The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes released a new report outlining that more than half of all women murdered in the last year were killed by partners or relatives. This makes the home the most dangerous place for women across the world. Of that, 34% of the 87,000 female homicides last year were by the hand of an intimate partner. 24% were by another relative.
This most recent report paints a harrowing picture of the realities of gender-based violence that plague the world today. There are some limitations to the data, including an inability to quantify exactly the amount of gender-related deaths during times of armed conflict. However, the overwhelming conclusion is that globally, women are significantly subjected to domestic and gender-based violence.
The report also brings up the recent issue of the term “femicide” and its implications in legislation in different countries throughout the world. The authors of the report explain that the term itself does not have a clear definition, despite being used in national legislation. Policies coming out countries, mainly in Latin America, that apply the term “femicide” need to specifically define what that entails to ensure that the legislation is comprehensive and effective.
One of the challenges that legislators and activists alike face is differentiating between gender-based violence and domestic violence against women that did not entail misogynistic motives. The authors of the report acknowledge this challenge and highlight the importance of recognizing that gender-based violence occurs in various contexts, however not all violence is instigated by gender. Such issues make it difficult in collecting data on gender-based killings, however, the authors of the report emphasize the importance of still collecting and articulating the data they have as a means of painting a more comprehensive, although incomplete, picture of global gender-based violence.
There have been some encouraging examples of initiatives to fight violence against women already. Internationally, the United Nations General Assembly adopted two resolutions that criminalized gender-based violence and ensured that the prosecution of perpetrators is appropriate and weighted equally with their crime. Individual countries have passed similar legislation as well, including many Latin American countries such as Argentina and Chile.
The report clearly demonstrates that the issues of gender-related killings are extremely pertinent and need to be addressed immediately. Domestic violence with misogynistic intentions is widespread and emerging as an alarming pattern within the unfortunate category of gender-based violence as a whole. The authors emphasize that progress in protecting women from violent domestic situations has not been made. Internationally, women have found themselves unsupported by the criminal justice system of their home country and alone in facing domestic violence. The study has called for international cooperation and initiatives in addressing the issue. Improvements to criminal justice systems, law enforcement, and health and social services are all pointed to as important measures to take. Additionally, the authors call for the increased involvement of men and an opening of dialogue to discuss the realities of gender-based violence as a means of raising awareness and to prevent future violence.
Issues such as gender-based violence are inherently ingrained in the global cultural and societal realities. As the authors of the report highlight, it will take more than legislation to change the widespread pattern of such violence. A multidimensional initiative within both states and international organizations will be necessary for instilling long-lasting change. The report presents a harrowing picture of the realities of gender-related killings internationally, but it also presents solutions and encouraging examples of current initiatives that if expanded upon could begin to combat violence against women across the globe.
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http://time.com/5407901/donald-trump-un-iran/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/11/26/world/social-issues-world/h…