Women live in a world that endangers them

SHE is 10 years old – capable of rapidly absorbing wisdom and knowledge from those around her, she is poised to one day become an inspiring leader, a productive worker, an innovator, a caring parent or any of the other roles that power a thriving, dynamic society.

She will shape the future of her community and our shared world. A flurry of lifechanging events pulls her in many directions. Where she ends up depends on the support she receives and the power she has to shape her own future.

Picture the 10-year-old girl in a world that truly values, nurtures and protects her. Instead of contracting, her options expand and diversify.

In this world, people have agreed that her human rights in their entirety must be upheld – this is the child who will become a woman who cradles a nation and a society.

Yet so much happens in the lives of women that contradicts their potential to survive.

Violence against women and girls continues unabated on every continent and in every culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families and on society as a whole.

Most societies prohibit such violence, yet the reality is that, too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned.

In a message on International Women’s Day on March 8, UN secretary-general António Guterres said: “Recently there has been a spate of violent activities against young girls, experienced in their various interpersonal relationships, which has created a climate of fear in girls. These crimes are gender-based and our role is to ensure that we socialise our children to be empowered, confident and to develop respect for each other.”

Our young girls tend to be predisposed to a life of risk whether at school, tertiary institutions, communities, the home, at work, or in public institutions. This risk does not end in the years of childhood or youth, but expands across the lifespan of a woman.

Violence against young girls has many faces – such as sexual, exploitative, economic or religious/spiritual abuses. It may involve trafficking, rape, ritual or cultural crimes, or harassment. It violates the rights and fundamental freedoms of victims.

Globally, according to Lori L Heisse, Jacqueline Pitanguy and Adrienne Germain in their book, Violence against Women: The Hidden Health Burden:

At least one in three women and girls has been beaten or sexually abused in her lifetime.

Half of all women who die a violent death do so at the hands of somebody they were in an intimate relationship with.

Interpersonal violence is one of the leading causes of death for women, from the age of 15.

Annually, 600000 to 800000 people are trafficked across international borders.

About 80% of them are girls and more than half are children

Studies have revealed increasing links between violence against women and the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Girls who experience violence suffer a range of health problems, which diminishes their ability to earn a living and to participate in public life.

Other consequences may be teenage pregnancies, violent sexual practices and HIV.

Throughout the span of their lives, including before they are born, girls face a wide variety of forms of violence.

Some of it is subtle or hidden, some overt. I found females exposed to the following types of violence in the different stages of their lives:

Pre-birth: Battering during pregnancy, denial of medical services or food, coerced pregnancy (rape during war or riots or caste rapes) and sexselective abortion (the abortion of a female foetus, for instance).

Infancy: Differential access to food and medical care for girl infants (death from malnutrition), emotional and physical abuse of females, female infanticide, trafficking, childhood marriages, commercial sexual exploitation, differential access to food, medical care and education, and female genital mutilation and other forms of harmful traditional practice, honour killings, incest, sexual abuse and trafficking.

Adolescence: Acid crimes, dating and courtship violence, female genital mutilation and other forms of harmful traditional practice, forced marriage, commercial sexual exploitation, honour killings, rape, sexual abuse in the workplace or public places, sexual harassment and trafficking.

Reproductive/adult period: Abuse of women by intimate partners or strangers, acid crimes, harassment and murders, economic abuse, femicide, forced marriage, commercial sexual exploitation, honour killings and other forms of harmful traditional practices, marital rape, partner and prepartner homicide, psychological abuse, rape, sexual abuse in the workplace, sexual harassment, stalking and trafficking.

Old age: Abuse of widows and elderly women, denial of shelter or food, loss of economic control, widowhood rituals, destruction of personal effects and forced homelessness.

It is often difficult for a woman to report violence, pursue legal action or end the relationship that she is in for many reasons including cultural or religious pressure, dependency, lack of support, fear or disempowerment.

Violence against girls and women is a global issue of pandemic proportions.

Investments that empower a young girl can triple a girl’s lifetime income, increase a nation’s economic growth, and contribute to generations.

In 2030, today’s 10-year-old girl will be 25. In 15 years, as an empowered young woman, she could change the world. But she should not have to. It is up to the world to change for her. (Reference: UNFPA)

Naidoo is an independent children’s specialist and a former director of Childline KZN.