Welcome to my first blog of 2013.




I’ve decided to continue on the theme of the previous two blogs of last year.

I don’t claim to have the answers as to how to solve the problem of global gender violence and abuse, but I’d like to at least try to address a couple of points.

First of all..Stigma, silence, fear, ignorance and shame surround this issue. 

Individuals and societies need to have an open dialogue about the dark truth that exists, so that it can be brought out of the shadows, faced and tackled, rather than just ignoring it, or shoving it under the carpet. 
Media in every form…TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet etc.. can give an enormous platform to amplify the cause, and major changes can emerge from that. 
( Thought : If we can successfully change behaviour around smoking, or smacking children, through campaigns, then surely we can look at ways of beginning to create behaviour change).
Women’s groups who deal with violence against women, need to be given a higher profile, through media, so that we can all understand gender violence better. 
When people become more aware and informed, then they will be far more conscious of what is required in their own lives and society at large. 
Governments must commit to doing everything in their power, not only to create legislation to protect women’s rights, but also to make sure that women can be confident that they will be heard and supported in their quest for council and justice.Ostensibly, there needs to be a massive global campaign amplifying the message that GENDER VIOLENCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, bearing in mind that we live in a culture where the global industry of violence and pornography is glorified and perpetuated in films, video games and websites. 
Personally, I believe that men and boys who carry out abusive acts against women and girls, have emotional, educational, and psychological problems. We need to understand the root causes. 
If a boy doesn’t receive the loving care and support of a good male role model/father figure, and society at large, then expressions of dysfunction will most likely be played out, and as a result, behaviour becomes aggressive, disenfranchised and anti social. We have a kind of epidemic going on in this respect.
Obviously, there needs to be constructive intervention, from home, society, school, government etc..and obviously, this is a very complex thing to achieve, but if it’s not demanded and the agenda falls off the table then nothing will happen.
Thanks for reading this…I’m passionate about women’s rights, and am constantly thinking about where the solutions could lie.