U UN-ovoj Deklaraciji o uklanjanju nasilja nad ženama nasilje nad ženama opisano je sljedećim rečenicama:

„Izraz nasilje nad ženama označava bilo koji čin rodno uvjetovanog nasilja čiji je ishod, odnosno vjerojatni ishod, tjelesna, seksualna ili fizička ozljeda ili patnja žene, uključujući i prijetnje takvim djelima, prisilu ili proizvoljno lišenje slobode, bez obzira događa li se to u javnom ili privatnom životu.“

Dana 25. studenog 1960. godine, tri sestre, Patria, Minerva, i Maria Teresa Mirbal ubijene su jer su u tajnosti radile protiv Rafaela Trujilla i njegove Vlade u Dominikanskoj Republici. Opća skupština Ujedinjenih naroda 1999. godine ovaj je dan proglasila Međunarodnim danom borbe protiv nasilja nad ženama, u čast sestrama Mirbal.

Nasilje nad ženama oduvijek je bilo problem u gotovo svim društvima. Međutim, za vrijeme pandemije službene su brojke pokazale da je ovaj problem za žene postao još veći i došlo je do porasta nasilja u obitelji. Za vrijeme provedenih mjera lockdowna, prema UN-ovom tijelu za ravnopravnost spolova i osnaživanje žena, pozivi na linijama za pomoć su u nekim zemljama porasli 5 puta u odnosu na vrijeme prije pandemije. Zatvaranje škola i radnih mjesta također je stavilo djevojčice i žene u ranjiv položaj. U kućanstvima u kojima je razina napetosti povećana lockdown je doveo do porasta nasilja nad ženama jer su muškarac i žena cijelo vrijeme bili kod kuće. Za žene koje ne rade, koje nemaju svoj odvojeni izvor prihoda, kao na primjer obiteljski novac ili roditeljske potpore, teže je otići. Nezaposlenost i nemogućnost obrazovanja onemogućuje ženama prijavljivanje obiteljskog nasilja. Ako žena dolazi iz obitelji u kojoj je veza unutar obitelji slaba, preseljenje kod roditelja, rođaka, ili drugih članova obitelji nije opcija. A kada postoji i financijska nesigurnost, onda one žene koje su zlostavljane nikako ne mogu otići. Škole su također vrlo važne za prijavljivanje nasilja nad ženama zbog toga što učitelji i učiteljice mogu primijetiti promjene u ponašanju djevojčice i o tome obavijestiti nadležne ako je to potrebno. I u tom smislu postoje prepreke jer online obrazovanje ne omogućuje prepoznavanje i prijavu nasilja nad djevojčicama i ženama.

Nasilje nad ženama velik je problem i u zajednicama Roma i Putnika Prepoznavanje nasilja nad ženama još je teže u romskim zajednicama jer dio djece ne pohađaju školu redovno, a ne idu ni na redovne medicinske preglede. Ako žena u romskoj zajednici nema podršku obitelji, ili samostalan izvor prihoda, teško joj je otići. To je posebno teško ako žena živi u romskom naselju cijeli život. Onda joj je još teže otići iz njezine lokalne zajednice i preseliti u grad, čak i onda kad ima svoj novac.

Općenito, Romkinje nemaju obrazovanje koje je prijeko potrebno da bi žene mogle napustiti svoju obitelj kad se suoče s nasiljem. Da bi započele novi život, žene moraju biti financijski neovisne, a financijska neovisnost je otežana bez odgovarajućeg obrazovanja i  bez posla. Alkoholizam i ovisnost o kockanju su češći u romskim obiteljima, u odnosu na druge obitelji. To također stvara napetosti u obitelji, posebno ako žena ne želi dati svoj novac mužu da ga potroši. Muškarac tada postaje agresivniji.

Svake godine Centar za žensko globalno vodstvo održava „16 dana aktivizma protiv nasilja nad ženama“, ususret Međunarodnom danu borbe protiv nasilja nad ženama. Tih 16 dana služi za pozive na aktivizam i sprječavanje nasilja nad ženama organiziranjem raznih aktivnosti i strategija. U tih 16 dana omogućeno je da aktivisti, oni koji su preživjeli nasilje, i partneri UN-a dijele svoje priče kako bi pomogli onima koji svoj život žive pod prijetnjama, i kako bi ih nadahnuli.

U svibnju 2011. Konvenciju Vijeća Europe o sprečavanju i borbi protiv nasilja nad ženama i nasilja u obitelji, poznatiju kao Istanbulska konvencija, Vijeće Europe otvorilo je za potpise. Cilj ove posebne konvencije bio je da žrtve mogu dobiti pomoć i pravnu podršku u zemljama koje su potpisale konvenciju. Od 2013. do 2021. godine konvenciju je potpisalo 45 zemalja. Turska je bila prva zemlja koja je dala suglasnost za potpisivanje konvencije i prva ju je ratificirala, a kasnije je postala prva zemlja koja se povukla iz nje. Predsjednik Erdogan iskoristio je svoju novu predsjedničku moć da samo ratificira, i/ili, kao u ovom slučaju, poništi međunarodne sporazume. Turska Vlada nije htjela nastaviti provoditi konvenciju jer je ona pomagala ženama da se zaštite od zlostavljača čak i kada policija nije pokušavala pomoći ženama u opasnosti. Uz potporu odvjetnika za ljudska prava, policija i sudovi morali su se držati konvencije, pružajući žrtvama i preživjelima potrebne mjere opreza. Vlada je tvrdila da Istanbulska konvencija nije bila prikladna za „strukturu turske obitelji“. Pomaganje ženama u borbi protiv nasilja nad ženama trebalo bi biti prioritet, čak i onda kada to podrazumijeva raspad obitelji. Žene u Turskoj trebaju Istanbulsku konvenciju i vlasti na njihovoj strani, kao i sve druge žene.

Godine 2008. Pippa Bacca stopirala je od Milana do Jeruzalema kako bi promicala svjetski mir. Bila je poznata kao „nevjesta mira“ jer je nosila bijelu vjenčanicu, s namjerom da ju kasnije izloži sa svim mrljama na njoj. Bila je silovana i ubijena u tjednu kad je stigla u Tursku. Tada sam ja imala 10 godina, i ne mogu opisati tugu koju sam osjetila tog dana kad sam čula vijesti. Ono što me najviše uništilo je to što ljudi, iako su bili tužni, nisu bili iznenađeni da se to dogodilo u Turskoj. Kad je turska Vlada odbacila konvenciju osjećala sam se slično. Mi, žene u Turskoj, i žene u svijetu, trebamo nužne korake koji se moraju poduzeti da se žene zaštiti od nasilja. Moramo raditi na sprječavanju nasilja kako se nikome više ne bi dogodilo ono što se dogodilo Pippi Bacca. Moramo djelovati protiv nasilja nad ženama kako se djevojčice ne bi bojale izaći iz svoje kuće, a i kako se ne bi bojale onoga što se događa unutar njihovih kuća.

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women describes violence against women with following sentences:

“The term violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”

On 25 November 1960, three sisters Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal were assassinated because they were working covertly against Rafael Trujillo and his government in the Dominican Republic. In 1999, United Nations General Assembly marked the day as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in honour of Maribal Sisters.

Violence against women has always been a problem in almost all societies. But, during pandemic, official numbers indicate that this problem only got worse for women, with the increase of domestic violence. With the implemented lockdown measures, according to UN WOMEN, phone calls to help lines in some countries increased five times, compared to before pandemic. Also, closing off the schools and workplaces left women and girls vulnerable as well. In households with tension, wife and husband always being at the house during lockdown made it easier, in most cases, for men to abuse women. Especially for women who are not working, who do not have a separate source of income, like family money or parental support, it is more difficult to leave. Unemployment and not being able to receive education causes women not being able to report domestic violence. If one comes from a family with weak family ties, moving in with your parents, siblings or other family members is not an option. When the financial insecurity comes into, then some women who are being abused cannot leave. Schools are also highly important to report violence towards women, because teachers can detect behaviour changes in girls and notify the officials if necessary. Therefore, online education also creates a barrier for reporting violence against women.

Violence against women is a serious problem in Roma and Traveller communities as well. Due to kids not attending schools regularly and not having regular medical check-ups, detecting violence against women is even more difficult in Roma communities. If a woman does not have family support or separate source of income in the Roma community, it is also difficult to leave. Especially when Roma women live in Roma settlements their whole life, it is more difficult for them to leave local community behind and just move to a city, even when they might have their own money.

Generally, Roma women does not have the educational background that is much needed for women to be able to leave their family when facing abuse. To start a new life, one needs economic independence and economic independence is more difficult without proper education and without having a job. There is also alcoholism and gambling addiction issues among Roma men, usually more common compared to other families, which also creates more tension in the family, especially if women do not want to give money to their husbands to spend away, men become more aggressive.

Every year Center for Women’s Global Leadership coordinates “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”, at the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. These 16 days are used to call for activism and elimination of violence against women through organizing strategies and activities. In these 16 days, floor is provided for activists, survivors of violence and UN partners to share their stories, to inspire and help those who are living their lives under threat.

In May of 2011, “Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence”, for short knowns as “Istanbul Convention”, was opened for signature by the Council of Europe. This specific convention aimed for victims to be able to reach for help and legal support in the countries that signed the convention. From 2013 to 2021, 45 countries signed it. Turkey was the first country to give consent to sign the convention and first to ratify it, later, became the first country to withdraw from it, when President Erdogan used his new presidential power to solely ratify and/or like in this case, annul international agreements. Turkish government did not want to continue following the convention because it helped women to be able to protect themselves from abusers even when police did not try to help women in particular danger. With the support of human rights lawyers, police and courts had to obey the convention, providing victims and survivors with necessary precautions. Government claimed that Istanbul Convection was not suited for the “Turkish family structure”. Helping women for elimination of violence against women, should be a priority, even if it means families broken down. Women of Turkey needs Istanbul convention and authorities on their side, as much as any women.

In 2008, Pippa Bacca was hitchhiking from Milan to Jerusalem, to promote world peace. She was known as the “Peace Bride” for she was wearing a white wedding dress, with the intention of putting the dress on display later with all the stains on it. She was raped and murdered the week she reached Turkey. I was 10 at the time, I cannot describe the sadness I felt the day I heard the news. What destroyed me the more was that, even though people were sad, they were not surprised that this had happened in Turkey. When Turkish government denounced from the convention, I had a similar feeling. Us, women of Turkey and women of the world, we need the necessary steps to be taking to protect women from violence. We need to work against violence so that we do not have more Pippa Bacca’s. We need to work against violence so that little girls are not scared to go outside of their houses, so that they are not scared of what is inside their houses.