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Domestic Violence in a Global Perspective
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Introduction
Domestic violence can be viewed as a patterned behavior of physical aggression or assault; hitting, kicking, biting, battery or throwing object by one party to another, and/ or patterned actions meant to deprive one party within a given relationship freedom and rights to express him/herself in a manner or the provisions provided for by the society (Gerdes, 6). Domestic violence may take place in different form and /or types and in different stages of family development as the basic unit of the society, with forms such as emotional abuse; to the opposite sex through control and intimidation, psychological and emotional to the children perceived as a long term development of fear due to mistreatment, control and negligence, and criminal coercion, kidnapping or harassment to the neighbors conducted domestically, that is, by interfering with the domestic welfare of another family within the neighborhood. Emotionally, domestic violence can be viewed as activities and/ or behaviors by one party in the family that subject and expose others to psychological trauma to include anxiety, chronic depression and/ or post-traumatic stress disorders. In addition, domestic violence can be viewed and analyzed through sexual abuse; forcing undesired sexual behavior by one person upon the other within the family set up, which is usually referred as molestation, and can be defined as sexual assault if and when the force is immediate of short duration and infrequent. Definitions of domestic violence are wide and complex in analysis, context and scope, in this paper we shall look at different aspects of violence in relation to members of the family and the society at large, deriving the way forward and evaluating organization’s impact on the menace.
Domestic Violence in a Global Perspective
Domestic violence is and has been in the rise despite efforts by governments and other associated bodies to help mitigate and eliminate; talking different forms and being propagated by various factors in the society. For instance in the analysis of domestic violence we cannot rely only on the physical, sexual and psychological abuses in an intimate relationship and /or marriage but by incorporating effects of the violence to other members of the family or social setting, gives a broad and vivid picture. In addition, by unearthing the different forms of abuse, factors that propagate them, effects it has to the immediate parties and third parties and suggesting the way forward, calls for intervention of sociologists and other stakeholders. It should be noted that domestic violence and abuse does not discriminate in that, it happens in heterosexual couples and in the same sex partnerships; all age groups and ranges, ethnic backgrounds and economic levels, and while for gender women seem to be the most affected, men are also abused (Lockhart, Lettie and Fran, pp.33-37). This has led to emergence of various definitions and classifications of domestic violence such as: acts of physical, sexual, psychological or economic violence that occur within family or domestic unit or between current or former spouses and partners, whether or not the perpetrators have had shared the same residence with the victim or not. Others have included practices such as female genital mutilation; child abuse, verbal abuse, dowry related violence, marital rape, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation. The major purpose associated with domestic violence is to gain and maintain control over the spouse or members of the family with the “unfair” tactics of subjecting the victims to fear, guilt, and intimidation, and threats of hurting the victim or people around them, in order to keep the victims under their thumb.
Types of Domestic Violence, Motives and Causes
Sexual Abuse: This is whereby force or threat is used by the perpetrator to obtain participation in unwanted sexual activity; coercing the other partner irrespective of the relationship and whether consensual sexual activity has had occurred before. The unwillingness of one party on grounds of disability, illness underage immaturity and /or inability to understand the conditions of the act; inability to decline participation and the inability to communicate his/her unwillingness to engage in the act due to intimidation and pressure, makes it a domestic violence which can happen to any of the spouses and/ or member of the family (Gannon, 6). This translates to marital rape for married couples, sexual exploitation to other members of the family and rape to other members of the society; which can be propagated by drug abuse and alcoholism, genetic or brain dysfunction, marital conflict disorders, jealousy and or mental complications.
Economic / Financial Abuse: This is whereby the perpetrator takes the financial control over the victim(s) by denying them the financial grants to a point that they have little or no money for their own and/or derailing channels and people they can associate with for financial gains or independence that they cannot advance careers or acquire assets. The violence in this case is based on the economic inabilities of the victim such as inability to find gainful employment due to lack of effective education and training and specialized skills; with perpetrator’s main aim of making victims depend on him/her (8). This kind of abuse can be pegged on insecurity of one of the spouse, need for power and control over the spouse and the family unit as a whole and behavioral aspects of the perpetrators and their perspective on economic environment.
Physical Abuse: This involves acts that cause injury, bodily harm, pain and other kind of physical suffering such as hitting, slapping, knocking, chocking and burning. This may also take form of denial and/deprivation of functions and requirements of survival such as medical care, sleep and/or physical force of the victim to engage in an act unwillingly such that in the process the victim is physically abused (10). The major causes of this abuse can be attributed to psychological disorders such as psychopathy, mental illness and behavioral weaknesses of the perpetrator.
Emotional/ Psychological Abuse: This can take form of public humiliation, control on what the victim can or should do in certain settings, implicitly blackmailing the victim, isolation from friends and family and/ or deliberate actions to make the victim feel embarrassed. Emotional violence also can be viewed as degradation and depriving of the basic resources and necessities such as security, independence and happiness and denial of access to basic commodities such as food clothing, shelter and disownment (7). The major causes of this pegged on the perpetrators need to be in control and power, psychological problems, jealousy, brain dysfunction and behavioral aspects of the perpetrator.
Verbal Abuse: this involves threats of harm, profanity and emotionally abusive behaviors that comprise of language and exchange of words. This may take form of humiliation false accusations, name-calling and ridicule, disrespect, criticisms and/or manipulating others to submit to undesired behaviors or isolate victims from support systems. This kind of abuse can be caused by biological or genetic/brain dysfunction of the perpetrator, the need to be in control and power, behavioral tendencies of the perpetrator and psychological disorders such as self-esteem, poor impulse control and sudden bursts of anger by the perpetrator.
Impacts of Domestic Violence on Children
Domestic violence is associated with creation of fear, anger and social stress, confusion, lack of innovations and depression; factors that affect personal growth and development of the spouses and the family unit at large. During different stages of development, children look up to the parents as role models and they depend on each of them for different purposes in that the father has his roles and children children’s expectations from them vary proportionally. Studies and researches have shown that children who have been exposed to domestic violence and other forms of abuse had a higher chance of developing mental and physical health problems; impacted by how the child develops emotionally, socially, cognitively and behaviorally. Socially, the interaction activities in children are affected with characteristics such as aggressiveness, anxiety and attitude to other members of the family and authority. Cognitively, comprehension problems attributed to anxiety and confusion state during abuse, post-traumatic stress disorders and arrogance contribute to lack of skill development, understanding and concentration affecting the child cognitively (Sterne et.al pp12-15). In addition, the cases of child neglect by any of the spouse, direct physical abuse to cause ripple effect and real time mother to father conflict/ abuse have been correlated with moral uprightness and physical growth and development of children.
Globally, programs have been established to help mitigate and eradicate domestic violence and child abuse such as Verizon and D.C Councilmember Anita Bonds who have honored several Washington based non- profit Organizations in their fight against domestic violence and abuse. Others include Ayuda; Domestic violence Survivors empowerment program, Asian-Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project; providing direct services for the survivors including mental health and counseling, Becky Lee’s Women Support Fund; teaches young men to become allies and leaders to end violence against women and girls, Latin American Youth Center; implementing healthy relationships programs to educate young adults about avoiding dating problems, building healthy relationships and serving as peer activists, Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, and many more.
Children from abusive families have a great likelihood of being abusive in their adulthood and within the process of growth and development in that the traits they might genetically inherit or experience will be carried with them as they grow. The cycles of violence in domestic abuse shows common patterns of aggressiveness, belittling and violent behavior propagated by real time violent or abuse experiences, guilt they develop with, cognitive fantasy and planning they develop in the process, making them more susceptible to being violent and abusive (Cleaver, 3).
Conclusion
Domestic violence may be undervalued depending with the context and geographic location or circumstances of occurrence but its effects are inhuman and a threat to the existence of family and society at large. Effective measures by the involved parties, that is, the spouses and the family and relevant stakeholders such as authorities and well-wishers, should be addressed to curb the vice and ensure sustainable relationships in the family for a better society.
Works Cited
Gerdes, Louise I. Domestic Violence. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Print.
Sterne, Abigail, Liz Poole, Donna Chadwick, Catherine Lawler, and Lynda W. Dodd. Domestic Violence and Children: A Handbook for Schools and Early Years Settings. London: Routledge, 2010. Print
Lockhart, Lettie L, and Fran S. Danis. Domestic Violence: Intersectionality and Culturally Competent Practice. , 2010. Print.
Gannon, Theresa A. Aggressive Offenders’ Cognition: Theory, Research, and Practice. Chichester, West Sussex, England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2011. Print
Cleaver, Hedy. Child Protection, Domestic Violence and Parental Substance Misuse: Family Experiences and Effective Practice. London: JKP/Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010. Internet resource.
Domestic Violence against Women in Qatar
Domestic Violence against Women in Qatar
Introduction
According to the United Nations, violence against women relates to “any act of gender-based violence resulting in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women”. From this definition, World Health Organization (WHO) notes that violence against women results in major public health issues or problems as well as violation of women’s human rights. Researching the US law on Women Rights and Protection against domestic violence is necessary in this case. It provides an insight and a case study on the nature of domestic violence acts. The US law on women rights and protection against domestic violence is one of the most comprehensive, detailed and explicit in understanding what pertains to protection of women against violence. The law provides a wide range of definition of terms, situations and aspects related to the types and extent of domestic violence, the magnitude of the offense, and the applicable penalties. Such legislations should be either by the United Nations or by major powers that value the protection of domestic rights of women. Women in Qatar deserve to enjoy the same rights, gender equality, and protection against discrimination, and violence.
The general objective of this research is to establish the flaws within the Qatar’s Justice System with respect to equal treatment of women. The paper also assesses the criminal justice system concerning response against domestic violence against women in the United States constitution. This research is informed by incidents currently prevalent in Qatar, where both women’s rights and general human rights are not properly given due and considerable attention (Kassem et al., 115). Women are battered, mistreated, and assaulted in different ways. The most critical part of this situation is that the few legal provisions or laws are available to protect women from the dehumanizing incidents of domestic violence in Qatar.
Nearly half of women in Qatar succumb to serious incidents of violence most especially within the family. The lack of laws to prosecute men who assault women has consistently led to growth of this vice. Women suffer in silence due to a lack of provision in the constitution. It is imperative to critically examine this situation, and borrow significant measures from the Domestic Violence against Women with regard to its strong frameworks for the protection of Women against domestic violence. Drafting and implementing laws for the protection of women against domestic violence would be a remarkable achievement for the country that does not protect rights of women. It will help cushion women from temperamental, discriminatory, and exploitative treatments exhibited men. Laws to protect women against domestic violence are massively necessary in Qatar. In order to implement these new laws, public education is imperative. People need to understand that there is no value in oppressing women and that it contravenes universal principles on the protection of human rights.
Domestic Violence against Women (DVAW)
According to the United Nations, violence against women relates to “any act of gender-based violence resulting in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women”. Domestic violence does not only refer to mistreatments against women, but also children. Domestic violence against women, principally examines acts of physical abuse, torture, rape or any acts that have psychological or mental repercussions for the women. It is one of the most common violence against women within the family. In fact, many cases go unnoticed as they happen within the confines of the family. Some women in male dominated regions choose to remain silent despite the degree of violence against them because of lack of effective legislatives in regions or nations such as Qatar.
One of the major abettors of domestic violence is the belief that it is a social phenomenon prevalent in all communities. While its existence in many communities is indisputable, accepting it as one of the social aspects is a transgression of the universal acknowledgement of individual liberty and human rights. Partners in a relationship have avenues to solve their problems such as social institutions of mediation. These institutions are accredited for enabling partners strike amicable solutions to their family problems without resorting to violent acts. Secondly, there are tribunals and civil courts responsible for hearing of issues and emanating from the family as presented by the family members.
The rate of domestic violence in Qatar and many other countries that are male dominated is high. Women are even sprayed with chemicals, which qualifies as one of the gravest violation of human rights with regard to international conventions on the protection of human rights. International figures posit that in every three women one is a victim of domestic violence (Al Ghanem, 2007). The capacities to prosecute such cases appear inefficient. Other relevant social frameworks or institutions in Qatar also not adequately support them. In the twenty first century, cases of divorces and family disintegrations are rampant. Members of the family fail to find the appropriate solution to their problems and adopt violence in the belief that it can tame and yield positive results. The result is the destruction of the family, violation of the victim’s right for safety and health. The case in Qatar requires an absolute response. Its exploitation and violation of respect to human rights seem to have conformed well to the rate at which women suffer from domestic abuse. Whereas cases of men being abused by their wives have surfaced in many occasions, several official research studies have identified women as the major victims of domestic violence. In Qatari case, several women have passed on due to the harm caused by domestic violence.
Literature Review
Various research articles are in place illustrating the influence and components of the domestic violence against women legislations in the context of the United States. These important articles are essential in understanding how the draft would operate in Qatar towards curbing massive domestic violence against women in the nation. One of the critical articles illustrating crucial components of the legislation is the Violence against Women Act overview. From this article, it is essential to note the influence of Joe Biden in the provision of his leadership techniques and expertise towards minimizing violence against women in the society. The article focuses on demonstration of the major provisions of the legislation as well as implications towards addressing the growing domestic violence against women in the United States. One of the implications of the legislation in the modern United States is the massive improvement in the criminal justice response to violence against women.
This is through holding rapists accountable for their relevant crime by strengthening the penalties for the sex offenders as well as creation of the Federal ‘rape shield law’. In addition, the law mandates that victims, in spite of their income levels, be not forced to bear the expense of their own rape exams as well as service of a protection order. Moreover, the legislation has been essential in ensuring that victims as well as their families obtain access to the services they need with the aim of achieving safety and reconstruction of their lives. Another major implication of the legislation with reference to the article is the massive reduction in the essence of domestic violence against women in the United States. The states have also been essential against the increase in the domestic violence against women. This is through reforming their laws to take violence against women as one of the serious offences with reference to human rights.
Another vital article is in the spotlight by Dorraine Larison. In the article titled do not let response to domestic violence and sexual assault land you in court, the focus in on the need to promote or enhance awareness of the society members on the elements and other aspect of domestic violence against women. The article notes that employers have the firsthand opportunity to observe the implications of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault on the employees. In most cases, employers offer their support to certain employees suffering from the influence of domestic violence. On the other hand, some employers choose to ignore the issues thus leading to massive increase in the level of implications of the domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault on the performance of the employees towards the achievement competitive advantage in the market.
The article focuses on the influence of the EEOC towards handling missteps by employers in the situations culminating to the violation of the rights against individuals especially women in the workplaces. According to the EEOC, these missteps are forms of discrimination in accordance with the federal law. In addition, the article notes the influence of the ADA in prohibiting diverse or different treatment or harassment at workplaces on the actual as well as perceived impairment. It is also an essential element to note that EEOC contends ADA implications might include impairments emanating from domestic or dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault. Moreover, United States has essential rules, which determines how employers should respond to the sexual assault, stalking, and domestic violence issues in the modern society. Inability of the employers to handle such issues might contribute to serious lawsuits in relevant justice and legal systems.
Ortiz-Barreda & Vives-Cases (2013) also focus on the development of an important article aiming to identify and illustrate key components of legislation on violence against women in the United States. The main aim of the article is to evaluate or determine the comprehensive of the legislation in relation to incorporation of the key components under the influence of the Pan American Health Organization as well as the United Nations. In addition, the article focuses on examination of the influence of these key components in the prevention of violence against women and better-integrated victim protection, care, and support. According to the findings of this study, most of the violence against women laws or legislations lacks the ability and tendency of incorporating key recommended components. This occurs in spite of the considerable efforts worldwide aiming to strengthen violence against women violence.
The article notes the existence of significant limitations in the legislative content as well as application in handling the key issues in relation to violence against women. In addition, there are also limitations in the extent to which the laws are applicable in providing quality-integrated protection, care, and support to women within the society. In the development of new violent legislation, policymakers have to consider the vital role of the health services. This should be one of the obligations for the development of accurate and appropriate laws in protecting women against violence. The approach will enhance the ability of the new laws against violence of women to incorporate key components in accordance with the demands of the United Nations and the Pan American Health Organization.
Larkin & Luppino-Esposito also focused on the examination of Violence against Women Act, Federal Criminal Jurisdiction, and Indian Tribal Courts. Domestic violence proves to be an unfortunate and unpleasant fact for many women in the United States. The congress played a critical role in elimination of the domestic violence against women in the United States. This is through the passage of the violence against women act with the aim of handling the long-standing problems affecting or violating the rights of the women in the modern society. The main objective of this article is to examine the influence of the violence against women act in reducing violation of the women’s rights through violence, sexual assault, and stalking or deadly dating practices.
The article is also an essential step towards understanding the components of the act as well as its implementation towards handling or minimizing vital issues in Qatar. The draft law focuses on integration of the key components of the law in curbing increasing rate of domestic violence against women in Qatar. This is because of the lack of substantive acts in Qatar towards minimizing the violence against women. The article would also provide substantive information and knowledge about the influence of such acts in curbing the unfortunate essence of violence against women in the society. This paper utilizes the article in the development of key components of the act limiting the violence against women.
Shazia Qureshi (2013) focuses on the evaluation or examination of the violence against women as an illustration of a violation of human rights in the United Nations system. The main objective of the article is to capture the gradual process of acceptance as well as recognition of violence against women as a human right violence. This is through integration of the international human rights discourses as well as to understand the role of the four world conferences on women and the convention of elimination of all forms of discrimination against women across the globe. In addition, the article focuses on illuminating some of the landmark developments in the United Nations human right systems with an objective of curbing or combating violence against women across the world.
Shazia Qureshi (2013) also focuses on examination of another scope relating to the emergence or extension of due diligence standard to assess the state response toward violence against women as well as essence of domestic violence. This is through provision of a brief summary in relation to the emergence of the due diligence principle in the context of the International human rights law. It is vital to note that the article explores and evaluates the role and influence of the international as well as regional human rights mechanisms and instruments in clarifying and specifying the content of the due diligence obligations as well as applications with reference to violence against women. From this review, it is ideal to note the existence of substantive articles on the domestic violence legislations in the United States and other locations across the worlds. These articles are crucial in the development of the components of the draft law for the domestic violence in the case of Qatar.
Domestic Violence against Women in the United States
In 1994, Senator Joe Biden led the United States to the enactment of Violence against Women Act (VAWA) (Roe, 2004). This was after numerous reports pointed to the high number of domestic violence within many American families. Consequently, criminal justice response to domestic violence improved significantly. The act strengthened federal punishments for repeat sex offenders, which increased the accountability of rapists as having committed criminal offense. It also created ‘The Rape Shield’ law, which protected victims from rapists who took advantage of their past sexual conduct.
The act provided that victims of rape or any form of sexual violence were entitled to unconditional financial assistances mostly in the payment of service of a protection order or health examination services. It also extended that victims of domestic violence should be kept safe through recognition and reinforcement of victim’s protection order in all tribal, state, and territory jurisdictions. It empowered communities to develop domestic violence dockets, prosecution and dedicated law enforcement units. The act underscored the need for immediate response to cases of domestic violence by the police and urged judges to expand the scope of understanding sexual and domestic violence through training of prosecutors, law enforcement agencies and officers, judges as well as victims’ advocates.
Violence against Women Act (VAWA) has also been instrumental in providing safety access to both the victims and their families. According to the statistics obtained from the hotline callers, more than 22 000 calls are received monthly, while more than 3 million calls have been answered since its establishment. Approximately 92 percent of the callers are first-time callers who are either victims or responding to an offense case (Al Ghanem, 2007). It also the development of coordinated community responses, which enables different stakeholders to cooperate together with the main problem while enhancing community safety in terms of controlling domestic violence.
Many states have undertaken comprehensive reviews of their laws relating to domestic violence against women in order to tighten the prosecution, conviction and sentencing of offenders. All states in the in America have criminalized the act of stalking, provided criminal sanctions in the case of civil protection order violation and have authorized law enforcement officers to undertake arrests without warrants in the event of domestic violence. In this case, the responding officer has the obligation to establish the existence of the probable cause upon which arrests are made, warranted or not. States have also enacted laws that address sexual and domestic violence at the workplace, and stalking. They have further prohibited polygraphing of victims of rape cases (Hajj-Yahia, 2000).
The United States law on domestic violence is comprehensive. It responds to both domestic violence against women and men. It involves the stakeholders of the country beginning from the members of different communities to the top leadership of the federal government in addressing and legislating against domestic violence against women. The solid framework of top-down and down-top collaboration in the war against domestic violence in the United States has been fruitful leading to decreased number of cases and victims of domestic violence. The law has explicitly addressed the need to fight against domestic violence, most especially against women. It has underscored the cardinal duty of the law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, judges and victim attorneys to timely respond to calls for help. VAWA marked the turning point for women in the United States as it helped increase awareness and improve responses to cases of domestic violence.
The United Nations has improved and maximized the engagement of victims in the justice system. The intent is to obtain maximum results through proper punishment of offenders. In other words, the states should increase mechanism of responding to emotional, economic and legal needs of the victims as well as ensuring full execution of justice. The nationally coordinated system has impressively handled many cases of domestic violence giving VAWA a lot of merit, many have appreciated the services offered to them and justice served (Azzam, 2000).
Domestic Violence against Women in Qatar
Whereas there are several groups that empower and care for domestic violence victims, it is almost surprising that the country has no single legislation that can effectively prosecute offenders. According to studies done at a Qatar University by Al Ghanem (2007), 2 365 women were sampled. The number studied represented 12.8% of the population of interest (women) in Qatar. Their ages ranged from 15 to 24 years. Due to the large size of the study sample, it was necessary to generalize the outcome of the study. This population represented Muslim women in Qatar. The study also included non-Muslim women in Qatar with a total sample of 423, which also fell by 15.1% of the whole sample. Their ages ranged from 15 to 24 years. Due to the small number of the sample, it was not appropriate to generalize the findings. Regardless of the shortcomings, the study was able to produce a road map on the state of Muslim women in Qatar in relation to domestic violence.
The study established that 23.13% of women sampled acknowledged having experienced certain forms of domestic violence (Al Ghanem, 2007). In this experiment, Al Ghanem defined domestic violence as physical pain suffered at the end of the marriage partner. The larger percentage said they had not experienced domestic violence. Several reasons would have limited the ability of the respondents from acknowledging that they have experienced domestic violence. These include factors customs and traditions, embarrassment, and fear of victimization because they feel that others might access the information. According to the research, husbands do domestic violence against women, which consists of 34.3% of the domestic violence. In addition, fathers instigate 17.1% of the domestic violence against women, while the brother contributed 16.0% (Al Ghanem, 2007). In other words, men were unequivocally responsible for domestic violence in Qatar (Al Ghanem, 2007).
Offenders committed different forms of domestic violence and they varied from one group of women to another. 63.9% of the domestic violence cases studied represented battering as the most common form. The use of insults, humiliation, home imprisonment, and freedom restrictions were observed as other forms contributing to domestic violence. Men often ignore women’s opinions and suggestions believing that they are the only persons with moral authority to make opinion and decisions in equal measures. 55.7% have been victims of violence in several occasions while 15.6% were constant victims of domestic violence (Al Ghanem, 2007). In other words, majority of the sampled individuals in the research have been regular victims of domestic violence. The study indicated that among the regular victims of domestic violence, a majority of them have been subjected to violence since childhood. Approximately 44.6% acknowledged that they have experienced domestic violence since they were young children. 33.6% have been victims of domestic violence since teenage years, while 11% became regular victims after their marriage. The study further revealed that a small number of victims sought help in the wake of their mistreatments. The sampled population indicated that only 37.3% reported or asked for help while 62.69% failed to seek any appropriate help after an assault or humiliation (Al Ghanem, 2007). Three ways of responding to domestic violence were identified: victims screamed or tried to run, some of them responded to violence with violence (fighting) and some appealed to relatives to help solve the situation.
The most serious issue in these incidences is that only 5 % of the victims reported their plights to the law enforcement officers. More than 94% of the Qatari female victims of domestic violence chose not to report (Al Ghanem, 2007). This statistical distribution also applied to non-Qatari women. One of the major factors that were identified as having contributed to frequent domestic violence against women by their husbands and fathers was the fact that they constantly kept silent or did not act to punish the offenders. Second, gender discrimination was another factor.
According to the sample in Al Ghanem’s research, 47.3% of women who suffer domestic violence undergo constant depressions due to fear and anxiety. Approximately 6% of the victims suffer burns, injuries, and many other physically related side effects. 36.7% of domestic violence victims suffer from nervousness and many other effects related to violence such as loss of confidence and confusion (Al Ghanem, 2007). Some of the victims have forced themselves out of social life and have consequently developed hatred for men.
The statistics in the preceding paragraph demonstrate the high level of domestic violence in Qatar. Women are affected in different kind of ways. They are subjugated into submissiveness. They have no voice of their own but subjects of their husbands. The highest number of women chose not to report cases of domestic violence to law enforcement officers, particularly due to fear of further annihilation or consistent victimization. Some of them believe that, it is not wrong to be disciplined by a husband whenever they go wrong (Kassem, Ali, & Al-Malek, 2010). In Qatar, the reforms have not adequately surfaced to expel the derogatory, dehumanizing and belittling effects of domestic violence. It is particularly of interest to analyze why domestic violence has existed in Qatar or centuries and continues to erode the spirit of universal equality and gender equity. Could it be religious or legal? Are there factors prevailing that inhibit the development of reforms?
Domestic Violence against Women (DVAW) is immense in Qatar. This situation has been worsened by adherence to certain Islamic religious interpretations that encourage patriarchy, and promote women’s submission. Global aspects against women’s mistreatment experience increased coverage most especially by the civil rights organizations. Women all over the world have been empowered and encouraged to acquire equal opportunities and enjoy both their natural and constitutional rights in equal measure just as men. Today, several feminist groups and writers have emerged. They speak vehemently against the oppression against women. Besides, they develop and implement strategies and efforts to empower women all over the world. Despite this great achievement, certain parts of the world have remained unmoved. Men have continued to treat women, not only as the second fiddle to men but also as subjects of men. Qatar is a country, where women have little voice with regard to the enjoyment of their human rights as persons.
In Qatar, there are no laws that protect women against domestic violence. The laws to domestic problems are found within the family itself. This does not relate to their incapability, but because the Judicial System does not provide grounds for prosecution of criminal acts of that nature. This awareness on the development of good laws is important and can be accomplished through good educational programs dealing with family life in terms of skills of problem solving such dialogue. Through dialogue, families are capable of overcoming the possibilities of resorting to violence as a measure or tool to solve family problems. This has been one of the major causes of domestic violence because some partners, most especially men believe that they can only solve some problems by battering their women. The law can overcome this and it can only be reinforced through dialogue executed by the Judicial System. Implementations of these laws require a collective responsibility of different social institutions. Institutions, for instance, should provide better teachings mostly on certain Islamic teachings that do not see domestic violence against women as offensive. These teachings should aim to obliterate excuses, which men may use to admit physical punishments to their wives. There should be a commitment to tolerance for the Islamic teachings that are applicable in family life under the influence of vital institutions. Men should work to establish the social, physical and psychological needs of the family.
Law and the Rights of Women
No government data or publication exists that indicates the soaring levels of domestic levels in Qatar. This is because of lack of specific law describing domestic violence as a criminal offense. The only institution that exists, which tend to address the cases of domestic violence against women is the government funded Qatar Foundations for the Protection of Women and Children. According to the representatives of this organization, domestic violence is still a challenge in the area. Legal solutions to the problems emanating from the family are always adjudicated in religious courts. Judges’ rulings are derived from their own interpretations of the Islamic law. The family law in this case does not favor women in any way. They are discriminated against in terms of inheritance, divorce, and child custody. It is necessary to explore what the Islamic religion says about domestic violence; whether it permits or prohibits it (Kassem, Ali, & Al-Malek, 2010).
Several Islamic sources talk about wife beating in different ways. Some encourage it directly. One of the major sources that deliberate upon wife beating is Quran. Quran directly encourages men to have control over women and beat them when there are reasons to do so (Verse 34 of Al Nisa). Verse 34 of Al Nisa talks about wife beating in the following way “As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill conduct (nushuz), admonish them, refuse to share their beds and beat them” (Ammar, 2007). There are different ways through which people interpret the verse. In the first instance, it has permitted the punishment or beating of the woman in the event she disobeys her husband. This is the first of the four different interpretations, which expresses that Quran encourages beating of a wife as a way of punishment. The second interpretation posits that Islam allows or permits wife battering but under conditions that guarantee her safety. The third interpretation offers that the verse provides exceptions, which may permit beating of a wife. This interpretation concludes that wife beating is unacceptable but is deserved under certain exceptions. The fourth interpretation refutes any possibility of verse 34 of Al Nisa permitting wife beating. It applies linguistic understanding to prove that the verse has been completely misinterpreted and that Quran does not aide or abet domestic violence (Ammar, 2007).
Apart from the fourth and least considered interpretation, it is clear that the Quran through verse 34 of Al Nisa supports wife beating (Ammar, 2007). Most of the Muslims tend to classify the above interpretations in order of their importance. In this case, they value those interpretations that encourage and promote patriarchy. Patriarchal principles advocate for wife beating. They believe that through it, a man is able to demonstrate “sanctioned powers and authority” in as far as the control of family is concerned. This is an authority, which a man is expected to demonstrate over his children and women.
Consequently, men try to use this religious principle in participating in domestic violence. After beating their wives, men believe that their actions are justified. Women believe that they have absolutely no chance of getting legal justice. These are family feuds or matter that can only be handled in family courts in as far as the judicial system of Qatar is concerned. Quran further emphasizes that men are protectors of their families. This has largely given men the power to control everything, make decisions; whether popular or unpopular. In the end, domestic violence emerges and women remain powerless to defend themselves from men’s activities.
Other Islamic sources that promote wife beating include Prophet’s sayings referred to as hadiths and fatwas. They have been applied in deliberating upon the aspect of wife beating. These sources promote and encourage patriarchal sentiments. Many writers have disputed these sources because they manipulated the understandings on gender roles, women’s political participation majorly to root firmly patriarchal principles (Ammar, 2007). Fatwas offer answers to questions of law and religious dogma. Persons in the highest office of authority often issue them. They lack any sense of moral framework and their explicit engage with political issues make them rather biased when they deal with women’s rights, civil, and individual liberty. These sources espouse the use of physical punishment in disciplining women who are not loyal and obedient to their husbands. Men have used these ideologies in ensuring that women remain domestic subjects. They are denied the chance to participate in opportunities that can enable them to be self-reliant and self-efficient. In most cases, women in the Islamic world were restricted from obtaining valuable western educa
Domestic Violence (Women)
Domestic Violence (Women)
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Introduction
Children and women are often in danger in their places of residence where they ought to be firm and happy and so for the majority, the so called ‘homes’ are the places where they encounter violence and regime of terror. This is caused by the people they consider their lovers, friends or family members; the people they ought to be able to trust and live happily with. Women and Children at times are not able to make decisions at individual basis as they are controlled, unable to air their opinions, or protect themselves as they are afraid of consequence that might follow thereafter. They are deprived of their rights as human beings by the people they live with. It is in the family where the members are supposed to seek safety, love and shelter but this in some cases does not happen. It is the family and its environs that are to be equated with sanctuary as per the perceived purposes, place of comfort and happiness. However, it has been shown by the evidence that at times it becomes worse and imperils the lives of the family members. Domestic violence against females’ progresses to be a worldwide epidemic that murders and gives torture to individuals and families as a whole. It (domestic violence) affects us both psychologically, physically, economically and sexually. Domestic violence is among the extreme persistent vices promoting human rights’ violations, and prevents females from being considered equal to males, being secure, having deserved dignity, denial of self-worth and esteem, as well as females’ right of taking pleasure in fundamental freedoms. Domestic violence is evident in all countries, and it cuts crossways the borders of income, class, culture, education, age and even ethnicity.
The violence in most cases is perpetrated by the men that have been or are in ranks and from the family members that consider themselves as being superior. These members might have been trusted over and over again and are in power such as; husband, boyfriend, stepmother, brother and the likes. The dignities of females have been lowered. Women and children who are subjected to violence result to being with an increased emotional stress and in cases of growing children; violence can harm the growth of their brains and damage their development. The changes in behaviors as a result of domestic violence entails irritability, problems in sleep, the person having emotional distress, fear of the abuser among others. The children who monitor their parents having conflicts or violence are generally fearful and do not perform as others of their age and progressively indicate the signs of having problems. Women are as well affected in various ways. It is due to these reasons and in attempt to find the most appropriate remedies for solving domestic violence affecting women that the paper is written. The contribution that women and children provide to the society is essential and needs appreciation. Nowadays, women have climbed higher ladder (in both profession and ranks) and are no more to be rated or mistaken as they were in the 19th century and below. Women are the society and societies are both indispensable and undeniable, nowhere is their rank on a par with men’s. Any threats or factors that affect women in the long run affect the whole community. Females are essential in all life aspects. All people (males and females) in any given set-up are correlated and each depends on the other and vice versa. With all this in mind, human dignity and respect considered, one should embarrass the act of being fair, just and non-violent. The paper chiefly illustrates the causes of domestic violence, the effects and how it can be reduced. The other aim of the paper is thus to help the affected individuals (paying close attention to the female victims in the society) by making people comprehend the consequences and feelings that the victims do have after such episodes. The paper also illustrates how numerous organizations have tirelessly fought against domestic violence and their contribution to the fight and uphold of human dignity especially the females.
Definition of domestic violence
There lacks to be overall established definition given to the term “domestic violence”. However, some human rights campaigners have given it a broad-based definition that entails “structural violence” like deficiency and imbalanced access to public goods like education and health.
Violence against children and women is a manifestation of the chronological unequal authority/power relations that is amid men and women and this has resulted to supremacy over them and being discriminated by males and further it has also lead to the affect of the complete advancement of females.
The other scholars have framed and tried to compress its meaning to fit some given areas and purposes. Other people have laid their arguments that the term ‘domestic violence’ has unlimited and self-based definition and this has been so that the actual meaning and magnitude that the term preserves can be lost. In all cases, the necessity of developing exact operational meaning has been recognized so that investigation and supervision can be exact and so that there can be better cross-cultural applicability. On the other hand, UNDEV has defined violence against women as an act that is based on sex that turns out in or has probability of resulting to bodily, sexual and even physiological harm or pain to the females. They have said that violence against women entails vices like threats, intimidation or arbitrary dispossession of liberty, that occurs in civic or in any woman’s personal life. According to their definition, violence against women refers to the gender-based pedigree of brutality. UNDEV further emphasizes that violence that is touching women is one among the vital communal mechanisms through which females are enforced into a secondary rank as compared to males. Numerous definitions of domestic violence and lack of specificity have made the term to be watered down and the intended meaning either ignored or changed. Various organizations and individuals hence have fought against violence in different ways and using various methods. United Nations Declaration gives the definition of violence against females as encircling, but their definition is narrowed to three known regions: violence that takes place in the family in the family (within family members), violence in the universal society and committed or intended by the ruling authority in any given set-up. Home violence hence entails (according to UND) domestic violence, as defined for this digest, includes violence perpetrated by close associates and other members of the family, and it is normally carried out through: psychological abuse, bodily abuse, sexual abuse, and even the economic abuse. Psychological abuse involves intentions to threaten or harass another person in the family set-up or any member of the society. 7
Psychological abuse means administering abandonment threats or insult, surveillance, coercion to seize away custody of the youths, items destruction, segregation, spoken assault and even unvarying disgrace. Physical abuse entails the acts like beating, choking, threatening and even committing murder. It includes all the bodily threats that are given either to the women, children or even men in the family. Mostly women and children are the majorly affected people any family. They are the individuals that are considered as being inferior. It can further mean the traditional vices that faced women like female genital mutilation, and the inheritance of the wife (though this has not been given the meaning it perceives and has spread due to the ignorance of women).
They (women) have not identified that inheritance is also a form of domestic violence. Sexual abuse entails the vices like forced sex, intimidation of women among others.
The biasness that most organizations favor men to women to some extents can be taken as sexual abuse. Economic abuse includes acts like when one is being denied public funds, refusing to offer financial contribution, basic requirements and food denial, regulating the frequency and access to health care.
Factors that leads to or promote domestic violence
There lacks to be one main or single factor that promotes domestic violence especially when taking females under consideration. However, the majorly identified is due to power. The factors are grouped as; cultural, economical, legal and political. In cultural, the man will take it that he is the head and all the other people are subject to him. In cases where the females rule the families, the same takes place. She dominates and the husband must be subject to her.
At times, when the unexpected rises, the man uses violence to resolve that conflict. This is the method that has been employed by numerous men. He expects that the wife and the members of the family to subject to him and respect him in all cases even if he is wrong and if any the members proposes or presents a new idea, violence results. It becomes very difficult to assist such families where the father is the authority and do not accept any advice or proposal from anybody in the family. Economical cause involves money and economic dependence. In most cases the women do have very little access to the family cash as they are handled and controlled by the head of the house.
He gives out on necessity and fails at times to recognize the wife’s or other member’s requirements apart from the basic needs. This can also cause conflict which in the long run leads to violence. In some cases either the man or the woman have very little access to education and lacks proper arguments and so cannot solve any problem and when such takes places, violence is seen to be the most appropriate method. Violence can also as a result of disagreement between the two members of the family. Legal has everything to do with the legal status of woman. The status can either be written or in practice. The laws that are concerned with the matters like; child custody, divorce, inheritance, maintenance among others might bring violence when there comes a disagreement. The other possible reason that can cause violence is due to politics. This happens when women feel that they are under-represented in politics and other political fields. However, this rarely affects the family and so have very minimal chances of causing domestics violence. It also takes place when women are denied an opportunity to participate in any forum of political issue. Numerous conditions have led to women being victims of domestic violence. Some authorities (ether males or females in the family or government) do not have the ability of controlling their actions and they have not learned the way to react nonviolently to tension and when they are not satisfied or are not as per their expectations. Alcoholism or abuse of drugs is yet another factor. In most cases when an individual is drunk, the normal body function and standard reasoning is lost. At this stage, the victim is likely to commit things that he/she is not aware of. All his/her actions are controlled by the alcohol drunk. Yet another factor that has promoted domestic violence is the misunderstanding among the family members of any given family.
When the family members do not coincide on a particular issue there is a probability that the house be in mess. Normally the inferior persons are the mostly affected in this case. They are forced to submit to the head of that house but in cases where this does not take place, domestic violence results. The other factor that has affected communities and organizations is the unnecessary authority and power. When one individual wants to lead and control everything in any given organization or state without the support and advice of the other people, he/she will be isolated and will excise the authority to maintain his power and position.
Lack of manners and respect for human is yet another factor. Social deviance is another contributing issue. Social deviance may be looked at as an individual’s behavior or actions that do not conform to the established cultural norms as observed by social audiences. These violations may be formal or informal violations. The individual’s attitudes to wards all human being be it females or males should be uniform. Females should not be underrated and their dignity lowered in any circumstance. The other factor is lack of public awareness. Most females are not aware of their rights and it becomes very difficult for them to realize that they are being treated unfairly.
Effects of domestic violence
Regarding violence, there is sufficient evidence that is enlightening and irreversible that domestic violence has affected most of the concerned individuals. Domestic violence is frequently a cycle of insults that do repeats itself and comes periodically. Over the past domestic violence has led to numerous families breaking up. It is not true that females are the only people that domestic violence affects, but children and men as well. Domestic violence normally occurs in the family set-up. The fact is that the majorities are females and children but this does not eliminate men as being the victims of domestic violence. Women are generally considered as below men an there is no society that they are to be taken as being in the same position as men. Starting form their birth along up to their adulthood, the females are being insulted due to their gender. It is surprising that they too have taken this as facts and in return the vice has spread across the entire societies. This is the reason as to why they are majorly affected by any form of misuse, abuse and domestic violence. They are the people to be corrected in all circumstances.
Traditional practices as well as the system of patriarchal that directs the current societies, define females’ requirements in accordance to males’ and that females are subsidiary to them. This (as per the custom) eradicates the magnitude and definition of violence. One will fail to give definition to violence when the females are to be subjective to males and as well should be secondary. The physical violence has been considered as necessary correction to the females and psychological effects are not recognized in most cases. It is unseen and lucks evidence and hence its effects have been ignored or underrated. Several bodies have documented that violence against females acts as an impediment to equality, expansion and peace and that the chances that women have to achieve legal, political, public and economic equality are continually being restricted by domestic and communal violence. Domestic violence does not deserve secrecy .and is not confidential matter.
One can be victimized regardless of his/her age, the cultural or racial background, the educational background, and the amount of money one owns, religion, or any other factor. It is a common problem that affects everybody in the society and even abroad. Domestic violence is normally not one event and mostly becomes worse and recurrent over time. The same actions are repeated now and then. The affected individuals or the close relatives do suffer pain, bodily injuries and at times the memories of a given episode do not come out of their minds for ver. This is psychological effect and I s non-reversible. It permanently sticks top the mind and in case that any related evident presents itself, the memories become vivid and clear and at times affect the normal association of individuals either in the society or family members. There are known families that the domestic violence has resulted to members having long-life disabilities.
Many kids have been psychologically affected due to domestic violence. The effects that domestic violence brings are normally overwhelming. They include as well bodily effects. The people who are found victims of domestic violence normally lose the connections tat they had with their family members or even the relatives. This is caused when the people who persecute them do so in levels that the victims feel they are isolated or the black sheep of that particular family. In the end, the self-esteem of the affected member goes down. This is after experiencing domestic violence. In most cases we get that even the people of the family that are not directly affected in the long run become affected. These injuries may result to one losing his/her job or decrease in the performance and consequence in firing. Apart from physical violence, ‘superiors’ may use verbal and emotional insult, separation, and bullying so that they may hold authority and completely rule their partners. The other members will have flashbacks or nightmares about the member of the family that is directly affected. The characters of that individual and family member in the long run will be altered after that incidence. Sleeping and eating habits may vary. The person as well as the inferior members of the family or society will feel desperate and depressed and may lose interest in the things that they formerly participated in or were their hobbies. The flashback and feeling of being unsafe dominates their minds and later, their perception life will automatically change. The emotional and bodily suffering one experience might seem to utilize entire energy one has.
Possible Remedies to domestic violence
The remedies that should or can be applied to reduce domestic violence are numerous. All depends on the cause and effects that it has on the family and people that relate with that family. And so there fails to be a general method or procedure to be used in all cases. The cause and the effects are best understood by the victims. However, various bodies have proposed various methods in some known cases. When should no allow him/herself to be a victim of this vice ‘domestic violence’. All campaigns should be carried out to eradicate and reduce domestic violence with all the effects possible. One should not forget that in the fight against domestic violence, he/she is not alone. Hope should not be lost in any circumstance. This has been the reason as to why organizations like Supporting People Programs (SPP) have provided support. It has provided the counseling services support especially the housing. The domestic violence is tied to the human right commission. There have been various committees that have dealt with the issue though unsatisfactorily. An example is seen in the early 1992 when CEDAW was formed (Elimination of Discrimination against Women).
The organization had made great move ion the fight against violence against females. It emphasized that domestic violence as well as violence that is against females contributes to the violation of the rights of humans. It went further and stated that at times the states also contribute to the act as they do not take into consideration the human rights with violence emphasized. They do not make efforts to prevent human rights violation or investigating and arrest the abusers of the rights. We can borrow as well from the committee, being geared by their concern and effort, the measures that can be employed in solving domestic violence against women. The organization stated that:
Efficient lawful measures that are aimed at protecting the females against every form of violence, including sexual assault, abuse and violence in the family, and even sexual harassment in the workplace should be monitored and necessary actions taken.
Necessary and control measures like informing the public about violence (work and domestic) and education programs should be put in place to alter the opinions that public have as far as the status and roles females and males in the community and family setup in concerned.
The affected members should be given protection, advice, support and necessary assistance like rehabilitation or offering them places when the home condition becomes worse.
The government should re-enforce very tough laws that deals with human rights especially violation and the victims of this law-breakers be taken actions. The government should as well make all necessary efforts to educate the public on maters related to violence.
The other organization that has been known for its continued support to the people affected by domestic violence is SPP (Supporting People Program). It has aided in the fight and reduction of domestic violence and its side effects on the concerned individuals and has managed this by providing housing services to the people who are fleeing domestic violence. The targets that SPP has placed are:
To assist people who have difficulties in learning
Aid the individuals who are evacuating the hospitals due to severe mental illness. These people are given necessary support and care once that are out of the hospital.
Their aim was also to identify the women who were fleeing domestic violence from their respective homes. The women were given care and provided with houses to accommodate them. The elderly people were as well provided with shelter.
Conclusion
All human beings are equal and should be considered so. Anybody who infringes into another’s rights should be persecuted. This will uphold the human dignity and freedom. It will result to a community where every individual have the same right and are subjected to similar laws. Women needs protection and such laws will aid in achieving this objective. They as well should stand out and monitor that that they are not violated. The fight against domestic violence especially that affects women will be easy when the women aid in the fight. No one should be left out in this as if it does not directly affect you then it indirectly. In a nut shell all are affected. The consequences are spread to all the family members when one becomes affected due to domestic or workplace violence. Necessary efforts should be employed to certain that all the factors that might promote domestic violence against women are discouraged as much as possible. This is the best remedy as the biologist say that prevention is better than cure and so the theory can be used in this circumstance. When an individual has been affected, the memories takes time to be erased from the mind and at times end up affecting him/her in the whole of his/her life. All the consequences of bodily violence are as well irreversible. The disabilities that are caused cannot be rectified. The best example is when one loses and eye or an arm. Apart from the listed disadvantages of domestic violence against women, there are very many demerits that it is associated with as well. The solutions are never one and so all effects should be taken as well with the family member to come into one agreement in any issue that affects them. This is also vital as it reduces the chances of conflicts that cause violence. Women should as well understand their husbands and never impose anything that directly or indirectly affects their partners. The loophole would have been blocked and probability reduced. The organizations that aid in fight against violence should be encouraged as and powered by both the individuals and the government. Then organizations will provide support and education to the family members and the affected people. This will give them support and they won’t feel as if they are neglected or rejected somehow. A good example has been illustrated by SPP and other organizations. Though it becomes very difficult to identify and monitor all domestic violence that are taking place but the move should be encouraged. It is very difficult identify that a given woman in a given home was molested or violated. At organization level like SPP, it is not possible to solve all the violence but the bester solution is normally obtained when the two concerned people come together. This is the most appropriate solution for domestic violence against women.
With all this in place and other bodies that assist formed too, the level of domestic violence against women will be reduced. After all would have been accomplished and in place, we shall be able and have confidence in saying that all are subjected to equal rights and opportunities to access public goods and violence is a thing of the past. The family breakups will be very minimal and once again the real happiness that a given family members should have will be revived. It is therefore recommended that all people fight against violence and maintain peaceful community and country.
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