Equity Per Se

"Well, I got really angry and just gave her a slap. But she knows, I mean, she deserved it."

The above is a transcript of a television presentation where a man flippantly says he assaulted a woman,when down comes the banging sound of a hammer with the firm response to his statement in bold letters acrosshis face.

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Capital Delhi or countryside Kerala, the story is the same, the reports are the same: Abuse of women is onthe increase at an alarming rate.

The reports are no different from elsewhere around the globe: One in every three woman is abused. Nearlyhalf the world's population is abused. The pity is that most women do not even know they are being abused. They believe this is their life. Many are totally ignorant of their rights as human beings.

Both the United Nations and Amnesty International have categorized violence against women as Human RightsViolation.

It is not a matter of equality for the genders but equity per se.

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As part of a global strategy to stop violence against women, Amnesty International held a conference inJune 2004 at Fremantle, Western Australia. This conference on "Stop Violence against Women! "highlighted the fact that violence against women is the most common and widespread of human rights abuses. It takes many forms, including domestic/family violence, sexual assault, institutional violence, sexualharassment, homophobia, sexism, and the trafficking and forced prostitution of women. It examined how a humanrights perspective can add new approaches to addressing violence against women, in policy and in practice.

Australia is no innocent stranger to the perpetration of Human Rights abuse. Its abuse of Aboriginals orits abuse of asylum seekers has been exposed to the world. Its record of abuse of women is no less.

But the fact that Australia has taken an initiative now to combat violence against women is to beappreciated. A media blitz to combat violence against women was launched by the Federal Government ofAustralia on the 6th of June 2004. Prime Minister John Howard issued this statementwhile launching the program:

Recognizing the powerful role of the media in all its various forms, the Australian Government is runningthis national campaign on cinema screens, television, radio, magazines and newspapers. The text of one of theseveral television advertisements against the abuse of women is what you read in the opening of this piece.Another one is where a woman says that her partner hits her when he is drunk but later, on becoming sober saysthat he loves her: "He reckons it’s OK." Down comes the banging sound of a hammer with the boldwords across her face: " NO, IT’S NOT OK."

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Recently, I received by mail a 20-pages booklet with a bold heading in green on a black background: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.AUSTRALIA SAYS NO

The Australian Government has sent this booklet to every household in the continent. It informs bothmen and women, young and old that fundamentally where there is "No respect" there is "Norelationship". An outline of the common patterns of controlling behavior and abuse are given, at thesame time emphasizing that physical assault is only one form of violation. For instance, when a man resorts toblaming his spouse for all the problems in their relationship, it is an abusive and humiliating putdown of thewoman. There is supportive information on how to avoid abuse, stay safe, break the cycle of violence and whereto go for help and assistance. 

Further vital information on how parents can help youngsters develop the right values of fairness is given.The importance of a good father in the lives of his children is stressed. When a man is not in a respectfuland caring relationship with his wife, his children get the wrong messages, and ultimately it leads to thefailure of the institution of family.

Whether the pamphlet gets read or not, there is no escape from the media’s pounding. The oh so usualexcuses that men give for their violent behavior against women are being tired, overworked, stressed or underfinancial pressures--the campaign precisely targets these and lambastes them.

John Howard in his enthusiasm to bring up the future generation of boys with a healthy attitude towardsthemselves as well as the opposite sex even suggested that he was willing to offer special scholarships to mento become decent teachers and good role models.

Not surprising, considering the fact that the Australian boys look up to sporting heroes such as scandalousShane Warne or worse still, the ‘Bulldogs’ rugby-league players accused of gang rape as successful rolemodels of sheer masculinity.

While the campaign appears to be targeted at men asking them to be good and responsible fathers, teachers,role models, partners and human beings, there seems to me that there are hidden poignant messages for women--To be human beings who value their own self-worth and live with dignity so that they can be better mothers,teachers and role models for future generations; Above all, to be not merely compliant partners butcomplementary partners to their spouses.

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In India, when the Mahila Manch and Sakhi Kendra met in Kanpur on May 28th. 2004, the speakers unanimously concluded that the media played apivotal role in stopping injustices to women. Efforts made by voluntary women’s organizations alone, thoughlaudatory, cannot stop the abuse of women. The Government needs to give a massive push to such socialreforms.

The elusive educative approach now underway through the media in Australia towards identifying andpreventing violence against women is a model for emulation. Taking a cue from this, the Government of Indiashould initiate programs to prevent the abuse of women now rampant from the ‘Crime Capital’ to ‘God’sown country.’

G. Sujatha is a Social Anthropologist from the University of Madras. She used to teach "Thai Studies" at a Bangkok University for many years. She now lives in Sydney, Australia