Us the women: a space to talk about violence and rights
Raise your voice
The Convention of Belém do Pará defines that violence against women shall be understood as any act or conduct, based on gender, which causes death or physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, whether in the public or the private sphere. Any action that is intended to harm you in any way is a form of violence.
In some point of your life, you may have experienced violence or actions that affected you negatively. According to the WHO, almost one in three (35%) women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner or another person (not including sexual harassment). Worldwide, between 38% and 50% of murders of women are committed by intimate partners. And the majority (55-95%) of women who survive violence do not disclose their experiences or seek any form of assistance.
There are different types of violence against women such as:
- Intimate partner violence: behaviors by a current or former intimate partner that result in physical, sexual, or psychological harm. This includes physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling actions.
- Domestic violence: occurs within the private, domestic sphere, typically involving individuals related by blood or intimacy.
- Sexual harassment: any conduct of a verbal, nonverbal, or physical nature, including written and electronic communications. It can range from looks and words to physical contact of a sexual nature.
- Rape: any non-consensual vaginal, anal, or oral penetration of a sexual nature of another person's body with any bodily part or object. This includes acts achieved through physical violence or by placing the victim in a situation where they cannot refuse or comply out of fear.
- Femicide: the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of their gender.
- Non-consensual sexting: involves sending explicit messages or photos without the recipient's consent.
- Discrimination in the workplace: unfair or unequal treatment of employees or job applicants based on their gender.
Violence has negative effects on women's physical and mental health and overall well-being. It also leads to social and economic repercussions for families, communities, and societies.
Claim your rights
- The right to life: All women and girls have the right to live, and to have a dignified life; that is to say, not only the right of every human being not to be arbitrarily deprived of life, but also the right not to be denied access to the conditions that guarantee a dignified existence".
- The right not to be tortured or treated in an inhuman and degrading way: Violence against women often involves acts of extreme brutality that may qualify as torture. It is necessary to know that various types of torture affect people physically, emotionally and psychologically.
- The right to respect for private and family life (including the right to physical and psychological integrity): Women and girls have the right to control their own bodies and to make decisions about their personal and family life without fear of violence or coercion. this right is violated when the types of violence mentioned in the first section occur.
- The right not to be discriminated against: Gender-based violence is a form of discrimination rooted in unequal power dynamics between men and women. These discriminatory practices and attitudes sustain violence and hinder women's access to justice, support services, and opportunities for growth. According to Article 1 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, such discrimination includes any distinction, exclusion, or restriction based on sex that impairs or nullifies women.
- Make this world safer
Getting assistance and reporting: To prevent, to protect, to denounce.
Seek help: Contact trusted friends, family members, or support organizations. There are hotlines, drop-in centers, and advocacy groups specifically designed to provide you with the help you need.
Exhaust resources: Use the resources available, such as counseling, medical care, and legal advice. Several free organizations have valuable information that can help you.
Report: Reporting violence is an essential step in ending a cycle of violence. Contact the relevant judicial authorities, file a complaint, and insist on your right to judicial guarantees and protection.
When you decide to share or report your experience of violence, you begin the process of ending the cycle of abuse. We want to create a safe environment where you can express yourself and be heard. That is why our goal in this blog is that you can be a participant and listen to other experiences that can help you have the courage to raise your voice, claim your rights, and feel safer in this world. Don't be afraid to start a conversation, don't be silent. By sharing your experiences, you can help other women that may be going through something similar.
Bibliography
Signature and ratification, A. and. A. a., Accession, O., General Assembly resolution, P., & Dec. 18, (n/d). Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. Ohchr.org. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/cedaw_SP.pdf
Tracking progress towards a world without violence against women. (s/f). Who.int. Recuperado el 27 de junio de 2024, de https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/tracking-progress-towards-a-world-without-violence-against-women
Home. (2022, febrero 23). End Violence Against Women. https://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/
Thank you for the important information you have shared. From my perspective, the widespread violence against women is deeply unsettling and also highlights a great social failure. It's actually outrageous that nearly one in three women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence. The various forms of abuse, whether from intimate partners, through sexual harrasment, or workplace discrimination, reflect a deeply ingrained misogyny that we, as a society, must confront.
ResponderEliminarAs you demonstrate, we must demand for more: better protection, better support, better support systems, and a societal shift that no longer tolerates any form of violence against women. It is time to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that all women can exercise their rights to live with dignity and without fear. We need to be relentless in our pursuit of justice and equality, creating a world wher violence against women is not just condemned but eradicated.
The keys about the forms of violence against women are important to understand the social perspective that has not seemed by the most part of men. By reading this blog, the public (male or female) are aware about the importance of forms of violence, which rights could be violated and how to claim for them, even from a close person to the victim or the victim. Is comprehensible that look out for help can be difficult or emphasizes a trauma, but as the blog says, "When you decide to share or report your experience of violence, you begin the process of ending the cycle of abuse.". Me and a lot of other persons who can connect with this blog will appreciate it, because by talking it we can fight against it, and if you as a reader are not sure about sharing your emotions and experiences, remember that this is a safe place where all persons have the predisposition to listen and help you.
ResponderEliminarVery interesnting, well summarized and a good space to talk about this kind of problems. Keep the good work
ResponderEliminar