If it were between countries, we’d call it a war. If it were a disease, we’d call it an epidemic. If it were an oil spill, we’d call it a disaster. But it’s happening to women, and it’s just an everyday affair. It’s violence against women, or simply, domestic violence.
Two years after the end of a brutal 27-year civil war, violence against women in Angola is on the rise. In addition to the psychological effect of war, its material impact has played a significant role in the increase in gender violence. Today most of Angola’s 13 million people live in dire poverty, despite the country’s rich oil and diamond reserves.
Native women and girls are subjected to structural discrimination by law, practice, and custom. It has no specific laws for domestic violence or marital rape.
Grim figures shows their deplorable sight,
1. Nearly, 102 cases of domestic violence were reported in 2006.
2. Only 54% of women and girls over fifteen years are literate compared to 82% of men in the same age group.
3. On an average, 20 cases of domestic violence were reported per month.
Women are reluctant to report cases to the police given their attitude towards domestic and sexual violence, and the judiciary is virtually non-existent in the provinces. Unmarried rape victims in rural areas are often expected to marry the perpetrator as otherwise they might not find a husband. Customary laws, which govern the majority of the Angolan population, are discriminatory on family law issues, including property and inheritance rights.
Lack of respect for Angolan women’s human rights is also evidenced in the field of education, politics and the work place. Women are also paid less than men for the same work and are normally fired when they become pregnant.
Laws against criminal violence needed
Since, there isn’t enough in legal terms to force people to think twice before they turn to violence consequent upon which, they are not scared of the punishment. Thus, certain laws should be framed in order to curb the growing phenomenon of gender-based violence.
But before this, material conditions need to be improved and focus must be on psychological work and more programs to teach people basic tolerance.
