FIGHTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REQUIRES DELIBERATE LEGISLATION

Domestic Violence is one of the most common violations of human rights committed across the globe, often difficult to eradicate because many incidents go unreported. Generally, violence against humans falls under the fundamental human rights protection laws, albeit many countries are taking deliberate steps to fight domestic violence by enacting laws that specifically address this as a separate offence. One of such is the Domestic Violence Leave Act that has been adopted in a few countries like in New Zealand where victims are granted 10 days paid leave to allow them leave their partners (perpetrators), to find new homes and protect themselves and their children.

Photo credit: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/26/new-zealand-paid-domestic-violence-leave-jan-logie

According to the World Health Organisation, one out of three women is reported to have experienced violence which are more often committed by intimate partners and family members. Women all over the world stand a higher risk of suffering from domestic violence than men, in many ways that are harmful to their health, both physically and psychologically, and this negatively impacts on their various employment status and childcare ability.

Victims of domestic violence are at a high risk of job loss due to a decline in productivity resulting from the physical and mental harm suffered. Hence, victims and survivors should be afforded time, space, and support to rebuild their lives and ensure adequate security.

This month of October is recognised as the International month for combating the scourge of domestic abuse. It follows that ending domestic violence requires an approach that is holistic especially in developing countries like Nigeria, where the society's acceptance of abuse is prevalent, and some states have laws that allow spousal abuse in the form of correction.

Governments should create deliberate local laws that are both preventive and proactive, by enacting capital punishments for perpetrators and restorative processes for victims of such acts.

#enddomesticviolence #violenceagainstwomen #endsarsnow #justice #alllivesmatter #iamasha

#justiceforvictims