WOMEN RIGHTS VIOLATION!!!

Women Rights Violation

Over the past decades, the perception that women are inferior to men has persisted, causing a societal imbalance that continues to haunt attempts bring in equality. Women rights in the modern society are essential for general growth and development. The fight for women and human rights across the globe is, however, facing endless challenges as a result of the many oppressive customs and religious practices that still undermine them. Organizations and governmental women agencies are springing up everywhere and are standing with women through the journey of liberalization and parity. Women rights have become the leading global movement of this century, gradually making dramatic changes to the manner in which women are viewed and treated by the society. A woman’s place is never just in the household anymore but at the heart of socio-political and economic activities. Countries such as India and Nigeria are, however, still notorious for abusing women’s right through a list of traditional atrocious practices. Domestic violence, child marriages, sexual abuse, and widowhood practices, just to mention a few, are some of these inequities that still hamper the growth and development of women in these states and the world as a whole.

Underage, marriage is one of the vices that violate women and human rights by promoting early pregnancies and lack of education. For example, Nigerian girls have been victims of this type of insult that is embedded and supported by out-dated customs and cultural practices (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women” 51). Poverty has been cited by Nnadi in this article as the major factor facilitating child marriages and is mainly used as a way of making wealth by the girl-child family (“An Insight into Violence against Women” 51). He further notes that young children, some younger than 12 years, are getting hitched to old, selfish, and morally deviant men of up to 40 years of age. This practice is widely seen in Bauchi state north of Nigeria (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women” 51). Early marriages are increasing the illiteracy levels of Nigerian society and are even heightening poverty levels as women are generally locked out of economic activities (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women” 51). Women should be the backbone of economic and social development of the community; undermining their empowerment only impedes the growth and well-being of the society as a whole.

Naidu describes domestic violence as the deliberate act of physically harming women and girls by their partners, family members, or elders by way of cohabitation and violence in the region. He further approximates that nearly 45% of married men are linked with physical abuse on their wives in India (140). The misuse of culture, caste system, education, and religious tenets has become one of the driving forces behind the increasing domestic violence, and which are never reported to authorities. Most of the women in these abusive relationships are too young to understand fully that violence against them is wrong and demands legal attention (Naidu 141). Likewise, the immature Nigerian women are also often prone to marital rapes, battery, and verbal abuses that are frequently misconstrued as signs of love (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women”, 50). Nnadi opines that this African traditional malpractice is the result of cruel rites such as dowry payments that turn women into some commodities that can easily be assigned monetary values and cultures that still men as superior (“An Insight into Violence against Women”, 50). Other factors include lack of economic empowerment, illiteracy in girl child, and legal frameworks that tacitly encourage violence and abuse (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women” 52). It is best understood that violence deters growth, peace, and harmony and should be prevented at all costs.

Similarly, sexual abuse just like domestic violence is an abuse of women through forceful sexual intercourse that inflicts both psychological and physical pain (Nnadi, “Son Preference” 137). Nnadi notes many cases have been seen and reported in both Nigeria and India ("Son Preference” 137). Sexual assault in Nigeria is an on-going practice and has been witnessed in the numerous defilement cases, incest, and rapes. The law that is supposed to protect victims from such ill-practices is being manipulated by selfish men who objectify and degrade women. In India, sexual violation offenses are not even taken seriously, suggests Manisha (68). Their long tradition of matchmaking and the associated huge dowries always make it difficult for the girl’s family to intervene for fear of losing their dowry payments in case divorce occurs. The women are usually encouraged to endure abusive marriages with hopes that the relationships will eventually get better, which is never the case (Manisha 69). He further adds that in Maharashtra state, India, more than 15 villages experience sexual violence but never come out speak against it (68). Violence is strife, and younger women are often the primary victims. State laws and constitutionals amendments to criminalize this vice are not even helping much as these victims always shy away from making their problems known (Manisha 69).

Wife inheritance, a cultural and social practice in which a widow is often required to marry a male relative to her late husband, is legally recognized by the Nigerian constitution and even has an Act in its name (Nnadi, "Son Preference” 139). According to this article by Nnadi, the practice of bride inheritance promotes the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and has always been the subject of strong admonitions ("Son Preference” 139). Some customs in the Igbo land even encourages divorce to women who are incapable of giving birth to male children who are considered there as very significant to the family kitty (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women,” 137). In India too, younger women are frequently passed on from an older member of the family to younger ones when they pass away due to old ages (Naidu 147). This practice is possible since most of these very old men usually marry very young girls who are typically left still young upon their demise. To make the matter worse, these women are usually considered family property and, as such, are normally available for taking by any deserving member (Naidu 147).

Girl trafficking and women assault are increasingly becoming global issues, and Nigeria reports more than 20% of this vice (Nnadi, “An Insight into Violence against Women” 53). Nnadi further highlights police cells, immigration detention centers, and prisons as some of the avenues that are used by evil men to abuse women in Nigeria (“An Insight into Violence against Women” 53). According to Manisha, research by Amnesty International in 2010 indicates that silence rape is a serious weapon used by law enforcers to defile young women who come in for help (64). Women rights in India have been experiencing a long struggle now and are the constant subject of numerous amendments mostly by the male-dominated legislature, who are still hell-bent on abusing and oppressing women (Nnadi, "Son Preference” 140). Defilement of omen, and especially girls, in the modern society, inhibits human development since it cripples women empowerment efforts (Naidu 145). Undermining women only hurts the society and must be discouraged if the community is to move forward.

In conclusion, the fight for women and human rights in both India and Nigeria has always been a struggle since the two countries attained their independence from their British colonizers to date. Various factors such as sexual and domestic violence, child marriages, wife inherence, custody assault, and women trafficking are among the major issues still bedeviling these societies and are often directed to younger women and girls. Through the help of external bodies such as Amnesty International, United Nation, Women Human Rights Defenders, and Violence against Women, women are slowly gaining voice and social standing in the society. This is not an easy fight and more, in terms of initiative, is required to win it. Women empowerment stands out as the best and strategic means to ending child marriages and associated vices.

Work Cited
Nnadi, Ine. "An Insight into Violence against Women as Human Rights Violation in Nigeria: A Critique." Journal of Politics and Law (2012): 5(3), 48-56. Print
Nnadi, Ine. "Son Preference - A Violation of Women's Human Rights: A Case Study of Igbo Custom in Nigeria." Journal of Politics and Law 6.1 (2013): 134-141. Print
Manisha, Deshpande P. "History and Reality of Indian Women's Human Rights." Asia Pacific Journal of Management & Entrepreneurship Research 1.1 (2012): 63-72. Print
Naidu, T. P. "Domestic Violence against Women in India: A Human Rights Violation." Asia-Pacific Journal of Social Sciences 5.1 (2013): 135-151. Print.