VISAKHAPATNAM, SEPT 19: Violence against women in the families is on the rise throughout the world and it has become a major human rights issue, according to G A Rama Raju, vice-president of the Human Rights Council (HRC).Rama Raju was delivering a special lecture on "Woman's Health as a Human Right" at a meeting organised by Dr B R Ambedkar College of Law and Human Rights Council at ITM Seminar Hall here on Saturday.He stressed the need to create more awareness among women on their health issues. Violence against women has been dramatically increasing their risk of poor health mental as well as physical trauma. This has been affecting the mental and physical conditions of the children, particularly girls.
Rama Raju observed that there has been a growing tendency of the physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family and in the general community. It includes battering, sexual abuse of children, dowry related violence and violence related to exploitation, sexual harassment andintimidation at work.
About 20 to 50 per cent of women are victims of physical abuse by their partners at some time, he said adding 50-60 per cent of women abused by their partners are also raped by them as well.
He observed women and girls are the most frequent victims of violence within the family and between intimate partners. Violence against women in families might also be one of the most important precipitating factors of female suicides and it is closely associated with homicide, he felt.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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