There is almost no information in the public space about the number of victims of domestic violence, of which women are the leaders. According to experts, the number of appeals that are officially available represents barely a third of all cases of domestic violence. This speaks to the hidden nature of the problem and further measures to fight for women’s rights.
On the territory of some countries there are still regulations that prohibit a woman from choosing her own marriage partner, from receiving civil education, limit her ability to dissolve a marriage, or establish the possibility of her transfer to a third party, including through inheritance. From the standpoint of international law, these actions qualify as nothing less than “slavery.
Already after World War II, the 1949 Convention for the Protection of War Victims included a clause prohibiting rape and forced prostitution of women, as well as the prohibition of indecent assaults on women.
In 1993, the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women was adopted. The declaration defines violence as any act of gender-based violence that causes or is likely to cause physical, psychological, sexual harm or suffering, including the threat of such an act or deprivation of liberty.
The following are listed as examples of violence against women:
- battery;
- dowry-related violence;
- Forcing girls to perform sexual acts;
- Rape of a wife by her husband;
- Female genital mutilation (including ritual mutilation);
- extramarital violence;
- Sexual harassment and intimidation at work;
- trafficking in women;
- forced prostitution, etc.
The Declaration condemns those states that, citing customs and traditions, religion and other reasons, are unwilling to eliminate violence against women on their territory. The Declaration calls for refraining from using violence against women, for giving due attention in the investigation of such crimes, and for providing assistance to women who have been subjected to violence. National plans to combat domestic violence, which include political, cultural and administrative measures to protect women, must be developed. Appropriate amounts of money must be allocated to these activities in state budgets.