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"That night I called the ambulance, no ambulance came. I called the police, no police came."
Joy struggled through 10 years of brutal violence at the hands of her husband, a police officer in Barbados. In August 2000, her husband tried to kill her with a cement block, and she was only saved by members of his family. Joy’s husband is now under a restraining order to prevent him from abusing her. |
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Most acts of violence against women are never investigated. The perpetrators are not prosecuted. They commit their crimes with impunity. This contributes to a climate where violence against women is seen as normal, rather than criminal, and where women do not seek justice because they know they will not gain it.
In some countries, laws discriminate against women or are flawed so that they fail to protect women from violence.
Women may be prevented from seeking justice because they cannot afford to access the legal system, or fear losing custody of their children.
In many countries, police and prosecutors are unwilling to believe and assist women abused by members of their family. Women who report abuse are told that it is a private matter or that it was “incited” by the woman’s own behaviour.
In these countries the state has failed in its obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of women. The state is responsible for investigating and prosecuting acts of violence against women.
Too often, communities are complicit in the state’s failure to bring perpetrators to justice. Individuals and communities have vital roles to play in overcoming impunity and gaining justice.
Find out more about impunity for violence against women:
Flawed laws
Failure to implement
The duties of states
Community complicity
International law
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Main photo: Amina Lawal (right) talking to one of her lawyer. She was sentenced to be stoned to death for zina (sexual relations outside marriage) by a Shari'a court in Nigeria. After an international campaign and a legal defence mounted by a coalition of women’s groups, the conviction was overturned on appeal.
© AI
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