Rise against Domestic Violence in Sri Lanka

Domestic violence should not be considered as a part of Sri Lankan culture; each individual should intervene to create a violence-free society.

Domestic violence is an issue that is getting a great deal of attention, but is still a throbbing problem in our society. Family is the most important unit in any community, because it is from the family, that a child learns the values he or she implements in the future. A good family will produce a good child, who, in turn, will grow up to be a responsible and productive adult. Hence, it is an obvious cycle, where superior  upbringing will directly influence in the betterment of society. Domestic violence, which is defined as “abusive behavior directed against another in a family context or among partners who are married, cohabiting or dating” (Hamel, J. and Nicholls, T. L.,2007) is a massive problem in Sri Lanka, especially in low-income families. Unfortunately, people turn a blind eye towards such violence, because of the lack of awareness. According to the United Nations’, ‘National Strategy for Protection against Domestic Violence’, domestic violence is also referred to as spousal abuse, battering and intimate partner violence. It entails physical, sexual, mental, emotional and verbal abuse. Unpermitted domineering, intimidation, covert abuse, financial deprivation, trespassing, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment are all forms of domestic violence (Dutton, D. G., 2006). This brief essay contains statistics about domestic violence and why Sri Lankan authorities and society in general, ignore such behavior. It will also entails the importance of spreading awareness about domestic violence. 

According to a research done by Leelangi Wanasundara (2000), the number of reported cases of domestic violence has increased dramatically between the years of 1991 and 1997. The number of cases of harassment has increased from a 295 in 1991 to 1526 in 1997. The number of murders has increased up to 73 from 13 in 1991. Complaints regarding attempted murders, child abuse, rape and incest have also increased radically (Wanasundara, L., 2000). These statics are not up to date, but several news items have shown that domestic violence is on the rise in all provinces of Sri Lanka. An article published in the Daily News on the 08^th of January 2011, stated that violence against pregnant women has increased by 40%. This news item further stated that such incidents often result in complications during birth and bring threat to the life of the mother and the baby. Intentional blows on the stomach are a common cause of birth defects in babies (Bandara, S., 2011). Police stations state that they receive an average of 10,000 complaints regarding domestic violence annually (Wijeyesekera, R., 2011). This is in fact a major problem considering that 51% of the Sri Lankan population is female. Around the world, at least one in three women is subjected to violence. About three women and one man are murdered daily by their intimate partners. One in five teenagers is in abusive relationships and at least ten million children witness domestic violence each year. But, it is reported that only about half of the victims get help. In some parts of the world, up to 95% tolerate domestic violence due to cultural obligations and in Sri Lanka too, women and children fail to reach out for help when it is indeed (Domestic Violence Facts, 2007; Dutton, D. G., 2006; Wanasundara, L., 2000).

            

         Sri Lanka, similar to may parts of the world, has a clearly patriarchal society where prominence is given to the male role of a family. This and the fact that there is strict hierarchy in the Sri Lankan social system has lead to discrimination against women and children. Authorities tend to take complaints regarding domestic violence less seriously and many of these cases can be very costly and lengthy. An extract from a study done by Leelangi Wanasundara, from the Center for Women’s Research reads, “Many victims of violence believe that the law enforcement personnel are insensitive to their needs and the victims are perceived as the ones who committed the crime. Domestic violence is still regarded as a family matter and a rape victim is humiliated in courts…” (Wanasundara, L., 2000). In spite of the fact that there are clear laws against all forms of domestic violence written down in the national convention, the society seems to ignore them. The punishments for such behavior seem to be taken less seriously. Sri Lanka has four major international instruments including the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political rights, 1976 Convention of Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women, 1989 Convention on the Rights of Child and the 1984 Convention on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The government initiated a program named ‘Mithuru Piyasa’ in 2007, which is based at every government hospital. There is now a special division that handles such cases in each police department.  There are rehabilitation centers, child protection agencies, NGO’s and religious organizations spread across the island. Never the less, very few seem to know of the importance of putting a stop to domestic violence.

           

                    The impact of domestic violence is massive. It not only affects the person directly maltreated, but also those witnessing the happening. For example, a child seeing a father ill-treat his mother regularly may either develop severe anxiety or even model the father’s unprincipled acts. Studies have shown that over 60% of victims of domestic violence are likely to develop anxiety and/ or depression. Many of them attempt suicide (Dutton, D. G., 2006). Children who come from abusive homes have a greater chance of failing in their academic work and engaging in violent behaviors in the presence of their peers. A considerable percentage of juvenile delinquents are those who have been abused or seen such acts. In addition, many studies repeated over the course of history have shown that those who come from abusive families are likely to get into abusive relationships themselves. This could be either as the submissive partner, who is involved with someone with similar traits of violence they experienced as children or as the abuser. Hence, it is an accepted fact that domestic violence is a learned behavior that can only be stopped if each person rethinks the impact of what they do. 

            A society cannot be changed at once, as a whole. Change should be brought upon any community issue, by changing the outlook of the mindsets of every member of that community. The law enforcers should be strictly advised to adhere to the punishments stated in the national convention and be supportive towards victims instead of putting them to further shame. People of all walks of life must be made aware of what domestic violence is and how they should react if they become victims. Just as it is done in the case of epidemic diseases like Dengue, awareness campaigns must be held so that every individual knows where to go and whom to contact if necessary. Gandhi once said “be the change you want to see in the world”. This is indeed the attitude that should be imposed upon each mind if we are to create a violence-free society for the future. A home is the single place on earth that an individual feels safe and comfortable. All relevant authorities and most importantly, each citizen must take measures to grant this right to all. 

References

Bandara, S. (2011) Increasing Domestic Violence Against Women. Daily News Online,
           8^th   January 2011. Retrieved on 12^th April 2011 from
           http://www.dailynews.lk/2011/01/08/news31.asp 

Domestic Violence Facts (2007) National Coalition Against Doemstoic Violence Retrieved on
           9^th April http://www.ncadv.org/files/DomesticViolenceFactSheet%28National%29.pdf

Dutton, D. G. (2006). Rethinking Domestic Violence. Vancouver, BC, Canada: UBC Press
           Retrieved on 10^th April 2011

Hamel, J. and Nicholls, T. L. (2007). Family Interventions in Domestic Violence: A
             Handbook of Gender-Inclusive Theory and Treatment. New York, NY: Springe
             Retrieved on 11^th April 2011 from http://books.google.lk /books/abo               /Family_Interventions_in_DomesticViolenc.html?id=e9YJKzn5LDcC&redir_esc=y

Sri Lanka: Violence Against Women on the Rise (2008) Gender Based Violence Forum.
            Retrieved on 11^th April 2011 from http://www.irinnews.org/Report/81693/SRI-LANKA-Violence- against-women-on-the-rise

Wanasundara, L. (2000) Country Report on Violence against Women in Sri Lanka. Center for
           Women’s Research. Retrieved on 11^th April 2011 from http://www.isst-india.org /PDF/Violence%20against%20women%20-%20Sri%20Lanka.pdf

Wijeyesekera, R. (2011) An Introduction to ‘Prevention of the Domestic Violence Act of Sri
            Lanka’. Department of Private and Comparative Law, Faculty of Law, University of
           Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

Essay by – Hansini Gunasekara

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