For much of recorded history, violence against women was not seen as a crime, but as a prerogative. In many ancient legal codes, women were classified as the property of their fathers or husbands.
It’s extraordinary to consider:
- Medieval legal traditions often permitted "moderate correction" of wives.
- Until the early 20th centuries, domestic violence was largely viewed as a private family matter, shielded from the intervention of the state.
- Historically, practices like forced marriage, honor killings, and the denial of reproductive autonomy were used to maintain patriarchal social structures.
The 20th century marked a turning point as feminist movements began reframing "private" violence as a fundamental human rights violation. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, finally defining it as any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm.
Today, we recognize that violence manifests in various forms:
- Physical and Domestic: Intimate partner violence remains the most prevalent form.
- Sexual: Used frequently as a weapon of war or a tool of workplace harassment.
- Digital: The rise of cyber-stalking and non-consensual image sharing.
While laws have improved, the underlying causes persist - rigid gender roles and economic disparity. Eradicating violence requires more than just legislation; it demands a cultural shift that prioritizes consent and dismantles the historical notion that one gender has the right to dominate another.
We are committed to supporting NGOs, both large and small, that have deep expertise working alongside communities to end violence against women and girls