FACTS:

Every year in the United States there are over 3 million incidents of domestic violence. That means that every nine seconds someone is beaten by their domestic partner.

Every year over 4000 victims of domestic violence are killed.

95% of domestic violence victims are women.

Domestic violence causes more injuries to women in the USA between the ages of 15 and 44 than car accidents, muggings, and rape combined.

 

Domestic Violence can take different forms, but its goal is always the same:

Batterers want to control their domestic partners through fear. They do this by regularly abusing them physically, sexually, psychologically and economically.

 

Here are some of the forms domestic violence can take:

 

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Hitting, Slapping, Kicking, Choking, Pushing, Punching, Beating.

 

VERBAL ABUSE

Constant criticism, Making humiliating remarks, Not responding to what the victim is saying, Mocking, Name-calling, Yelling, Swearing, Interrupting, Changing the subject.

 

SEXUAL ABUSE

Forcing sex on an unwilling partner, Demanding sexual acts that the victim does not want to perform, Degrading treatment.

 

ISOLATION

Making it hard for the victim to see friends and relatives, Reading mail, Taking the victim's car keys.

 

COERCION

Making the victim feel guilty, Pushing the victim into decisions, Sulking, Manipulating children and other family members, Always insisting on being right, Making up impossible "rules" and punishing the victim for breaking them.

 

HARASSMENT

Following or stalking, Embarrassing the victim in public.

 

ECONOMIC CONTROL

Not paying bills, Refusing to give the victim money, Not letting the victim work, Interfering with the victim's job, Refusing to work and support the family.

 

ABUSING TRUST

Lying, Breaking promises, Withholding important information, Being unfaithful, Not sharing domestic responsibilities.

 

THREATS AND INTIMIDATION

Threatening to harm the victim, the children, family members and pets, Using physical size to intimidate, Shouting, Keeping weapons and threatening to use them.

 

EMOTIONAL WITHHOLDING

Not expressing feelings, Not giving compliments, Not paying attention, Not respecting the victim's feelings, rights and opinions, Not taking the victim's concern seriously.

 

DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY

Destroying  furniture, Punching walls, Throwing things, Breaking dishes.

 

SELF DESTRUCTTIVE BEHAVIOR

Abusing drugs or alcohol, Threatening self-harm or suicide, Driving recklessly, Deliberately doing things that will cause trouble.

 

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This day was recognized by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1999 with a view to raising public awareness of violations of the rights of women.

 

In many cultures women are viewd and treated a inferior or as second class citizens. Prejudices against them are deep-rooted. Gender-based violence in all its forms is an ongoing problem, even in the so-called developed world. According to former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, "violence against women is global in reach, and takes place in all societies and cultures. It affects women no matter what their race, ethnicity, social origin, birth or other status may be".

Statistics issued by a victimology institution in Holland indicate that 23% of women in one South American country, or abut 1 in 4, suffer some form of domesti violence. Likewise, the Council of Europe estimates that 1 in 4 European women suffers domestic violence during her lifetime. According to the Birtish Home Office, in England and Wales in one recent year, an average of two women each week were killed by current or former partners. Amnesty International describes violence against women and girls as today's "most pervasive human rights challenge".

 

Do the statistics mentioned above reflect God's attitude toward women?