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higher rates of education. They have risen to prominent roles in professional and political spheres.
Efforts are being made towards their improved access to food security, health care and economic opportunities.

Despite these positive developments, however, women are still frequently not treated as equals in their families or in society and the conventional beliefs that women are inferior to men make them easy targets for anger, frustration and violence. Even strong legal remedies and enforcement mechanisms have had little effect.
As we observe the “16 days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence”, we need to re-examine, in the light of justice, the beliefs and practices that contribute towards the oppression of women and girls and perpetuate violence against them.

Violence against women and girls is presently one of the most widespread abuses of human rights, and unfortunately a fact of life for many women, throughout the world, regardless of race, class, or educational background.
The effect of the persistent denial to women of full equality with men, in the family set up or in some belief systems, sharpens further the challenge of dealing with violence.

A commitment to the establishment of full equality between men and women in the family, work place and in the society will be central to the success of efforts to eradicate violence against women and girls.
Drawing their inspiration and authority from religion, moral and ethical values serve to define our attitudes and to motivate and orient our behaviour. As stated in the Bahá’í Writings: ” . . . there are two

safeguards that protect man from wrongdoing. One is the law which punishes the criminal; but the law prevents only the manifest crime and not the concealed sin; whereas the ideal safeguard, namely, the religion of God, prevents both the manifest and the concealed crime, trains man, educates morals, compels the adoption of virtues . . . But by religion is meant that which is ascertained by

investigation and not that which is based on mere imitation, the foundation of Divine Religions and not human imitations.”
Appropriate laws, and the mechanisms developed for their enforcement, although very necessary, seem to have little impact on eradicating gender-based violence. There is clearly a need for us to follow moral and spiritual principles. These facilitate the shift in our values required to put into practice gender equality and justice towards all.

According to a statement of the Baha’i International Community: “Efforts to eradicate the epidemic of violence against women and girls must proceed from and be reinforced by every level of society from the individual to the international community.
However, they must not be limited to legal and institutional reforms, for these address only the manifest crime and are incapable of generating the deep-rooted changes needed to create a culture where justice and equality prevail over the impetuousness of authoritarian power and physical force.

Indeed the inner and outer dimensions of human life are reciprocal one cannot be reformed without the other.
It is this inner, ethical and moral dimension which now stands in need of transformation and, ultimately, provides the surest foundation for values and behaviour which raise up women and girls and, in turn, promote the advancement of all of humankind.”

Most policies presently adopted focus on the problem of violence rather than its prevention.
However, it is important to focus simultaneously on dealing with violence with equal, if not greater attention on preventing it.
According to a Statement of the Bahá’í International Community: “Our challenge is to search out new strategies and adopt fresh models that will encourage a healthier, more cooperative society at all levels. We need to move consciously away from patterns of force and aggressivity and towards methods of consultation and peace-making.”

Any effective measures to prevent violence require a partnership between men and women.
Unless men refuse to accept laws and practices which discriminate against, and humiliate their daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers, the change of attitude necessary for prevention of violence will not be possible.

Legislation is needed to lend practical expression to the equality of men and women when dealing with the particular injustices which women face.
A profound adjustment in humanity’s outlook is necessary, guided by the spiritual principles to eradicate violence.

“Indeed, it is in the recognition of the oneness of the human family that hearts will soften, minds will open, and the attitudes of men and women will be transformed.”