One of the greatest scourges against humanity is gender based violence.
Across the world millions of women are subjected to this kind of violence.
This is not to say men do not suffer the same.
But disproportionately, it is often women who are victims.
Since time memorial, gender based violence has left indelible emotional scars on many people.
Culture and also religion are just a few excuses that have often been used to provide cover for this scourge.
Our observation is that not enough has been done over the years to minimise pain on the sufferers.
Our legal systems for example are not mature and sophisticated enough to take into account the already wounded emotions of those who approach the law for assistance.
We need to do more to train law enforcement to show empathy and compassion on their treatment of people who approach their offices seeking assistance. There are many examples where because the victims do not want to be ridiculed or to be paraded at the courts end up suffering in silence.
Many people are known to have committed suicide because they could not get help. As we say the emotional blights that come after physical abuse itself may in some instances be much deeper in comparison.
Other than the police, the courts also have to be trained to show compassion in their treatment of the victims.
If these institutions are not developed, then the fight will no doubt be lost.
Other than that a lot has to be done to teach boy children from an early age to accept that they are equal to their sisters.
A boy who grew up under a socialisation system that makes him superior to his sisters is most likely to be bossy on his wife when he grows up.
We also have to socialise our girl children from an early age that their gender does not in any way make them a lesser people.
We have to instill in them a sense of ambition to want to reach the highest targets that their abilities allow.
It is also important that religious leaders play their part in teaching people that all people are equal in the eyes of God.
Traditional leaders also have a duty to teach people that culture cannot be used as an instrument to violate other people simply on account of their gender.
We call on teachers to also refrain from instilling and engendering a culture among children that certain professions and subjects at school, especially those deemed more superior can only be for boys.
This leads to a culture of inferiority complex among girls while also promoting a culture of superiority complex among boys.
We applaud all efforts by various stakeholders to teach our communities on this scourge, especially its deadly results on humanity in general.
