Time to denounce acts that harm and degrade our women
by by Abullah Saeed
2009-12-11 15:45
The international campaign against gender violence is intended to
curb violence against women and children in the world.
The human being is gifted
with an inborn dignity that demands respect. Aggression and violence against
women is a flagrant violation of women’s dignity and human rights.
Abuse, in any
form, that takes place among family members is known as “domestic violence”.
Perpetrators and victims come from every religion and society.
Unfortunately, domestic violence is the most under-reported crime
in South Africa and in some communities it is virtually unrecognised as a crime.
Because of this, victims may feel reluctant and embarrassed to report despite
their innocence.
Individually we cannot find solutions to the problem of domestic
violence. We all need to join hands with this international campaign and raise
our voice to say that: gender violence in any form – psychological, physical,
verbal or sexual is a crime against humanity and a sin.
Undoubtedly, domestic
violence can never be justified, for it affects children, the family and damages
the sacred relationship of marriage.
It is the duty of every human being to expose and denounce as human
rights violations those practices and policies that harm, degrade and silence
women.