Every year, on the 25th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is observed. Yet, billions of women and girls continue to face deep-seated inequality and violence every single day.
According to a report by UN Women, “Globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older).” Shocking isn’t it? And this figure does not include sexual harassment.
This year, the Council of Europe is putting a spotlight on the digital dimension of violence against women and girls.
The violence against women occurring offline is replicated and intensified through digital means. Classic case of out of the frying pan and into the fire.
When does it end?
Just when you think the era of inclusion and enlightenment is shaking things up, then boom, you hear a story that knocks you over.
In Africa especially, women are more likely to be seen, heard and read about when it comes to violence. It almost feels like being a woman out here is a crime.
In the past couple of weeks, most of us have come across a thread on Twitter about a lady who narrated her ordeal. One cold rainy night in Lagos, she was given a lift on her way back from work. Thoughtful right? The helper had other plans. Imagine being cold, tired, wet, and getting sexually harassed in a car. It’s already mentally draining for you reading this, now imagine the psychological damage on the victim? Good thing she was smart enough to get the details of her abuser the next day.
Here’s another one, a lady wanted to learn a thing or two in tech, she saw the opportunity, grabbed it but hey, the teacher was a lot more interested in her ability to please him sexually. Again, another abuser called it.
Or is it the case of the lady that was murdered earlier this year while looking for a job? The alleged murderer had been caught no doubt but what has been done? Today he pleads guilty, the next day he pleads not guilty, the stalling is exhausting.
These are just a few cases we know about thanks to technology and still, there’s no justice for victims. How much more the cases that never see the light of day?
Violence against women goes beyond the sexual aspect, it is the barbaric act of cutting the genitals of a woman, it is child marriage, it is human trafficking, it is economic inequality. Let’s not even go into the plight of the women in Afghanistan who have suffered a catastrophic assault on their human rights under the repressive rule of the Taliban.
Are the pleas of the women folk falling on deaf ears?
With the statistics on violence against women and girls going up every year, no social media campaign will be enough, no punishment will be enough, no protest will be enough, nothing would ever be enough.
Who is next?
