Love is a beautiful thing and involves two parties who come into an agreement to love, honor and cherish each other.
Sadly not all love is beautiful and that brings us to Intimate Partner Violence also known as Domestic Violence or Domestic Abuse.
The United Nations defines Domestic abuse, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
The abuse is usually physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. It also includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.
Domestic abuse is typically manifested as a pattern of abusive behavior toward an intimate partner in a dating or family relationship, where the abuser exerts power and control over the victim and doesn’t know age, race , religion nor class.
Women in informal communities also known as disadvantaged communities or Shanties are the hardest hit as theirs is a mixture of unemployment, poverty, hardship and violence.
These informal communities are by far the largest breeding grounds for the phenomenon we call “street children, miscreants , the list goes on an on…
Ignorance and lack of proper education further adds pressure to an already boiling pot and oftentimes their plight goes unnoticed as the sight of daily beatings, raised voices, blows being exchanged and of women being locked out of house and home for the slightest sign of “bad behavior” is seen as the norm in these communities
The rising number of broken women who are unable to see a way out of this situation is gradually rising and they in turn have children who are affected by not only the emotional turnout, they also have their lives turned inside out by the violence they experience on a day to day basis
How do we tackle this rising menace and its effects on the victim, the children, the family and the community at large and how do we help as individuals?
That’s where we all come in to provide the much needed awareness on the dangers of Abuse and how to mitigate the factors that give rise to violence.
Let’s join hands to raise awareness and mobilize our communities. Together, we can begin to improve the lot of these individuals .
By sharing this message and supporting organizations fighting against Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we can amplify the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves and who remain largely unseen.
Intimate Partner Violence is a dark stain on our society that we must work tirelessly to eradicate. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye.
Let’s stand united in our commitment to create a world where every vulnerable Individual can thrive, free from exploitation, pain and fear.
Together, we can make a difference and ensure a safer, brighter future for all.
