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Sylvia Goba of the Forum of Conscience in Sierra Leone carried out a research about domestic violence in the western part of Sierra Leone and presented the results of the study in the Isis-WICCE Exchange Institute. The findings of the research revealed that the majority of women experience forms of domestic violence, which in many cases are not reported. While the research noted that some laws about domestic violence needed to be strengthened, it was apparent that women needed to be sensitized about their rights ...
Introduction
Domestic violence against women, even though widely unrecorded (OXFAM, 1998), is a global epidemic that kills, tortures, and maims - physically, psychologically, sexually and economically. It is one of the most pervasive of human rights violations that denies women equality, security, dignity, self-worth, and the right to enjoy fundamental freedoms (UNICEF, 2000). Women across all regions, ages, religions, classes, and political affiliations are vulnerable and their safety is not guaranteed either in the home or in the public sphere.
Causes of Gender-Based Violence
Gender-Based Violence, which is firmly entrenched in many societies, is also recognized as a major women's health issue. The root causes of this gender - based violence lie in a society's attitudes towards and practices of gender discrimination, which place women in a subordinate position in relation to men. The lack of social and economic value for women's work and accepted gender roles perpetuate and reinforce the assumption that men have decision-making power and control over women. Through acts of sexual and gender based violence, whether individual or collective, perpetrators seek to maintain privileges, power and control over others.
Initiatives to address and prevent violence against women have in the recent past been through the introduction of international women's human rights instruments. These instruments have however not been respected or enforced in many instances and national governments who ratify them always fail to domesticate them. In most parts of the world, legal and policy gains by women are being reversed, repealed or ignored and many governments lack the awareness or the political will to tackle the issue (www.fire.or.cr/violence online 08/10/ 2004).
Methods of reporting violence
In a study carried out in 200 married, single, divorced or widowed women, it was clear that in...