Tuesday 29 November 2011

Pakistan: Domestic Violence Is The Most Under-Reported Crime


November 25, 2011
An Article from the Asian Human Rights Commission
Farzana Ali Khan
Violence against women is a major health and human rights concern in Pakistan. Women can experience sexual, physical or mental abuse throughout their life cycle, in infancy, childhood and during adulthood or older age. Violence against women has severe physical and psychological consequences and as a social problem warrants an immediate coordinated response from multiple sectors.

According to the United Nations General Assembly resolution the word “violence” is defined as “any act of gender-bias that results in or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”
The above definition encompasses, inter alia, “physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family and in the general community. The definition also includes battering, sexual abuse of children, dowry- related violence, rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women. The other forms of violence could be violence related to exploitation, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere, as well as trafficking in women, forced prostitution, and violence perpetrated or condoned by the state agencies.”
Worldwide the most common form of violence against women is abuse by their husbands or other intimate partner, generally referred to as ‘wife beating’, ‘battering’ or domestic violence’, intimate partner violence is often part of a pattern abusive behavior and control rather than isolated acts of physical aggression.
A few years ago at least in Pakistan, sexual harassment and battered women were just called “part of life”. It is only recently that the media attention has increased public awareness, to quite an extent. Nevertheless, it seems, sexual harassment; rape and battering are still not considered as serious problem. However, when a woman is sexually harassed her clothes are to be blamed. On the other hand, where a woman is raped it is argued that she has asked for it. Apart from above if a woman is beaten the reason is that she couldn’t take care of her husband’s needs. In contrast, the aggressor may be perceived as behaving ‘like a normal male’ and often receives a little blame.
Sexual harassment, rape and battering can be traced to traditional masculine and feminine socialization. Males are supposed to be aggressive, dominant and in control of the situation. Women are supposed to be ‘submissive’, yielding, unassertive. In a sense all these represent a tragic exaggeration of traditional gender roles.
Violence, whether domestic or otherwise, includes physical/verbal abuse, rape, acid throwing, burning and killing and forced prostitution is widespread in Pakistan. Few women would complain under legal provisions relating to physical injury.
In the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, violence within home is inflicted in various ways, including mental torture, by denying women food, often by threat of divorce or by taking another wife, separating the woman from her infants, forced marriages, exchange marriages, or selling woman in marriage, especially to much older man.
It is not only the husband who inflicts violence in the home, often in extended families, the wife is violated by her in-laws. The girl child or the women may be subjected to incest and rape in her own home, and even forced to keep her lips sealed. Women can suffer violence in the home from the men of the family, father, brother, husband, uncles, cousins, and at times from women of the family, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, mother and sisters.
Domestic violence is the most under-reported crime because it is generally condoned by social customs and considered as private family matter,
Violence against women is a global phenomenon which cuts across class, race, ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries. It is multifaceted and affects all aspects of women’s lives. It is very hard to say, when, where and how it started? It is happening and it has happened in almost all societies, irrespective of race, color or creed.
The oppression of Pashtun women is rooted within the system itself. In ancient times the women produced food for the family. In that era women had learned how to cultivate the land. Men used to hunt only. That is why women had a particular recognition in society. And over a period of time she became the head of the family.
With a passage of time men learned the cultivation procedure and became dominant in the productive process. Thus matriarchal society, a society where women dominated, withered away. The new forms of property changed the inheritance to men and hence established male domination. After the introduction of this system of private ownership women gradually became a commodity and hence possessed as private property. These forms developed over time and the exploitation of women continued in different patterns.
Women who report rape or sexual assault encounter a series of obstacles. These include not only the police, who resist filing their claims and mis-record their statements, but also medico-legal doctors, who focus on their virginity status and lack the training and expertise to conduct adequate examinations. As for the trial in rape cases, the past sexual history of the victim is thrown around and touted in court to the maximum.
Furthermore, women who file rape charges open themselves up to the possibility of being prosecuted for illicit relationship, if they fail to prove themselves innocent. As a result, when women victims of violence resort to the judicial system for redress, they are more likely to find further abuse and victimization.
The concept of women as an object or commodity, not a human being endowed with dignity and rights equal to those of men, is deeply rooted in tribal culture.
In the rural areas women are like slaves subject to drudgery. They are there just to obey their father, brother and husband. They do not have the right to decide about themselves because women are considered foolish creature.
According to the dominant and cultural norms a common view is that comparatively Pashtun women are more protected, they are more honored but the point is that their physical weakness, child bearing function an economic dependence all combined to assigned to men the role of protectors and providers evolving a superior status of the male over the female. A woman's right to liberty is restricted in the name of modesty, protection and prevention of immoral activity.
Right from the very beginning or it will be more realistic to say even before conception it is the wish of all the families that a woman should give birth to a male child. Here it is from where discrimination starts. Then in almost all spheres of life, in rearing, in education, priorities are given to a male child. Majority of parents do not send their daughters to schools. This schooling is another deprivation. And after reaching puberty they are told to wear Hejabs and observe pardah and not to mingle with other men except their father, brothers or very near relatives.
In fact, it is the historical settings coupled with social and cultural norms, religious values and domination of political institutions by men, which has relegated Pashtun women to an underprivileged and vulnerable position.
It is without doubt that women had been the object of violence in all ages and almost every society. In the first instance while she is living with her parents and secondly when she is married and living with her in laws.
There is a dire need of launching an awareness campaign that Pashtun woman first must understand their position where they are. Then take steps to improve the situation in such a way that the traditional family system remains undisturbed but women start enjoying their fundamental rights of choice, expression and movement and education.
Government, the fundamentalist; these may be some of the reasons of the downtrodden condition of Pashtun woman but to me women themselves are the biggest obstacle in the way of improving their situation by underestimating their strong position in the society and till they are reluctant no one can help them get their actual recognition.
On religious front there is a need of reformation and telling the Pashtun women that they can participate in day to day activities like the wives of the Prophet and his companions. On Pashtunwali front Pashtun men should be educated that woman is not the sole depositary for his honor and Pashtunwali.
The emancipation of Pashtun women has political dimension but its more a religious, cultural, educational, psychological, legal and social issue. Our society, family, culture, laws, misinterpretation of religion and less opportunities of education are the main factors for the downtrodden situation of Pashtun women.
A Russian proverb says that it is easier to destroy than to create. Just as every life needs to be carefully nurtured and preserved it can also be destroyed and lost in an instant. Perhaps due to the lack of sufficient knowledge in this field, scientists seem strangely unable to grasp, foresee and adopt the necessary solution to prevent violence on a large scale.
We need to build our society from bottom up and that a proper background has to be set for any change that we want to see in our society. We must bring the change in a pragmatic and effective way.
Pragmatism with idealism and realism with vision and imagination should be used to solve all problems and in this context the solution to the problems of Pashtun women lies in the panacea of great ideas of democracy with its implementation in all social and political spheres and the implementation of the philosophical concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity by modern education and religious reformation and reinterpretation.
As they say “charity begins at home.” We may take start from own homes If a man’s wife, sister, mother, or daughter goes around and does some business, participates in social , political and economic or educational activities he should not feel mortified that his woman is talking to others or doing business with others and that this is against his, honor (ghairat).
Though a very small percentage of Pashtun women who have had access to education, family support systems and help, have excelled in every profession they have entered, still they are denied opportunity, their status is totally subservient to men and the laws of the land against them. How can a society even pretend that it even has a shred of morality when the women of the land are reviled for demanding rights, justice and freedom?
Some people think that only women belonging to a lower class face the brutality on part of men but I have come across well to do and educated young and middle aged women bitterly complaining of being severely thrashed by their husbands even lawyers, doctors, executives and businessmen have beaten up their wives.
In many well to do families husband if develops extramarital affair the wife and children get used to luxurious life that they do not wish to leave. Especially grown sons do become a protection against their father depriving their mother of their rights. But still as a result woman has to suffer the trauma of hurt and pain.
The question there remain as how best to proceed with the struggle to achieve equal rights for women in Pashtun society? There is need of schooling, education and vocational training for women. Better facilities to health and maternity centres, awareness about health and child rearing.
The ultimate goal should be to make women emancipated and this can be achieved by making them financially independent, she should have right in decision making in family affairs-- child spacing and child rearing etc.
If there is a will and firm determination; things can be changed in a very cautious and gradual process. But sudden change will not be tolerated and will fire back.
Let’s start a movement to liberate those Pashtun women who are prisoners in their own homes. They are born within the four walls and die there without knowing their importance as human beings either. They are sentenced with life time imprisonment. How can we liberate Pashtun women from this life time imprisonment? Let’s think and act in the right direction.
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About the author: Farzana Ali Khan is a journalist working for The News International. She has written the above article for the AHRC. She can be reached at farykhan@gmail.com
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About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.
Visit our new website with more features at www.humanrights.asia.

Source http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1111/S00791/pakistan-domestic-violence-is-the-most-under-reported-crime.htm

cute Sanjana


Wednesday 23 November 2011

Isha the cute



COLLEGE ATHLETICS: Scandals put other schools on guard

Concerned that allegations of child sex abuse in two big college sports programs could trigger more cases around the country, universities are urging employees to reread their school's reporting policies, while more closely scrutinizing the people who work in their athletic departments.

Those reminders were circulating even as news of the scandals kept unfolding.

On Friday, the NCAA notified Penn State it would investigate the school for lack of institutional control resulting from the child sex abuse allegations against Joe Paterno's former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky. The evening before, Syracuse placed basketball coach Jim Boeheim's top assistant, Bernie Fine, on leave after old allegations resurfaced that he molested two former ballboys. Sandusky and Fine each have denied the accusations against them.

In his letter to Penn State, NCAA president Mark Emmert restated a message that schools have been receiving simply by watching the news.


"It is critical that each campus and the NCAA as an Association re-examine how we constrain or encourage behaviors that lift up young people rather than making them victims," Emmert wrote.

Earlier this week at Michigan, president Mary Sue Coleman wrote an open letter to the university community reminding people to call 911 or the police department if they see a crime in progress. "This is a chance to remind one another that a community's values are lived out in the actions of each of us as individuals," she wrote.

At St. John's, athletic director Chris Monasch said the incidents offered a good opportunity to emphasize to staffers "that if there is an issue that's inappropriate you have to deal with it immediately."

"A cover-up only makes it more severe," Monasch said. "Certainly, we do background checks on the people we hire for summer camps and those types of things. We're trying to take precautions, but I don't know how you can prepare for some of those things." Continued...

Sunday 20 November 2011

Ballarat man loses appeal for school sex calls

A MAN who left disturbing sexual phone messages on answering machines at a number of schools across Ballarat has failed to win an appeal against his 12-month prison sentence.

Wayne Holt, 39, from Ballarat, was blown a kiss by an elderly supporter in the County Court in Ballarat yesterday, but had little else to smile about.

Judge Liz Gaynor re-imposed the original sentence — without a parole period — which was handed down in the Magistrates Court downstairs in September, saying she was concerned about the living situation Holt would move back into if his sentence were cut short.
Crown prosecutor Carolene Gwynn detailed Holt’s offending, which dates back to September last year, saying he left voice messages at two secondary schools and one primary school in the Ballarat area, repeatedly requesting that a female uniform be left out the front of the school for him.

At one school where he left at least two messages, Holt said he found the girls in uniform very sexy, while at another he said he had been watching the schoolgirls for several days and “almost had one”.

At the primary school he said he was getting excited by the students and wanted to have sex with one of them.

For Holt, Jo Swinney argued that despite his intellectual disability, her client had learnt the consequences of his actions.

“He can see the nexus between his offending and going into custody,” she said.
 

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Indian girl Biyanka Desai exposing her big tits in photoshoot ...



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Man accused of having sex with horse gets jail

Mid-Michigan man accused of sex with horse sentenced to 90 days in jail, must pay restitution

ST. JOHNS, Mich. -  
A mid-Michigan man accused of having sex with a horse has been sentenced to 90 days in jail.
John Mester told a Clinton County judge Monday that he has some psychological issues and his actions were inexcusable. In September, he pleaded guilty to attempted sodomy.
Mester initially was charged with bestiality - which under state law is punishable by up to 15 years in prison - as well as indecent exposure.
The Lansing State Journal says Mester has been ordered to pay more than $4,000 in restitution to his neighbor, who boards horses. The incident occurred there and was caught on a surveillance camera.
The neighbor says she lost business after a horse owner saw Mester roaming the pasture. Mester was involved in a similar case in 2001 and pleaded no contest to attempted animal torture. In that case, he pleaded no contest to attempted animal torture and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Twelve Good Thoughts

welve Good Thoughts
  
1. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.
2. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, and the romance in a relationship and find out that you still care for that person.
3. When the door of happiness closes, another opens but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.
4. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.
5. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.
6. There are things you'd love to hear that you would never hear from the person who you would like to hear from, but don't be so deaf as not to hear it from the one who says it from their heart.
7. Don't go for looks, they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, in the end it fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.
8. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.
9. A careless word may kindle strife, a cruel word may wreck a life, a timely word may level stress, a loving word may heal and bless.
10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.
11. Happiness lies for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.
12. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches..

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