Violence against women and children, also referred to as gender-based-violence (GBV), is a scourge of today’s world. World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates suggest that between 20 and 30% of women have experienced physical and or sexual violence. Almost one in three! This is an extremely serious issue and much has been said and written on the topic. This short article will highlight some of the key issues here…
GBV has probably always been under-reported and the scale of the problem inadequately perceived. This occurs for several and complex reasons but stigma, sexism, and various social norms & practices are all part of the problem.
GBV is mainly perpetrated by known people. Intimate partners, family members, friends and neighbours, are often (usually) the culprits. GBV is not usually an “outside the home” issue but is more commonly something that occurs within the home or within the family or within the neighbourhood.
It has long been felt that the authorities (police and legal system mainly) respond inadequately to GBV cases. There is a need for care, privacy, compassion, and dignity in these cases. In addition, careful and specific medical/forensic examinations are required if the perpetrators are ever to be brought to justice. All of this leads to the notion that best-practice is for victims to be assisted by specialised GBV units within the police and legal structures. This has been implemented in various parts of the world with varying success. South Africa does have such specialised units although there are mixed views about the efficacy thereof.
The COVID pandemic (more accurately, the lockdowns that resulted) created a crisis in this area: as women and children were effectively “locked up” with their abusers, with no or limited ability to escape and or seek help, the situation became desperate for many.
There seems little doubt that certain cultural and or religious and or social contexts are associated with more GBV. This is a complex and controversial area where it might be too easy to over-generalise (let us not blame all men, every church, a whole culture etc.) and it might also be easy to avoid the “hard discussions” about chauvinism, tolerance, diversity, gender equality, etc. This article will not say more here for risk of causing offence, but we do recommend that every person and every organisation consider its role in this, with a view to supporting victims and creating real change.
Violence against women and children (and men too of course, but the larger more common issue is women and children) is unacceptable. Of course. And yet it continues. What we all need to consider is that these issues are close to home, serious, and warrant action. We can all do something. Surely?
Written by Dr Colin Burns
