IWD – rooting out violence against our women

ANOTHER Inter- national Women’s Day (IWD) has come around and, once more, we cannot escape from having the issue of violence

against women as one of the primary focus matters. In addition to the weekly reports and court cases, this year the shocking slaughter of a Cuban-trained nurse, Sis. Arianna Duharte Taylor Israel, on a school compound in full view of students, has brought this burning issue forcefully to the forefront. Her husband has been charged with the murder.

I can only hope that, and indeed urge, the organisers of the various IWD activities to find some time during their deliberations to remember and pay tribute to this wonderful daughter of Cuba.

From reports of all those who came into contact with her, especially as she carried out her nursing duties, Arianna was exceptional in her devotion to her profession, the warmth and care she displayed. I have heard this even from persons politically misguided in their opposition to Cuba and Cuban personnel here, but who were touched by the quality of her service to them. It is a reminder of the debt we owe to Cuba and its dedicated internationalists, a debt that many of us do not acknowledge or for which we do not sufficiently demonstrate our gratitude. Arianna was a shining example of this internationalism manifested in the improvement of our health services and our international airport.

Her murder has not only shocked the society, but once more highlighted the vulnerability of our women. It has re-ignited calls for an all-out campaign to rid our society of this scourge and to treat our women with the respect that they deserve.

We have marked previous IWD occasions and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov. 25) with marches and rallies demanding an end be put to this evil.

Unfortunately, these stirring appeals, though necessary, are not enough to eliminate this blight on our society. For one, many of the perpetrators and potential perpetrators of such violence are either not listening or entirely unaware to the extent that they are prone to such dastardly deeds. Violence against and abuse of women is deeply rooted in our society, originating from its character as being male-dominated, a condition which women are supposed to accept.

There are even some who attempt to use Biblical quotations to support this ridiculous falsehood!

Worse, it is also a legacy of a slave society when the master could use, abuse and cast aside slave women at will. There are still remnants of that among our men today and violence is used as an instrument to enforce male dominance. It is reflected in the way that we treat our women. In the 21st century there are still young men, macho spirit and all, who refer to women as “the thing”, a manifestation of the misguided thinking behind it. Logically therefore, it is right to use violence to defend one’s “property”.

Tackling this deep-rooted malignancy needs, in addition to our prayers, appeals and marches, a concerted effort throughout all levels of the society.

We needs to understand the complexity of the problem, the frailty of men who think that their “natural right” to dominance is being threatened, to unhook it from outdated and misguided religious teachings, and to recognize that we all deserve equal treatment, irrespective of gender, race, class, religious or political perspectives.

We continue to bring up our children accepting this supposed “right” of the male to dominate, but expect to instil a different outlook when they become adults. We accept the dominance of the powerful over the powerless and the right of might in international affairs. War is still seen as a tool for enforcing one’s will, not as a ruthless destroyer of human life and the environment.

It is easy then to accept violence against women, we become outraged when we believe that it is “overdone”, nor by the very concept itself.

These are some of the issues we have to begin to reflect on as we celebrate IWD. Women suffered violently the world over for demanding their rights and those rights are still being trampled upon, including in the home. It is a fight from which we must not shirk and must take up in the home, in our schools, churches, and institutions, and insist that the institutions of law and order, the police and courts respect as well.

Have a reflective IWD!

● Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.