Public Policy against Domestic violence against Women

Violence against
women is a
manifestation of
historically unequal
power relations
between men and
women, which have
led to
domination over and
discrimination against
women by men and to
the prevention of the
full advancement of
women...
Violence in the domestic sphere is
usually perpetrated by males
who are, or who have been, in
positions of trust and intimacy and
power
husbands, boyfriends, fathers, fathers-
in-law, stepfathers, brothers, uncles,
sons, or other relatives.
Domestic violence is in most cases
violence perpetrated by men against
women.
Women can also
be violent, but their actions account for
a small percentage of domestic
violence.
Types of domestic abuses
Physical abuse
hitting; choking; slapping; burning; shoving;
using a weapon
physically restraining; intentional interference
with basic needs (e.g. food, medicine, sleep)
Isolation: Restricting Freedom - controlling
contacts with friends and family, access to
information and participation in groups or
organizations
locking up in a room / restricting mobility;
monitoring telephone calls
Acid throwing



Constantly criticizing, ridiculing (self, family, friends, past)
Trying to humiliate or degrade; lying; undermining self-
esteem Stalking / Harassing Behavior
Turning up at workplace or house
Repeated phone calls or mail to victim and/or family,
friends, colleagues
Threats & Intimidation - threatening to harm partner, self
or others (children, family, friends, pets); threatening to
make

Psychological & Emotional Abuse


Economic Abuse
controlling or stealing money
fostering dependency
making financial decisions without
asking or telling partner

Sexual Abuse/Harassment

CAUSES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Gender
specific socialization
Cultural definitions of appropriate sex
roles
Expectations of roles within
relationships
Belief in the inherent superiority of
males
Values that give men proprietary rights
over women and girls
Notion of the family as the private
sphere and under male control
Customs of marriage (bride
price/dowry)
Acceptability of violence as a means to
resolve conflict


Cultural

Cultural practices affecting
the health and lives of women



Dowry-related violence
Acid attacks
Killing in the name of honor:
Early marriages



Economic causes
Womens economic dependence on men
Limited access to cash and credit
Discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights
communal lands
maintenance after divorce or widowhood
Limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors
Limited access to education and training for women


Legal causes
Lesser legal status of women either by written law and/or by practice
Laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance
Legal definitions of rape and domestic abuse
Low levels of legal literacy among women
Insensitive treatment by police and judiciary


Health Consequences
of Violence Against Women
Non-FATAL OUTCOMES
Physical health outcomes:

Injury
Gynecological problems
Headaches
Permanent disabilities
Asthma
Self-injurious behaviors

Mental health outcomes:

Depression
Fear
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Sexual dysfunction
Eating problems
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
FATAL OUTCOMES


Suicide

Homicide

Maternal mortality

Possible solutions
To solve this public issue following institutes can and are playing there
part
Acid Survivors Foundation in Pakistan (ASF-P)
Aurat Foundation
Dar ul Amaan
National Commission on Status of Women (NCSW)
Civil society officers CSOs
Religious scholars
Best option
Government should be
Providing proper legislation
Providing protection and counseling till verdict has not been
given to the responsible
Keeping a strict check over the delivery of justice and
implementation of the laws
Displaying examples which discourages such unethical and
inhuman acts in future

Stakeholders
NGOs
International human rights organizations
Judiciary
Police department
Legislative body
Victims of domestic violence
Perpetrator
Families of both perpetrator and victims
Health officials and institutes

Policy Decision
Government should be responsible to provide protection, health
care, place to live, counseling, prosecutor and fulfill the basic needs
of food and mobility till the verdict is not given to the perpetrator
according the proper legislation and flawless implementation and
should ensure the perpetrator should not set free on the grounds of
less or no evidence against him.
Government should make alliances with other organization who are
already working in this regard as to foster the action but should
make the accountable and keep strong check on their activities.
Government should not completely rely of NGOs and International
Organizations as they are not solely to take care of public issues
and sometimes they also miss manage the public issue as in the
case of SMILE AGAIN , they played with the emotions of people and
raised unknown able amount of money and ran away

Continued
Government should set up more health units in every tehsil which
are easily accessible and can keep the identity any victim who has
approaches HUs secret from the perpetrator
Government should play important role in education providence
regarding equality of genders and respect of women. Like it is
playing role in sexual education.

Effects
This decision will definitely
Effect NGOs and International Human Rights Foundation
operating in Pakistan and fill force them to work fairly
Effect the families of victims as they may then support the
victims if they know the fair justice prevails
Effect the families of perpetrators as the will now fear to
support any wrongdoings
Strong check and balance will surely improve the
performance of judiciary and police department as they will
avoid any wrongdoings like bribery if they know that they will
surely set accountable
Effect Health officials like surgeons in a way they will realize
that society needs them and its their job to provide their
services voluntarily
Recommendations for Policy Makers and Government
officers
Violence against women is perpetrated when legislation, law
enforcement and judicial systems condone or do not recognize
domestic violence as a crime.

Recommendations for Policy makers
Discriminatory laws should be abolished and effective legislation be
enacted because in presence of discriminatory laws violence against
women cannot be combated effectively.
There is an immediate need for enactment of law to prevent Domestic
Violence.
It is an established fact that adverse sufferers of poverty are women.
Women have limited access to health, education and have no social
standing even in their respective social milieu. Some steps have been
taken by the government for the socio-economic uplift of the women but
more measures need to be taken in this regard by bringing the informal
sector of employment within the preview of labour laws and providing
effective social safety net where needed.
Provide support for education in the fundamental rights and
empowerment of women and girls by taking measures for free and
compulsory education and making schools in areas easily accessible for
them
Programs and policies aimed at improving the economic independence
of women should be framed and implemented in all provinces of the
country;

Rcommendations to Government officers and Judiciary
Create one window facilities which include provision of
medical doctor, police officer, lawyer, psychologists and
temporary homes.
Delayed trials and prolonged litigations seriously harm the
justice system. A victim seeking fair trail faces innumerable
hurdle like delays, perjury, and non availability of witnesses
etc. The Investigation Authorities and the forensic laboratories
need to be equipped with the technology needed for
investigation.
Take measures to combat impunity with regard to violence
against women, in particular by closely monitoring all case
proceedings relating to VAW.