabbed with multiple hands, legs and what have you! In case you do not know, this is a global pandemic that affects women in their lifetime. The numbers are staggering, while 35% of women are known to have experienced either physical or sexual intimate partner violence or the reverse, the most serious cases involving murders of women are also committed by intimate partners. One characteristics of gender based violence is that it knows no social or economic boundaries and affects women and girls from all socio-economic background. The issue needs to be addressed in both developing and developed countries. The consequences can be devastating to the victims.
They include partial or permanent disability; poor nutrition, exacerbation of chronic illness, chronic pain. Anger, anxiety, fear, shame,
self-hate, self-blame, posttraumatic stress disorder such as nightmares, distressing thoughts. In some cases, it results to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Anita Guerrero from Nicaragua says “It is frightening to think that you may not get home alive one day as a result of sexual violence”. The Oxfam Worldwide has launched the ‘Enough campaign to end violence against women and girls by bringing people of all genders, ages and background together to transform the normal; it aims to challenge and change the harmful social norm that justify abuse to ones that promote gender equality and non-violence saying “let’s stop thinking it is normal; everyday, everywhere, all over the world, women and girls face violence; this can be changed; enough to violence against women and girls”. This is exactly what the First Lady, through her Renewed Hope Initiative has set out to do.