Breaking the silence on violence against women

You hear their terrifying ordeals on the radio, see their battered and bruised faces on TV, like and share their uplifting stories on Facebook, and yet when it comes to the core issue, we choose to ignore them completely. Still confused? Let me enlighten you and for that, let’s delve on a paradigm shifting perspective on the issue of violence against women, whether it be relationship abuse, sexual harassment, sexual abuse of children, which is commonly known as ‘gender violence’.

These are generally seen as ‘women’s issues’ that some good men may help with, whereas others just shrug it off and don’t pay enough attention to. So, why should you, as a man, care about violence against a woman? Well chances are, someone close to you has been, is or will be a victim. This is not something that only happens to ‘other people’. Whether we are aware of it or not, a woman close to us has or is experiencing violence somewhere: be it a daughter, sister, friend, cousin or co-worker. Violence against women is not an act against an individual woman; it is an attack against all, our community, larger society and ultimately our loved ones.

What can men do to alleviate these situations? To begin with, men can play a powerful role in just standing up and speaking their minds when it comes to matters of violence and abusive behaviour against women and children. Men need to stand with women and not against them, irrespective of where the tide may carry them. Men and women need to unite as we are in this together and the issue cannot just be swept under the rug.

Sadly, the more practical solutions does not just lie with the legal system but with the combined cooperation and efforts of several societal institutions. Healthcare professionals should integrate family violence screening into their interactions with patients. Simultaneously, cities and communities must support family violence services so that women identified in a violent relationship have access to them.

Last but not the least, our education systems can do plenty. In schools, our children should be taught about fostering healthy relationships to the same degree that they should be taught chemistry, reading and history. So, when you have the luxury to sleep peacefully at night, say a little prayer for the not so fortunate, and more importantly, speak up and make yourself heard for the voiceless.

- The reader is Indian business development manager based in Ajman