Violence is Not our Culture Campaign
What is culturally justified violence against women (CVAW)?
The UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (UNDEVAW) defines “violence against women as any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” The CEDAW Convention considers VAW as constituting a form of gender discrimination that impairs or nullifies women’s enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms under international law. Culturally–justified VAW are these acts defined in UNDEVAW that are explicitly justified or condoned through a misuse of cultural, religious, or traditional beliefs, values, and practices that are meant to impose a patriarchal control over women and girls. This includes control over her body, her sexuality, who to love, who to marry, how to express herself, what to believe and exercise of her own free will.
We fully reject the notion that violence in any form is part of our culture, religion, or traditions.
Read on for information on whipping or lashing, a form of CVAW.
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