No Justice in Justi cations: Violence against Women in the Name of Culture, Religion, and Tradition

Monday, March 1, 2010
Author: 
Shaina Grei

Violence against women (hereafter VAW) is undeniably endemic the world over, and cuts across all cultures, religions, and nations. While manifested in dierent forms, there is not a country on the planet where women do not face violence simply because they are women. However, regardless of the universal nature of VAW, news media and certain governmental ocials still tend to limit their discussion on the prevalence of VAW to specic parts of the world as an indicator of cultural and/or religious `backwardness' in those areas.1 On the other hand, despite a noted upsurge in international agreements and eorts to combat such practices, an increasing number of so-called progressives are showing trepidation in denouncing those violations of women's human rights justied in the name of `culture' or `religion'. Out of a genuine desire to respect world diversity and multiculturalism, many in the international community and particularly in the `West' are relaxing the same human rights standards they wish to promote and are excusing or minimising VAW if it is touted as an `authentic' cultural, religious, or traditional practice. But are these practices really part of an `authentic' cultural tapestry? Who is speaking for these `cultures'? Whose interests do they represent? Which cultures
or cultural practices are at stake? And where are the voices of women themselves when it comes to cultural and religiously justied VAW?This brieng presents a survey of culturally justied violence against women, including how violence against women is justied by `culture', the dierent forms this violence can take, and recommendations for change.

Document PDF: 

Stop-Killing, Violence Against Women in the Name of Culture, Religion and Tradition, 2010