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Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan by Wazhma Hakimi

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Dr. Wazhma Hakimi
Dr. Wazhma Hakimi

Harmful practices identified as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Afghanistan, Prevalence of GBV in Afghanistan and Government Efforts to tackle Violence against women (VAW).

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Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan Wazhma Hakimi Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Public Health (MPH), Maser of Science in International Health (MScIH)
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW/G) Harmful practices identified as GBV in Afghanistan: • Domestic violence, • Forced marriage, • Child/underage marriage, • Exchange marriage (Baadal), • Giving away girls to settle disputes (giving Baad), • Prohibiting from the right of marriage or right to choose spouse; • Recording the identity of the victim and publishing it in a way that damages her personality; • Restriction on women’s freedom of movement • Denying the right to education, work and access to health services. • ‘honor’ killings, • Trafficking • Sexual assault including rape; • Forced prostitution;
Cont… • Physical assault including hitting/Beating, stoning, slapping, cutting, shoving, burning (using chemicals or other dangerous substances), shooting or use of any weapons, acid attacks • Causing injury or disability; • Psychological/emotional abuse like, verbal abuse, humiliating, intimidating; • Harassment/persecution; • Forced isolation; • Forced addiction; • Depriving from inheritance; • Prohibiting to access personal property; • Forced labor; • Marrying more than one wife without observing Article 86 of Civil Code; • Denial of relationship. (GBV Treatment Protocol for Healthcare Providers in Afghanistan, 2014)
Prevalence of GBV in Afghanistan • 1,669 incidents of VAW in 16 provinces • Of which only 109 cases (7%) were processed by the formal justice system • battery and laceration-the most prevalent forms • 87% of the women interviewed in 4,700 households experienced at least one form of domestic violence • 62% experienced multiple forms of violence • 17% reported sexual violence (11% rape) • 52% were victims of physical violence • 59% were forced to marry • 74% were victims of psychological and verbal violence • 21% were forms of economic violence • Lifetime Physical/Sexual Intimate Partner Violence : 51 % • Physical/Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months : 46 % • Child Marriage : 35% (UN WOMEN, 2016) ( UNAMA, 2013) (National Report on Domestic Abuse in Afghanistan, 2008)
Consequences of VAW: • Self-immolation • ‘Running away’ or ‘home escape’ • re-victimization • 2% resulted in the death of the victim • 2% in attempted suicide and 0.5% in suicide • 2,300 Afghan girls and women commit suicide every year • 23% result in temporary physical injury • 4% in permanent physical injury • 28% of women suffer from severe depression • 78% suffer anxiety • 31% suffer PTSD (UNIFEM, 2006) (Mortality Survey, 2010)
Not all women suffer VAW Vulnerable groups to VAW: -Younger age -Refugees & Migrants, IDPs -Women with disabilities -Women without supporter(Man) -Prisoners -Uneducated/less education -Poor -Beggars -Women with mental problems -Ethnic groups -Employed, Unemployed
Examples of domestic violence in Afg. • 6m Pregnant woman, beaten, her genitals mutilated, leading to a miscarriage, 20 years old, Takhar • Another pregnant woman killed by her in- laws over suspicion that she had an extra- marital affair, 20 years old, Faryab • A woman whose husband chopped off her nose in January 2016 • Man attacked his wife all of a sudden, shredded her hair with a scissor and shaved parts of her head, cut parts of her genitals and beat her up with a wooden stick.
Killed by angry mob on the streets of Kabul. While arguing with a shrine keeper about his practice of selling charms at the mosque Accused of burning the Quran. Hearing the accusations, angry men flocked to the mosque and attacked her. She was beaten with sticks and stones and ran over with a car. Her body was dumped on the banks of the Kabul river and set afire. The Farkhunda trial is a statistical outlier. At her funeral, women’s rights activists broke with tradition and carried her coffin to her grave.
Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan by Wazhma Hakimi
• Presidential Decree- extensive public awareness campaign in mass media, and mosques concerning VAW • Inclusion of VAW in other national plans and strategies • The first law in the history of Afghanistan that clearly describes more than 22 actions against women as crimes and orders the perpetrators of such action be punished • Law on Elimination of VAW, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, rights: • Having access to shelter or other safe place(s) with the consent of the victim; • Having free access to emergency health services; • Having an advocate or legal aid provider; • Compensation to damage resulted from the act of violence; (Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015) Government Efforts to tackle VAW in Afg:
Progress in SDG 5: • Economic Empowerment • Agriculture and handy craft productions • Empowerment of women to join the labour force. • Actively participation in government, including in leadership and decision making positions. • The number of seats reserved for women has been specified in the Constitution of Afghanistan • In parliament and local government is 23% which higher than the world’s average of 21%. • Increased educational opportunities • Supported women to report crimes, Surge in the # of reported cases • Capacity building of police and judiciary to register and resolve gender abuses. (SDGs’ Progress Report, 2017)
Targets: • 56% of women experienced violence by their husband or fiancé. • 53% of women experienced violence by people other than their partner. • Target 5.2: to reduce this ratio to under 40% by the end of 2030. • 17% married at age 15-19 • while % of male married in the same age is 3%. • Target 5.3: decrease to 10% by 2030. • 73% unpaid domestic female workers, • for male workers the ratio is 17% • Target 5.4: reduction to 15% by the end of 2030 • Women constitute 10.7% of managerial position in government. • Target 5.5: This trend will improve to 32% by the end of 2030. ineffective management and lack of capacity of MoWA (SDGs’ Progress Report, 2017)
Challenges:• Few are punished • The implementation of Elimination of VAW (EVAW) law has been limited. • Gaps in Existing Legal Framework • Weaknesses of the Criminal Justice System • VAW has traditionally been seen as a private matter • Many of these incidents, are never reported. VAW is prevalent and the hidden figures are extremely high. • Related to family conflicts • Many men who beat and abuse women inside the privacy of their homes. • The most serious cases often involve women who do not have the resources or support to actually go to the police to report the crime. • Fear of re-victimization • Economic dependency (due to which women cannot leave abusive husband) • Some women are undoubtedly pressured by family members to withdraw • Claim rapes have turned out to be a matter of wanting dowry or restoring honour • Lack of empowered female police staff • Running away (Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015)
References: • Gender-based Violence Treatment Protocol for Healthcare Providers in Afghanistan. (2014). MoPH, WHO, UN WOMEN. • Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015, Violence against women in Afghanistan: Getting away with murder, https://www.cmi.no/news/1550-violence-against-women-in-afghanistan • SDGs’ Progress Report. 2017. Afghanistan. • UN WOMEN. (2016). Global Database on Violence against Women:Afghanistan. evaw-global database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/afghanistan#1
Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan by Wazhma Hakimi

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Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan by Wazhma Hakimi

  • 1. Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan Wazhma Hakimi Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Public Health (MPH), Maser of Science in International Health (MScIH)
  • 2. Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW/G) Harmful practices identified as GBV in Afghanistan: • Domestic violence, • Forced marriage, • Child/underage marriage, • Exchange marriage (Baadal), • Giving away girls to settle disputes (giving Baad), • Prohibiting from the right of marriage or right to choose spouse; • Recording the identity of the victim and publishing it in a way that damages her personality; • Restriction on women’s freedom of movement • Denying the right to education, work and access to health services. • ‘honor’ killings, • Trafficking • Sexual assault including rape; • Forced prostitution;
  • 3. Cont… • Physical assault including hitting/Beating, stoning, slapping, cutting, shoving, burning (using chemicals or other dangerous substances), shooting or use of any weapons, acid attacks • Causing injury or disability; • Psychological/emotional abuse like, verbal abuse, humiliating, intimidating; • Harassment/persecution; • Forced isolation; • Forced addiction; • Depriving from inheritance; • Prohibiting to access personal property; • Forced labor; • Marrying more than one wife without observing Article 86 of Civil Code; • Denial of relationship. (GBV Treatment Protocol for Healthcare Providers in Afghanistan, 2014)
  • 4. Prevalence of GBV in Afghanistan • 1,669 incidents of VAW in 16 provinces • Of which only 109 cases (7%) were processed by the formal justice system • battery and laceration-the most prevalent forms • 87% of the women interviewed in 4,700 households experienced at least one form of domestic violence • 62% experienced multiple forms of violence • 17% reported sexual violence (11% rape) • 52% were victims of physical violence • 59% were forced to marry • 74% were victims of psychological and verbal violence • 21% were forms of economic violence • Lifetime Physical/Sexual Intimate Partner Violence : 51 % • Physical/Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months : 46 % • Child Marriage : 35% (UN WOMEN, 2016) ( UNAMA, 2013) (National Report on Domestic Abuse in Afghanistan, 2008)
  • 5. Consequences of VAW: • Self-immolation • ‘Running away’ or ‘home escape’ • re-victimization • 2% resulted in the death of the victim • 2% in attempted suicide and 0.5% in suicide • 2,300 Afghan girls and women commit suicide every year • 23% result in temporary physical injury • 4% in permanent physical injury • 28% of women suffer from severe depression • 78% suffer anxiety • 31% suffer PTSD (UNIFEM, 2006) (Mortality Survey, 2010)
  • 6. Not all women suffer VAW Vulnerable groups to VAW: -Younger age -Refugees & Migrants, IDPs -Women with disabilities -Women without supporter(Man) -Prisoners -Uneducated/less education -Poor -Beggars -Women with mental problems -Ethnic groups -Employed, Unemployed
  • 7. Examples of domestic violence in Afg. • 6m Pregnant woman, beaten, her genitals mutilated, leading to a miscarriage, 20 years old, Takhar • Another pregnant woman killed by her in- laws over suspicion that she had an extra- marital affair, 20 years old, Faryab • A woman whose husband chopped off her nose in January 2016 • Man attacked his wife all of a sudden, shredded her hair with a scissor and shaved parts of her head, cut parts of her genitals and beat her up with a wooden stick.
  • 8. Killed by angry mob on the streets of Kabul. While arguing with a shrine keeper about his practice of selling charms at the mosque Accused of burning the Quran. Hearing the accusations, angry men flocked to the mosque and attacked her. She was beaten with sticks and stones and ran over with a car. Her body was dumped on the banks of the Kabul river and set afire. The Farkhunda trial is a statistical outlier. At her funeral, women’s rights activists broke with tradition and carried her coffin to her grave.
  • 10. • Presidential Decree- extensive public awareness campaign in mass media, and mosques concerning VAW • Inclusion of VAW in other national plans and strategies • The first law in the history of Afghanistan that clearly describes more than 22 actions against women as crimes and orders the perpetrators of such action be punished • Law on Elimination of VAW, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, rights: • Having access to shelter or other safe place(s) with the consent of the victim; • Having free access to emergency health services; • Having an advocate or legal aid provider; • Compensation to damage resulted from the act of violence; (Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015) Government Efforts to tackle VAW in Afg:
  • 11. Progress in SDG 5: • Economic Empowerment • Agriculture and handy craft productions • Empowerment of women to join the labour force. • Actively participation in government, including in leadership and decision making positions. • The number of seats reserved for women has been specified in the Constitution of Afghanistan • In parliament and local government is 23% which higher than the world’s average of 21%. • Increased educational opportunities • Supported women to report crimes, Surge in the # of reported cases • Capacity building of police and judiciary to register and resolve gender abuses. (SDGs’ Progress Report, 2017)
  • 12. Targets: • 56% of women experienced violence by their husband or fiancé. • 53% of women experienced violence by people other than their partner. • Target 5.2: to reduce this ratio to under 40% by the end of 2030. • 17% married at age 15-19 • while % of male married in the same age is 3%. • Target 5.3: decrease to 10% by 2030. • 73% unpaid domestic female workers, • for male workers the ratio is 17% • Target 5.4: reduction to 15% by the end of 2030 • Women constitute 10.7% of managerial position in government. • Target 5.5: This trend will improve to 32% by the end of 2030. ineffective management and lack of capacity of MoWA (SDGs’ Progress Report, 2017)
  • 13. Challenges:• Few are punished • The implementation of Elimination of VAW (EVAW) law has been limited. • Gaps in Existing Legal Framework • Weaknesses of the Criminal Justice System • VAW has traditionally been seen as a private matter • Many of these incidents, are never reported. VAW is prevalent and the hidden figures are extremely high. • Related to family conflicts • Many men who beat and abuse women inside the privacy of their homes. • The most serious cases often involve women who do not have the resources or support to actually go to the police to report the crime. • Fear of re-victimization • Economic dependency (due to which women cannot leave abusive husband) • Some women are undoubtedly pressured by family members to withdraw • Claim rapes have turned out to be a matter of wanting dowry or restoring honour • Lack of empowered female police staff • Running away (Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015)
  • 14. References: • Gender-based Violence Treatment Protocol for Healthcare Providers in Afghanistan. (2014). MoPH, WHO, UN WOMEN. • Torunn Wimpelmann, 2015, Violence against women in Afghanistan: Getting away with murder, https://www.cmi.no/news/1550-violence-against-women-in-afghanistan • SDGs’ Progress Report. 2017. Afghanistan. • UN WOMEN. (2016). Global Database on Violence against Women:Afghanistan. evaw-global database.unwomen.org/en/countries/asia/afghanistan#1

Editor's Notes

  • #3: Prostitution is the exchange of sexual acts for money, food, rent, drugs, or something else of value. Prostitution can be a form of sexual exploitation and forcing a person into prostitution can be one way that an abuser commits domestic violence against his/her intimate partner.
  • #4: Pushing by force humiliating _ causing someone to feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect having a frightening, overawing, or threatening effect.
  • #5: the crime or tort of unconsented physical contact with another person, even where the contact is not violent but merely menacing or offensive.
  • #6: United Nations Fund for Women Harm to oneself especially by burning Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • #9: In a swift trial, four men were sentenced to death, eight to 16 years in prison. In Afghanistan, few men are punished for violence against women.  In a remarkably swift trial in early May, the judge handed down sentences for 30 of the defendants. Four men were sentenced to death, eight men to 16 years in prison, and 18 were acquitted. 19 policemen who were accused of neglect of duty by not intervening got their verdict today; 11 of them were sentenced to one year in prison. The murder of Farkhunda has become a symbol of violence against women and the lack of protection for women in Afghanistan.    
  • #11: that there was no such legal document previously
  • #13: due to various reasons, were not able to achieve some of the objectives mentioned in the Plan
  • #14: -If women had economic independence, they would be more likely to leave an abusive husband, or at least have greater bargaining power in the relationship. However, this is not only a matter of economy.