Direct and Indirect forms of Violence

The triangle of violence, defined by the Norwegian sociologist Johan Galtung, identifies three
types of violence and argues that the phenomenon has a similar structure to that of an iceberg,
in which there is always a small visible part and a huge hidden part.

Direct Violence
Direct violence, corresponding to the tip of the iceberg, has as its main characteristic the fact
that most of its effects are visible because it involves the use of physical force, like killing or
torture, rape and sexual assault, and beatings, mainly the materials, but not all of them: hate,
psychological trauma or the emergence of concepts such as ‘enemy’ are equally serious effects,
but they are often not seen as such. Being the most popular and obvious, it is commonly
thought that direct is the worst kind of violence, which is not true for precisely this visibility,
which makes it easier to identify and therefore to combat. It is important to note that this type
of violence is the manifestation of something, not its origin, and is in the beginning where it
should be sought causes and act more effectively. Direct violence does not affect many people
as cultural and structural violence, which are the hidden part of the iceberg.

Cultural violence
Cultural violence is a symbolic violence that is expressed in countless media —religion,
ideology, language, art, science, media, education, etc.— and serves to legitimize direct and
structural violence and to inhibit or suppress the response of the victims. It even offers
justifications for humans, unlike other species, to destroy each other and to be rewarded for
doing so: it is not strange to accept violence in the name of country or religion. There is a
culture of violence in which schools and other instruments of transmission and reproduction of
culture show History as a succession of wars; it is usual to suppress conflicts by unquestioned
parental authority, or authority of the male over the female; mass media sell armies use as the
main way of solving international conflicts, etc. So life goes on in an atmosphere of constant
violence, manifested daily in all areas and at all levels.

Structural violence
“When one husband beats his wife, there is a clear case of personal violence, but when one
million husbands keep one million wives in ignorance, there is structural violence.”— Johan
Galtung.
Structural violence refers to a form of violence wherein social structures or social institutions
harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs. Although less visible, it is by
far the most lethal form of violence, through causing excess deaths—deaths that would not
occur in more equal societies. Not only is it the deadliest violence, greater in scope and in
implication than any other type of violence, it grows exponentially as unequal power
differentials are used to create more unequal structures. Yet, because these limitations are
embedded within social structures, people tend to overlook them as nothing more than the
ordinary difficulties of life. Examples of structural violence include health, economic, gender,
and racial disparities. Derivative forms include cultural, political, symbolic, and everyday
violence. Structural violence is also the most potent stimulant of behavioral violence in the
form of homicides, suicides, mass murders, and war. It is therefore one of the most critical
areas of violence studies to examine in our time.
Galtung first coined the term structural violence in 1969.
In Pakistan, social media has been abuzz with reports, cumulatively revealing a brutal,
consistent pattern of violence against women and girls. This pattern exposes two obvious
issues; firstly, that violence against women and girls is accepted and acceptable. This is because
in the real world, beyond the Internet, no real change is, or has, taken place to tackle the issue.
The attempt at change has largely been cosmetic. Changes, such as removal of a police officer,
if enough attention is given to a case or a tweet by a senior government official does not
amount to meaningful and lasting change. The death penalty in child abuse cases will never
deter child abuse, as the sentence does not deal with underlying issues around the abuse. In
any case, the 2016 Amendments to the rape law already carry the death penalty in cases of
rape against a child. Secondly, there is a consistent and long running pattern of violence in our
society. Whether such violence is in the name of so called ‘honor’ or due to the rejection of a
man’s unwanted advances or because of an animal like instinct that makes men justify rape on
a 10-year-old child, all of these examples reveal that the problem of violence and its
justification is systemic. It is deep-rooted in both formal State institutions, like the Police, and in
informal ones such as the family. In other words, it is structural violence and if one merely
scratches the surface, they will quickly find that violence against women and girls is rampant
and endemic. According to Galtung, often causes of direct violence are related to structural
violence and justified by cultural violence: many situations are the result of an abuse of power
which concerns an oppressed group, or a social injustice —insufficient resources sharing, great
inequality in personal income, limited access to social services— and receive the backing of
speeches justifying them.

Domestic violence (Purple Color)

Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse in a
domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. Domestic violence is often used as a synonym for
intimate partner violence, which is committed by a spouse or partner in an intimate relationship against
the other spouse or partner, or between former spouses or partners. In its broadest sense, domestic
violence also involves violence against children, parents, or the elderly. It takes a number of forms,
including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, and sexual abuse, which can
range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse such as choking, beating,
female genital mutilation, and acid throwing that results in disfigurement or death. Domestic murders
include stoning, bride burning, honor killings, and dowry deaths (which sometimes involve non-
cohabitating family members).

Globally, the victims of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women, and women tend to experience
more severe forms of violence. They are also likelier than men to use intimate partner violence in self-
defense. In some countries, domestic violence is often seen as justified, particularly in cases of actual or
suspected infidelity on the part of the woman and is legally permitted. Research has established that
there exists a direct and significant correlation between a country's level of gender equality and rates of
domestic violence, where countries with less gender equality experience higher rates of domestic
violence. Domestic violence is among the most underreported crimes worldwide for both men and
women. Due to social stigmas regarding male victimization, men who are victims of domestic violence
face an increased likelihood of being overlooked by healthcare providers.

Domestic violence often occurs when the abuser believes that abuse is an entitlement, acceptable,
justified, or unlikely to be reported. It may produce an intergenerational cycle of abuse in children and
other family members, who may feel that such violence is acceptable or condoned. Many people do not
recognize themselves as abusers or victims because they may consider their experiences as family
conflicts that got out of control.
Many types of abuse are included in the definition of domestic violence:

• Physical Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Economic Abuse
• Psychological Abuse
• Stalking/Cyber Stalking

Physical abuse can include hitting, biting, slapping, battering, shoving, punching, pulling hair, burning,
cutting, pinching, etc. (any type of violent behavior inflicted on the victim). Physical abuse also includes
denying someone medical treatment and forcing drug/alcohol use on someone.

Sexual abuse occurs when the abuser coerces or attempts to coerce the victim into having sexual
contact or sexual behavior without the victim's consent. This often takes the form of marital rape,
attacking sexual body parts, physical violence that is followed by forcing sex, sexually demeaning the
victim, or even telling sexual jokes at the victim's expense.

Emotional abuse involves invalidating or deflating the victim's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem.
Emotional abuse often takes the form of constant criticism, name-calling, injuring the victim's
relationship with his/her children, or interfering with the victim's abilities.

Economic abuse takes place when the abuser makes or tries to make the victim financially reliant.
Economic abusers often seek to maintain total control over financial resources, withhold the victims
access to funds, or prohibit the victim from going to school or work.

Psychological abuse involves the abuser invoking fear through intimidation; threatening to physically
hurt himself/herself, the victim, children, the victim's family or friends, or the pets; destruction of
property; injuring the pets; isolating the victim from loved ones; and prohibiting the victim from going to
school or work. Threats to hit, injure, or use a weapon are a form of psychological abuse.

Stalking can include following the victim, spying, watching, harassing, showing up at the victim's home
or work, sending gifts, collecting information, making phone calls, leaving written messages, or
appearing at a person's home or workplace. These acts individually are typically legal, but any of these
behaviors done continuously results in a stalking crime.

Cyberstalking refers to online action or repeated emailing that inflicts substantial emotional distress in
the recipient.
Physical violence

Physical violence may include scratching, spitting, biting, grabbing, shaking, shoving, pushing,
restraining, throwing, twisting, slapping(with open or closed hand), punching, choking, burning and or
use of weapons(e.g., household objects, knives, guns) against the survivor. The physical assault may or
may not cause injuries.

A staggering 32 per cent of women have experienced physical violence in Pakistan and 40 per cent of
ever-married women have suffered from spousal abuse at some point in their life (The Pakistan
Demographic and Health Survey 2012-2013).

Sexual violence (Teal Color}

Sexual violence is a serious public health and human rights problem with both short- and long-term
consequences on women's physical, mental, and sexual and reproductive health. Whether sexual
violence occurs in the context of an intimate partnership, within the larger family or community
structure, or during times of conflict, it is a deeply violating and painful experience for the survivor.
(WHO)

Background

Sexual violence occurs throughout the world. Although in most countries there has been little research
conducted on the problem, available data suggest that in some countries nearly one in four women may
experience sexual violence by an intimate partner, and up to one-third of adolescent girls report their
first sexual experience as being forced. Sexual violence has a profound impact on physical and mental
health. As well as causing physical injury, it is associated with an increased risk of a range of sexual and
reproductive health problems, with both immediate and long-term consequences. Its impact on mental
health can be as serious as its physical impact and may be equally long lasting. Deaths following sexual
violence may be because of suicide, HIV infection or murder – the latter occurring either during a sexual
assault or subsequently, as a murder of ‘‘honor’’. Sexual violence can also profoundly affect the social
well-being of victims; individuals may be stigmatized and ostracized by their families and others as a
consequence.

Coerced sex may result in sexual gratification on the part of the perpetrator, though its purpose is
frequently the expression of power and dominance over the person assaulted. Often, men who coerce a
spouse into a sexual act believe their actions are legitimate because they are married to the woman.

Rape of women and of men is often used as a weapon of war, as a form of attack on the enemy,
typifying the conquest and degradation of its women or captured male fighters. It may also be used to
punish women for transgressing social or moral codes, for instance, those prohibiting adultery or
drunkenness in public. Women and men may also be raped when in police custody or in prison.

Forms and contexts of sexual violence

A wide range of sexually violent acts can take place in different circumstances and settings. These

include, for example:

— rape within marriage or dating relationships.

— rape by strangers.

— systematic rape during armed conflict.

— unwanted sexual advances or sexual harassment, including demanding sex in return for

favors.

— sexual abuse of mentally or physically

disabled people.

— sexual abuse of children.

— forced marriage or cohabitation, including

the marriage of children.

— denial of the right to use contraception or to

adopt other measures to protect against

sexually transmitted diseases.

— forced abortion.

violent acts against the sexual integrity of

women, including female genital mutilation

and obligatory inspections for virginity.

— forced prostitution and trafficking of people

for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

In general, sexual violence has been a neglected

area of research. The available data are scanty and

fragmented. Police data, for instance, are often

incomplete and limited. Many women do not report

sexual violence to police because they are ashamed,

or fear being blamed, not believed or otherwise

mistreated.

Triangle

Psychological violence
There are different types of psychological assaults.

(1) Threats of violence and harm

The perpetrator’s threats of violence or harm may be directed against the survivor or others important
to the survivor or they may be suicide threats. Sometimes the threat includes killing the victim and the
others and then committing suicide. The threats may be made directly with words (e.g., “I am going to
kill you” or “your mother will pay for this” or “I cannot live without you” or with actions (e.g., stalking,
displaying weapons, hostage taking, suicide attempts)

(2) Emotional violence

Most people know what physical violence is, but when it comes to emotional violence, people tend to
think there is much more of a ‘grey area’. As of 1996, there was no consensus regarding the definition of
emotional abuse. In fact, clinicians and researchers have offered sometimes divergent definitions of
emotional abuse albeit now it is considered as most severe of all the abuse but still being taken lightly.

“Emotional violence, is a form of violence, characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another

person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is often associated with situations of power imbalance in
abusive relationships, and may include bullying, gaslighting, and abuse in the workplace.

Prevalence
Intimate relationships

Domestic abuse—defined as chronic mistreatment in marriage, families, dating and other intimate
relationships—can include emotionally abusive behavior. Although psychological abuse does not always
lead to physical abuse, physical abuse in domestic relationships is nearly always preceded and
accompanied by psychological abuse.
Child emotional abuse

Emotional abuse of a child is commonly defined as a pattern of behavior by parents or caregivers that
can seriously interfere with a child's cognitive, emotional, psychological, or social development.[9] Some
parents may emotionally and psychologically harm their children because of stress, poor parenting skills,
social isolation, and lack of available resources or inappropriate expectations of their children. They may
emotionally abuse their children because the parents or caregivers were emotionally abused during
their own childhood.

Elder emotional abuse

Choi and Mayer performed a study on elder abuse (causing harm or distress to an older person), with
results showing that 10.5% of the participants were victims of "emotional/psychological abuse," which
was most often perpetrated by a son or other relative of the victim.[24] Of 1288 cases in 2002–2004,
1201 individuals, 42 couples, and 45 groups were found to have been abused. Of these, 70 percent were
female. Psychological abuse (59%) and material/financial (42%) were the most frequently identified
types of abuse.

Workplace
Rates of reported emotional abuse in the workplace vary, with studies showing 10%, 24%, and 36% of
respondents indicating persistent and substantial emotional abuse from coworkers.

Effects:

• Psychological stress and health impairment, loss of motivation.

• Being objectified and humiliated by scrutiny and gossip.
• Weakening of support network or being ostracized from professional or academic circles
(friends, colleagues, or family may distance themselves from the victim, or shun him or her
altogether).
• Depression, anxiety, or panic attacks.
• Sleeplessness or nightmares, difficulty concentrating, headaches, fatigue.
• Eating disorders (weight loss or gain), alcoholism, and feeling powerless or out of control.

(3) Isolation
Isolation (physical, social, or emotional) is often used to facilitate power and control over someone for
an abusive purpose. This applies in many contexts such as workplace bullying, elder abuse, domestic
abuse, child abuse, and cults.
Isolation reduces the opportunity of the abused to be rescued or escape from the abuse. It also helps
disorientate the abused and makes the abused more dependent on the abuser. The degree of power
and control over the abused is contingent upon the degree of their physical or emotional isolation.

Isolation of the victim from the outside world is an important element of psychological control. Isolation
includes controlling a person's social activity: whom they see, whom they talk to, where they go and any
other method to limit their access to others. It may also include limiting what material is read. It can
include insisting on knowing where they are and requiring permission for medical care. The abuser
exhibits hypersensitive and reactive jealousy.

Isolation can be aided by:

• economic abuse thus limiting the victim's actions as they may then lack the necessary resources
to resist or escape from the abuse
• smearing or discrediting the abused amongst their community so the abused does not get help
or support from others
• divide and conquer
• gaslighting and mind control.

(4) USE OF CHILDREN

As complicated as domestic violence is on its own, it becomes even more complex when children are
involved. Not only can they be affected by the abuse (whether they experience it or witness it), they are
sometimes used as an abusive mechanism for the abuse by the perpetrator.

What do we mean by “abusive mechanism”?

Abusive partners exert power and control over their significant others through many different tactics —
and unfortunately, using children can become a tactic or an abusive mechanism to gain control.

Many times, abusive partners will threaten their significant others by telling them that if they leave the
relationship, they will take custody of the children. This threat is a form of emotional abuse that the
abusive partner uses to keep the victim in the relationship.

Even if an abusive partner has not threatened to take the child away if they feel like they are losing
control in the relationship they might see the child as an opportunity to regain control. This can often
happen in relationships even where the partners are not married. If there is no legal tie between the
couple, then the child might be the only link that the abusive partner can use to maintain their control.

(5) ECONOMIC VIOLENCE

Economic deprivation can make a victim more vulnerable to other forms of violence and can even be
the reason why other forms of violence are inflicted.

Global economic data clearly show that one of the consequences of globalization is the feminization of
poverty (making women generally more economically vulnerable than men), however economic
vulnerability is a phenomenon that also exists on the personal level. It has been recognized in a vast
number of abusive relationships as a distinct phenomenon, which is why it deserves a category of its
own. However, even when the relationship is reversed, and a woman has a higher economic status in a
relationship, this does not necessarily eliminate the threat of violence: conflicts about status and
emasculation may arise, particularly in already abusive relationships.

Typical forms of economic violence include taking away the earnings of the victim, not allowing them to
have a separate income (giving them housewife status, or making them work in a family business
without a salary), or making the victim unfit for work through targeted physical abuse.
Constitutional Provisions
The Constitution of Pakistan has several provisions for the protection and uplift of women.

These are given below:

Article 3 calls upon the State to eliminate all forms of exploitation.

Article 4 provides for the right of individuals to enjoy the protection of law and to be treated

in accordance with the law. This article also clearly states that certain rights cannot be

suspended. Article 8 provides that any existing law or practice, inconsistent with or in

derogation of the fundamental rights shall be void. It further prohibits the State from

enacting any law or policy, in conflict with Fundamental Rights except “any law relating to

members of the Armed Force, or of the police … charged with maintenance of public order

… for the purpose of ensuring the proper discharge of their duties …”

Article 25 ensures equality before the law and equal protection of the law and states that there

shall be no discrimination based on sex alone.

Article 26 and 27 provide for equal access to public places and equality of employment.

Articles 11 and 37 (g) prohibits trafficking in human beings as well as prostitution.

Article 32 makes special provisions for the representation of women in the Local

Government. Article 34 directs the State to take appropriate measures to enable women to

participate in all spheres of national life and community activities.

In addition, Articles 25(3) & 26(2) allow the state to make special provisions for the

protection of women and children.

Article 35 asks the State to protect the marriage, the family, the mother, and the child.

Article 37 (e) directs the State to make provisions for securing just and humane conditions of

work and ensuring that children and women are not employed in vocations unsuited to them

age or sex, and for ensuring maternity benefits for women in employment .

Articles 51 and 106 provide for the reservation of seats for women in the legislatures.

There are several provisions for the protection and uplift of women but women in

Pakistan are still suffering from discrimination in society. This is mainly due to lack of

support structures addressing the needs of women. Such support structure includes facilities

such as free legal and medical aid at the state level and presence of adequate number of
shelter homes with all basic facilities for reintegration of victims in society. Lack of

provision of one window services in cases of violence makes women suffer in distress.

Traditions and customs may deprive women to marry out of choice, deprive them of them

share of inheritance and may even take their lives in the name of honor.

STRATEGIES TO ELIMIANATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Prevention and Response

Currently, there are few interventions the effectiveness of which has been proven through well designed
studies. More resources are needed to strengthen the prevention of intimate partner and sexual
violence, including primary prevention, i.e. Stopping it from happening in the first place.

Regarding primary prevention, there is some evidence from high-income countries that school-based
programmed to prevent violence have shown effectiveness. However, these have yet to be assessed for
use in resource-poor settings. Several other primary prevention strategies: those that combine
microfinance with gender equality training; that promote communication and relationship skills within
couples and communities; that reduce access to, and harmful use of alcohol; and that change cultural
gender norms, have shown some promise but need to be evaluated further.

To achieve lasting change, it is important to enact legislation and develop policies that:

• Address discrimination against women.

• Promote gender equality
• Support women; and
• Help to move towards more peaceful cultural norms

An appropriate response from the health sector can play an important role in the prevention of
violence. Sensitization and education of health and other service providers is therefore another
important strategy. To address fully the consequences of violence and the needs of victims/survivors
requires a multi-sectoral response.

WHO ACTIONS
WHO, in collaboration with number of partners, is:

Building the evidence base on the size and nature of violence against women in different settings and
supporting countries’ efforts to document and measure this violence and emits consequences. This is
central to understanding the magnitude and nature of the problem at a global level and to initiating
action in countries Strengthening research and research capacity to assess interventions to address
partner violence Developing technical guidance for evidence-based intimate partner and sexual violence
prevention and for strengthening the health sector responses to such violence Disseminating
information and supporting national efforts to advance women’s rights and the prevention of and
response to violence against women; and Collaborating with international agencies and organizations to
reduce/eliminate violence

EDUCATION
The first task obviously is to ensure that all girls can receive proper and meaningful education because
knowledge is power. Now that ARTICLE-25A of the Constitution obliges the government to provide
education facilities to all children aged five to 16 special efforts will be needed to fill the gender gap at
least at the primary and secondary lives.

HEALTH
At the same time, health cover will have to be extended to the female population and its quality raised.
It will also be necessary to look at the infant mortality and maternal mortality rates and the incidence of
children’s death and retardation due to malnutrition.

There is also a pressing need to guarantee women their economic rights. One should like to know how
the law against evil customs is being implemented. Has the practice of denying women their due share
of inheritance ceased or declined?

FREEDOM
Economic independence, freedom to choose one’s career, and the right to manage one’s earnings are
key factors in women’s empowerment. In all these areas, the government is yet to meet the call of
affirmative action. Even watchdog bodies, such as National Commission on the Status of Women, are
denied the requisite freedom and resources.

Violence against women and obstacles to their empowerment are both rooted in feudal culture, of
which patriarchy is a core element. So long as state and society do not realize the need for social
revolution, including demolition of patriarchal and feudal tyranny, it will be possible neither to end
violence against women, nor to empower them, nor even break the vicious cycle of poverty and
exploitation, as a result of which women suffer more than men, and non-Muslim women more than
Muslim ones.