Abuse an omnipresent reality for Yemeni women

Violence against women is a universal problem of epidemic proportions; however, the human cost often remains invisible, hidden beneath the venire of societal norms, cultural traditions, and, more often then not, fear. International studies indicate that at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime. Typically the assailant is well known by the victim, and remains close even after acts of violence have been perpetrated.

According to a World Organization Against Torture report published in 2002, one of the first exploratory studies undertaken in Yemen revealed that 46.3% of the women questioned had experienced violence from their spouses or other family members at some point in their lives. Recent studies examining the prevalence of violence against women in Yemen have yielded staggering figures regarding contemporary levels of assault in the nation. Typically, the majority of violent acts against women occur in homes, while the range of what constitutes abuse varies; intimidation, sexual violence, physical force, emotional abuse, and home arrest are all disheartening manifestations of abuse. Research has estimated roughly 50.9% of women suffer from a degree of intimidation on a regular basis, while 54.5% will experience some risk of physical violence at least once in their lifetimes.

Dr. Samir al-Shamiri, a Sociological professor at Aden University, specializing in research of domestic violence in Yemen, has compiled an extensive amount of statistics on the subject in order to increase public awareness of the plight of women. According to his research, 17.3% of women are victims of sexual violence, while 28.2% of women suffer from several restrictions upon their freedom of mobility. Dr. al-Shamiri has further concluded that while 44.5% of women suffer from at least three of the above-mentioned forms of abuse, only 28.2% do not suffer from any form of violence or intimidation. However, there is a distinct possibility that the figure may in actuality be much higher, as it is difficult to acquire a representative polling bases when so many individuals are afraid to discuss their situations.
 

Violence against women is a crime

“Society must cease describing violence against women as a phenomenon, but rather describe it as a crime,” said Souad al-Qadasi, the director of the Women’s Forum for Research and Training. In order for reform to come about at a societal level, the government must change how they discuss these issues, al-Qadasi affirms. Without a general realization that the basic morality of a nation, indeed the very health of a nation, is nurtured in the home through the care of mothers and wives, attitudes toward the primary nurturer will not change. Furthermore, without strict laws to guarantee the rights of women, violence against women will not be viewed as a crime. “It is time for everyone to acknowledge these actions as crimes, and to act decisively to prevent the abuse of our women. Such crimes should be swiftly persecuted.”

“Each crime contains two elements: a physical element and a mental element. The physical element of the crime implies an act of violence perpetrated by an aggressor upon the victim. This facet of crime is clearly present in the case of violence against women,” explained al-Qadasi. “Second, the mental element of crime implies an intent to harm the victim, either physically or psychologically. Such intent is clearly evidenced in cases of violence against women. However, complications arise in traditional Yemeni society, as the principle of ‘preference and right of control’ is often invoked by males over females, be it either socially or culturally invoked, or legislated. Furthermore, in typical crimes, the victim is willing to seek redress. However, in domestic cases, the assailant is often the father, brother or husband, upon whom the victim is dependent.” Violence against women is one of the most widespread, gross violations of human rights prevalent today. Included under the frightening umbrella of mistreatment are acts of physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse. These acts cut across boundaries of age, race, culture, wealth and geography. Abuse takes place in the home, on streets, in schools and in the workplace. It can be found in farm fields, refugee camps, during conflicts and in the midst of crises. Abuse has many manifestations, from the most universally prevalent forms of domestic and sexual violence, to harmful practices, abuse during pregnancy, so-called honor killings and other types of femicide.

Domestic Violence

Unfortunately, there are no areas of the world where women are completely safe from domestic violence. According to 2006 report provided by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNDFW), at least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime.

Statistics paint a horrifying picture of the heath and sociological consequences for the victims of violence. For women aged 15 to 44 years, violence is a major cause of death and disability. In a 1994 study, based upon World Bank data, roughly 10% of women within the previously stated age group selected rape and domestic violence as more pressing risks than cancer, motor accidents, war and malaria. 

Women who are victimized within family relationships are reluctant to ask for outside help, largely due to the negative repercussion that their status would receive within their communities and their families. It is common for women to believe that their male relatives should exert control. “ Yes, my husband has all the power over me. We grow up with such belief,” confessed Um Mohammed, a Yemeni housewife. She continued, “When I was young, I heard women complained about abuse, but no one payed attention. Even my mother would declare the dominance of males over women, especially if the women were insubordinate.”

Al-Qadasi has pointed out that scientific research institutions and civil society organizations have given the issue of domestic violence minor attention within their research programs. The majority of the research conducted has been of a theoretical sociological perspective, examining the relationship between the transforming roles of men and women in private society with larger social changes.

 

“Honor Killings”

In many cultures it is considered the responsibility of the family unit to erase the stain of shame brought about by rape, fornication and adultery, by murdering the women involved. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that the annual worldwide number of  “honor killing” victims may be as high as 5,000 women a year.

According to the UNFPA, there is very little information about the prevalence of ‘honor crimes’ in Yemen. While some local NGOs have said that the phenomenon is not widespread, other organizations assert that honor crimes do occur, but that they currently lack evidence to substantiate this claim. Information from UNICEF for 1997 indicates that as many as 400 honor killings took place in Yemen that year.

“Many women who have been raped are then killed by family members in ‘honor killings’ for having brought shame to their family,” said H.N a young Yemeni woman, who asked to not be identified. “One of my best friend was sick. A friend and I decided to visit her at her house. As we rode in the taxi, I realized that the driver was not going the right way. He was taking us outside Sana’a. Upon asking him where he was going, he immediately closed the taxi’s windows. “What a girl can do in such situation, I just started thinking of my death – to be killed by my brother or father, although, it would not have been my sin,” added H.N. Although this particular individual eventually managed to escape the situation, many young women are not as fortunate, and face the sever consequence for the actions of another.

Child marriage

According to the Child Rights Convention, “child marriage” is a union that takes place before the bride or groom reaches the age of eighteen. In Yemen, conservative social values and poverty often force girls to marry and become young mothers well before this age. Furthermore, many parents believe that if their daughters are married young, they will be able to protect the honor of their daughters and their family.

There is a strong correlation between instances of early marriage and an increase in domestic violence. Women who are married early often no longer have time to acquire the proper education, life skills, or even a social understanding to enable them to function effectively outside of the home. Such circumstances serve to propitiate the cycle of poverty, and foster an environment unsuitable for the maintenance of equal rights within the home.

Yemen has ratified both the “Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)” and the “Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)”. In addition, Article 6 of the Yemeni Constitution confirms Yemen’s adherence to international law. Article 1 of the CRC defines a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years.” Article 16(2) of CEDAW states that the “betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make the registration of marriages in an official registry compulsory.” In its general recommendation on adolescent health and development, the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the body responsible for monitoring state compliance with the CRC, has found early marriage to be a harmful traditional practice that negatively affects girls’ sexual and reproductive health. The CRC requires states parties to take all measures to abolish such traditional practices (Article 24(3)) and to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse (Article 34).

 

Social awareness of violence against women

Assistant Professor of Criminal Law at the Faculty of Law in Aden University, Dr. Huda Ali has said, “the recent campaigns protesting violence against women have been limited in comparison to the size of the widespread prevalence of such a problem it in a country like Yemen, where the phenomenon goes unreported.”

“The Islamic ideal, which allows men to the concept of the so-called right to reform, does not include any form of abuse,” added Sa’ad.

The problem goes beyond the cultural ideals of society however. In general, the recognition of this problem is almost nonexistent in Yemen. “There is still a major lack of social awareness towards women. Even some educated people still believe in the male domination of women and do not pay attention to the concept that relations between spouses are based on an equality of love, respect and tolerance,” said al-Shamiri.

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