“A woman is a flower in the middle of the garden, and the man is the fence around it.”
This Ghanaian proverb captures a truth many societies claim to believe: women are precious, essential, and worthy of protection. From the Bible to modern civilization, women have been described as the backbone of families and the builders of nations.
Yet reality across the world tells a different, painful story. Despite progress in education, employment, and political participation, millions of women remain trapped in systems that deny them dignity and safety.
In many countries, religion and culture, meant to guide moral life, are instead used as tools of domination. Under these interpretations, women become subjects of cruelty, silence, and violence.
Some religious traditions call for the stoning of a woman for adultery, while the same systems allow men to marry multiple wives or commit adultery without consequence.
The contradiction is glaring. It raises a disturbing question: What kind of God do people believe in when injustice is committed in His name?
Across generations, women have endured every form of violence, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, rape, forced marriage, and now one of the most horrifying trends: acid attacks. In parts of Asia and the Middle East, a woman who rejects a marriage proposal or simply asserts her independence risks being permanently disfigured.
Acid becomes a weapon of punishment, control, and revenge. A heartbreaking example occurred in Bangalore, India, where a former schoolteacher and mother of two underwent extensive surgery after a man threw acid on her. Her “crime” was being beautiful.
He resented the admiration she received from others. This is not an isolated case. According to the Acid Survivors Trust International, over 1,500 acid attacks occur globally each year, with the highest numbers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and parts of the Middle East. Many cases go unreported.
Even more disturbing is the age of some victims. In several regions, grown men in their 40s or 50s seek to marry girls as young as 12 or 14. When these children refuse, they are punished, sometimes with acid, sometimes with forced marriage, sometimes with death.
In many countries, the perpetrators walk freely because corruption shields them from justice. Victims of acid attacks often withdraw from society. Their injuries are so severe that they no longer recognize themselves in the mirror.
Many live in isolation, battling trauma, shame, and the loss of their identity. Meanwhile, the world’s leaders focus on political debates and international agendas while ignoring the silent suffering of millions of women.
How can humanity claim to be advancing when half of its population still lives in fear? How can global institutions speak loudly about democracy and human rights yet remain quiet about the daily violence inflicted on women?
Anyone who throws acid on another person intends to destroy or kill. Not all victims survive. For this reason, acid attacks should be treated as crimes against humanity, punishable by life imprisonment.
The International Court of Justice prosecutes political crimes, yet countless perpetrators of gender‑based violence roam free. Where is justice for these women? Who will protect them? Who will speak for them when society chooses silence?
Violence against women is not a women’s issue; it is a human issue. Until the world treats these crimes with the seriousness they deserve, the suffering will continue. Acid attackers, rapists, and abusers must face severe punishment.
Only then will society send a clear message: women are not objects to be destroyed, they are human beings deserving of safety, dignity, and respect.