Violence Against Women: Chronic Problem Without Solution?

Victim of acid attack

“A woman is a flower in the middle of the garden and the man is the fence around it.” This is one of the thousands of proverbs used daily in my native country Ghana. 


It’s a saying which reminds everyone of the importance of woman in the society from Biblical to our present-day abode. They build a nation, they are therefore creatures to adore, cherish, support, protect, and love.

Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, women are far from freedom. Some are fighting for education, working like everyone, to drive, and to participate in public functions. 

Religion is used as a stumbling block to dominate and deny women of their rights.  Under the bondage of religion, a woman becomes subject to cruelty, slavery, and violence.

Religion calls for the stoning to death of a woman when she commits adultery, but the same religion permits a man to marry more than one woman and continues enjoying life after committing adultery himself, behind his chains of married women. 

There is something wrong here and I think heaven must be missing an angel who delivers justice to the bad ones. Many religions speak about God, but the cruelty and violent nature demand ‘What kind of God are they really worshiping?

From generation to generation women have suffered the violence of every nature, including sexual harassment, domestic violence, and rape. The latest is the acid attack. In Asia, a woman who isn’t interested in marriage proposals often ends up disfigured with acid. 

Here comes a man of 40, he wants to marry a girl of 14. A fourteen-year-old child could be your daughter. Due to her age when she rejects her suitor’s proposal, her punishment is to be disfigured by acid. Shockingly many involved in such crimes walk on the street without punishment.

In Bangalore, India, a former school teacher and mother of two received extensive surgery on her neck, face, and hand, after an acid attack. What’s her crime? She was beautiful and he resented the admiring glances she got. 

I will ask again, what kind of God do these people worship? Corruption rules many parts of Asia; thus; many commit a heinous crime with impunity. This is the reason acid attack on women is very high in Asia and Middle-East without ceasing.

Victims of acid attacks are completely cut from society because they don’t look like normal human beings again. Their injuries are horrible to the extent that they prefer to be isolated. 

World leaders turn blind on important issues and waste their time on things less important. How can women continue to suffer in this way? Yet they feel so proud and strong to tell countries that don’t support homosexuality to accept same-sex marriage. 

That is all that they can do. This is disgraceful; something must be done to stop this madness.

Anyone who throws acid on someone's intention is to destroy or kill because not all victims are fortunate to survive such attacks. The punishment for such perpetrators should, therefore, be life imprisonment. 

There is the international court of justice in The Hague, Holland, putting those who have committed political crimes behind bars, but those involved in this grave crime against humanity are walking free, enjoying daily life with impunity.

What is justice and where can these women find one? Who can help, save, and protect women from this menace and violent society? 

Acid attacks on women should be taken as a serious crime and those responsible be caged for the rest of their lives, this will serve as a deterrent to others, because they are not human beings.