Nothing is more damaging to
your confidence and self esteem than being in an emotionally abusive marriage.
Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone yet the problem is often
overlooked, excused or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is
psychological rather than physical.
When people think of domestic abuse they often focus on domestic violence. But
domestic abuse occurs whenever one person in an intimate relationship or
marriage tries to dominate and control the other person.
Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only to
gain and maintain total control over you. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers
use fear, guilt, shame and intimidation to wear you down and keep you under his
or her thumb. Your abuser may also threaten you, hurt you or hurt those around
you.
Domestic violence and abuse do not discriminate. It occurs within all age
ranges, ethnic backgrounds and economic levels. And while women are more
commonly victimized and men are also abused especially verbally and emotionally.
The bottom line is that abusive behavior is never acceptable whether it’s coming
from a man, a woman, a teenager or an older adult. You deserve to feel valued,
respected and safe.
According to a 2011 poll of experts by the Thomson Reuters Foundation Poll
Pakistan is the third most dangerous country for women in the world. It cited
the more than 1,000 women and girls murdered in "honor killings" every year and
reported that 90 percent of Pakistani women suffer from domestic violence.
Domestic violence even is a common social problem in Pakistan. According to a
report nearly 70 to 90 percent of women are suffering from many forms of abuses.
More than 5000 women have to face discrimination and violence on a daily basis
due to the cultural and religious norms that Pakistani society embraces.
Approximately 97% of women were interviewed and told that they have been the
victim of some kinds of assaults, ranging from verbal abuses or threatened to
being subjected to beating or non consensual sex and Some common types of
violence include honor killing, spousal abuse including marital rape, acid
attacks and being burned by family members .Spousal abuse is rarely considered a
crime socially unless it takes an extreme form of murder or attempted murder
which could range from driving a woman to suicide.
It is really painful to mention that 12 years old girls are being killed by
their own fathers and brothers. Different reasons are linked with domestic
violence in Pakistan such as poverty, illiteracy and social taboos. In Islamabad
nearly 4,000 women had been attacked during the period of eight years in which
30 percent were pregnant.
I request the concerned authorities and human rights organizations to increase
the number of laws against domestic violence and women should be saved from
physical torture, sexual abuse and acid attacks.