Violence against Women and Girls: Enough Is Enough

Violence against women and girls is a hidden global crisis which knows no boundaries of geography or culture. But, marginalized women, such as poor women and girls, are most likely to experience it, most often at the hands of their husbands or partners.

Violence against women and girls takes many different forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, child, early and forced marriage, sex trafficking, so called ‘honor’ crimes and female genital mutilation. It is rooted in the gender inequality that women face throughout their lives from childhood through to old age.

Many perpetrators believe that violence toward women and girls is normal or appropriate behavior, supported by society. They feel that they can commit violence without disapproval.

It is one of the most widespread violations of human rights and has long-term devastating effects on the lives of women, their communities and wider society. It is time to say ‘enough is enough’. We want violence against women to end.

Violence on a massive scale: some key statistics

• 30 per cent of women will experience violence at the hands of their current or former partners in their lifetime, up to 70 per cent according to some national studies.
• More than 700 million women alive today were married as children. Of those women, more than one in three got married before 15.
• 200 million women and girls have undergone female genital mutilation – the majority of girls are cut before the age of five.
• Of all women who were murdered globally in 2012, almost half were killed by partners or family members, compared to less than six per cent of men killed in the same year.

In spite of the challenges and discrimination, Maria Morales Jorge, 52, from Guatemala, is determined to change what’s normal and encourages other indigenous women to join her. | Photo from Oxfam. 

Violence and poverty: a vicious cycle 

We believe that violence against women and girls is one of the most significant barriers to our mission to end poverty.

Violence against women and girls not only devastates women’s lives and divides communities, it also undermines development efforts and the building of strong democracies and just, peaceful societies.

Violence locks women and girls into poverty. It limits women’s choices; their ability to access education, earn a living and participate in political and public life. Poverty exposes them to further violence and a lack of options when violence occurs.

Join in and say Enough

We can change the harmful beliefs at the core of this problem. What was learned can be unlearned. It is time for us all, women, men, girls, boys and key public actors to end violence against women and girls.

Read and share stories of how women and men across the world are standing up and saying ‘Enough’.

Join in and say Enough: together we can end violence against women and girls

*SOURCE: Oxfam International. Go to Original.