Words are not enough
The following is an edited version of an address by Dr Glenda Simms at the forum in commemoration of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women at the Medallion Hall Hotel.
WHEN the state parties of the United Nations rose from their slumber and came to acknowledge the reality that approximately 70 per cent of women and girls in every country, and across all cultural and religious divides, are subjected, on a regular basis, to sexual assaults, rapes, battering, murder, and other forms of psychological and economic violence, November 25 was set aside for everyone to not only reflect on the atrocities, but rather put in place strategies to end this violence.
In our discourse let us bear in mind that the women and girls of our society are not asking for sympathy, charitable noises, or the reinforcement of our subordination through interpretations of religious doctrines or philosophies of our defined place in the patriarchal mindset.
We are here to frame our discourse in the following:
* The violation of women’s human rights
* The continuing discrimination of women in law, in state practices, and in the persistence of inequalities between men and women.
We must address such inequalities that are not erased by the academic and professional success earned by some women.
We are also obliged to ask questions about the role of violence against women and girls as an impediment to holistic economic and cultural development. Implicated in this challenge are:
* The eradication of HIV/AIDS.
* The reduction of pregnancies as a feature of the girl child’s life experience.
* The mental capacity of our citizens to expect a life of peace and security in both the private and public arenas.
The time has come for the Jamaican society to be serious about critically analysing the socio-cultural norms that provide the framework for a deep level of acceptance of violence against women and girls.
For instance, we are still challenged by a sizeable group of battered women who are prepared to declare that “if him no beat me, him no love mi”.
Through our various institutions, which are influenced historically by many forms of socialisation through various organisations, we must make every effort to get every woman to understand that “domestic violence is not about relationships — good or bad. It is about abusers and their use of violence”.
Violence and beatings are not evidence of love. They are barbaric acts designed to keep women cowering in corners of helplessness, humiliation, and powerlessness.
The linking of love with inhumane treatment is a clear indication that many women have internalised the values of patriarchy, which have historically defined women as property owned by the male of the species.
According to the findings of a 2012 study commissioned by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the following issues must be considered urgent by all societies, including those in the Caribbean region:
Violence against women has been linked to negative health consequences including the spread of HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, suicide, unwanted pregnancies, child abuse and related negative intergenerational consequences that impact disproportionately on the children of our nation.
In short, violence against women is a public health problem. When this is factored into the added economic demands of countries such as Jamaica, we must all recognise such violence as a serious barrier to our developmental goals.
Against this background, we must be reminded of the following established trends:
– Intimate partner violence against women is widespread in every Latin American and Caribbean country.
– Intimate partner violence ranges from occasional moderate acts to chronic situations of battering.
– Emotional abuse and other controlling behaviours are widespread in our region and are linked to physical violence to which women of all classes are exposed.
The fact that middle- and upper-class women who are attached to the male power brokers are generally silent about the brutality that defines their lives is an indication of the continuing subjugation of all women and girls.
Here in Jamaica, we welcome the legal reforms that are currently under way, especially the reform of the sexual offences and related crimes. Those of us who are paying attention to this process cannot ignore the fact that many people who are in decision-making and other levels of authority are still expressing views that are rooted in a long history of the objectification of women. The debate around marital rape is a case in point.
Thankfully, these antiquated views are challenged by more progressive voices who respect the autonomy of women whether they are single or married.
My hope is that the Bill on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace will be sanctioned by the Parliament before long.
Also, we all should push to ensure that the agencies that are responsible to carry out the prime minister’s directive for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW are held accountable in 2015. This directive was given during the prime minister’s first term in office.
Dr Glenda Simms, OD, is a gender consultant.