Catherine Murombedzi
Health Correspondent
Globally, a sobering time is upon us. The 25th of November is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It also marks the beginning of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign runs from November 25 to December 10. The success of this campaign to peace rests on collective efforts to maintain respect.
In 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) set aside the 25th of November as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Imagine a world where women and girls are treated with dignity and respect, free from violence and discrimination. This was the promise made by governments around the world. They endorsed the landmark agreements. The CEDAW, the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994, leading to the Beijing Conference and Declaration of 1995, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals of 2015.
It’s less than 5 weeks to 2025, marking 30 years after the Beijing Declaration. Where are we now?
With CEDAW being the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, where do we stand as nations?
CEDAW was adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly?
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015. It’s time to check the scorecard, have countries made enough progress?
Disturbing anti-rights movements are posing a growing threat to the progress made to address sexual and other forms of gender-based violence against women and girls. However, despite these commitments at the highest offices, the reality is far from ideal.
In 2022, only 14% of women and girls lived in countries with robust legal protection for their human rights.
Shockingly, over 60% of countries still lack rape laws based on consent, and less than half of women are protected from cyber harassment. According to UN Women, 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both. Women, aged 15 and older face at least once in their life face violence. This does not include sexual harassment.
Women who have experienced violence are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV, with long-lasting negative effects (UNWomen).
In 2022, around 48,800 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than five women or girls are killed every hour by someone in their own family. While 55% of all female homicides are committed by intimate partners or other family members, only 12% of all male homicides are perpetrated in the private sphere (UN Women).
Speaking on the right to choice, Shobha Shuklar bemoaned the weight of pregnancy and child responsibility on one part.
“Unplanned pregnancies and childbirths decrease women’s socio-economic status, making them more vulnerable to abuse. An unintended pregnancy may, especially increase women’s likelihood to suffer from intimate partner violence,” said Shobha Shukla, coordinator of SHE & Rights (Sexual Health with Equity and Rights) initiative.
Menka Goundan, Programme Director, ARROW (Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women said appending signatures was easy, but keeping the promises was not.
“When the PACT for the future was adopted at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2024, alarmingly over 30 countries have adopted it which are also signatories to the regressive and anti-rights Geneva Consensus Declaration,” said Menka.
“We often do not underscore PACT for the future” against threats like Geneva Consensus Declaration, which will impede its progressive implementation.”
Reading between the lines, ‘sovereignty’ sees countries free to do as they please. What then is the purpose of a declaration if it can be undone?
“Geneva Consensus Declaration is regressive and anti-abortion, and right winged (in terms of its framework) because it allows governments to hide under the principle of ‘sovereignty’ and to release these countries from their obligation to enact sexual and reproductive rights for women. So, it is a very slim move to regress when it comes to sexual and reproductive health and rights. We are failing to ensure that women have autonomy to make choices on their sexual and reproductive health” said Menka.
With terms like ‘sovereignty’ sadly, countries can hide behind a finger to undo what they appended signatures to.
These statistics of violence on women are alarming, but there is a glimmer of hope.
Countries with domestic violence legislation have lower rates of intimate partner violence (9.5% compared to 16.1% UNAIDS). This shows that laws can make a real difference in women’s lives. But there’s still much work to be done. Only 39 countries have laws prohibiting sexual harassment in public spaces, and 139 countries lack adequate legislation to prevent child marriage. It’s time for governments to renew their commitment to gender equality and human rights.
To mention a few of the countries with legislation protecting women from violence, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, and South Africa. These nations have laws addressing domestic violence, sexual harassment, and human trafficking, taking steps to ensure women’s safety and well-being.
Despite having laws in place to protect women from violence, many countries, including South Africa, continue to grapple with high rates of violence against women.
South Africa, in particular, has one of the highest rates of intimate partner violence in the world. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 1 in 5 women in South Africa experience physical or sexual violence from a partner.
Isabella Rutendo Dzvova, Co-Founder of Mental Health 263, (MH263) said legislation was half the mile, and implementation and fighting barriers made the other half.
“The gap between legislation and implementation is a significant challenge. Factors such as inadequate enforcement, lack of resources, and societal attitudes perpetuating gender-based violence contribute to the persistence of violence against women. It is essential to recognise that laws alone are not enough to eradicate violence against women. A multi-faceted approach, including education, awareness-raising, and community engagement, is necessary to address the root causes of violence and ensure that women’s rights are protected in practice,” said Dzvova.
“Women suffer in silence as some cultural influence is harmful to their well-being. Women are urged to remain standing for the sake of their children. Ndinogarira vana vangu (I will stay for the sake of my children). This can lead to serious mental health challenges. Women should be allowed to make a choice and leave violent homes. No woman should die for the sake of children,” she called.
“This year’s theme is Time To Act Is Now.” MH263 joins the rest of the world in the fight to combat violence against women. In our community programmes, we encounter many issues related to gender-based violence, which can lead to depression, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Women in hard-to-reach areas are particularly affected, as they often lack access to information and suffer in silence without diagnosis or support for their conditions stemming from gender-based violence. Many do not have access to essential counseling services.
“Work-related violence is on the rise, manifesting in various forms such as physical assaults, verbal abuse, emotional bullying, and sexual harassment. Women often experience these challenges in their workplaces, which not only affect their mental health but also contribute to a toxic work environment. The violence can take many forms, verbal, emotional, physical, and even cyber harassment, leaving many women to suffer in silence.
The time to act is now. As MH263, we raise our voices alongside the rest of the world to stop gender-based violence against women. We advocate for safer workplaces and support systems that empower women to seek help and break the cycle of violence,” said Dzvova.
As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration in 2025, let’s remember the promise of a world where women and girls can live freely from violence and discrimination.
It’s time to hold governments accountable and demand action to protect women’s rights.
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