Do women have human rights? Do children? The United Nations has declared that women and children do have human rights, yet women are disproportionately denied them in the world today: they are beaten to death, burned to death, raped, and tortured at alarming rates. Children also suffer terribly in many parts of the world, as do various minority groups in many areas.
The U.N. recognizes November 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. It is the beginning of 16 days of activism culminating on December 10, International Human Rights Day.
You know that the United Nations was established in the wake of World War II to help prevent further world wars? Why, then, are they concerned about violence against women? About racial discrimination? About elder abuse?
Wise global leaders have recognized that violence and its close friend denial of human rights are diseases that can spread interminably and infect viciously. One of the most basic steps toward peace and social justice on a global scale is peace and justice (reparative justice, not punitive justice) in the home and the local community. How do we achieve them?
I recently asked students in my family violence seminar what specific, concrete steps THEY could take to reduce family violence. They struggled with the question for several minutes, then provided great answers; for example,
- Form a group of people willing to go to the local superintendent of schools and press for anti-violence programs, including anti-family violence programs, in the schools
- Talk to our state’s new governor about making anti-violence fliers available at polling places
- Donate money to anti-violence causes
How about you? How can you aid in the quest against violence?
Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology
