First Published Nov 26, 2021, 3:36 PM IST
EYesterday, November 25, was celebrated by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. “Violence against women” however includes all forms of male violence against women and girls. Today, violence transcends all its boundaries, including intimate partner abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, genital mutilation (FGM), and child marriage. November 25 is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a day of global violence against women. This year’s theme is “Orange the World: Stop Violence Against Women Now!” That is. Women all over the world took to the streets yesterday to demand this. Meanwhile, the struggles of two women in Kerala (Deepa P Mohan – Research, Anupama – Son) were very successful. (From a protest rally in Argentina yesterday against violence against women. Pictures Getty.)
Earlier, it was reported that domestic violence against women had increased as the world entered into closure after the onset of the Kovid epidemic.
One-third, citing figures from 13 countries, say they or someone they know has experienced some form of violence, according to a new United Nations report.
As people shrunk to their homes during the epidemic, there was a huge jump in domestic violence cases reported around the world. However, research by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) shows that the abuse of girls and women is a major threat to the world’s economic development.
In the case of sub-Saharan Africa, the report highlights an increase in physical, sexual and emotional abuse of women during the epidemic.
Nigeria saw a 130 percent increase in the number of reported sexual assaults during the lockdown. The first five months of 2020 saw a 228 percent increase in rapes in Croatia compared to 2019.
“Our study results indicate that a 1 per cent increase in violence against women is associated with a 9 per cent decline in the level of economic activity,” said Rasman Audrogo and David Stensel, who conducted the research.
Previous studies have found that domestic violence can lead to a loss of 1-2% of GDP. Violence against women can have both short- and long-term effects on the overall health of the economy.
The study points out that in the short term, those who are abused are more likely to be productive and work fewer hours.
At the same time, the report says that domestic violence will reduce the number of women in the workforce in the long run.
As a result, more public resources are likely to be spent on health and judicial services. High levels of abuse are associated with lower economic activity and reduced working hours for women.
The report also says that the increase in physical, mental and emotional abuse makes it more difficult for women to stay in work.
The IMF also studied and evaluated responses to data from the US Agency for International Development’s Demographic and Health Survey from 1980 to the present.
The IMF surveyed more than 440,000 women in 18 sub-Saharan African countries. The survey found that more than 30 percent of respondents to the study experienced some form of domestic violence in the area.
The report also points out that if countries in sub-Saharan Africa reduce the rate of gender-based violence to 23 percent of the world average, long-term GDP will rise to about 30 percent.
In countries like South Africa where gender inequality in education is less and women have more decision-making power, the economic cost of violence against women is lower.
In addition to strengthening laws and protections against domestic violence, countries need to focus more on improving education. The report also says that more employment opportunities should be created for girls.
According to a report released this year by the World Health Organization and the United Nations, about one-third of women report being physically, sexually or emotionally abused by their current or former partner.
The situation in Afghanistan is the worst. Data from UN analysis shows that 34% of women and girls over the age of 15 are abused by a partner.
Five of the top 10 countries where women and girls are abused are in Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, 32 percent of women and girls aged 15 and over have been abused by their immediate partner.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s latest global homicide report, 87,000 women were killed in 2017. Africa also has the highest rate of homicide related to a close partner / family.
The majority of victims of human trafficking are women (46 per cent) and girls (19 per cent). Seventy-seven percent of women are trafficked for sexual exploitation. 14% are trafficked for forced labor. Seventy-two percent of girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation. According to UN figures, 21 per cent are in compulsory employment.
Child marriage is important in many parts of Africa and South Asia. In Africa, Niger has the highest number of child marriages. Today, 76 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 24 are married before the age of 18.
South Asia also has a high proportion of child marriages, with 28 percent of girls being forced to marry before the age of 18 and 7 percent before the age of 15, according to a UN report.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project from January 2020, 550 out of 638 sexual assaults against civilians in conflict zones are against women.
.