For a world without gender discrimination

November 25 marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, but in most countries, including Jordan, it was marked with little or no fanfare.

Violence, in all its forms, is a grave human rights violation. When directed at girls and women, it is often the result of deep-rooted discrimination, both in law and in practice.

Unfortunately, persistent discrimination and inequality between men and women is an impediment to progress on all fronts.

By all accounts, although gender-based violence and discrimination is a global pandemic, it could be easily prevented if countries, if societies, exerted more serious efforts to combat them.

Of course, in traditional societies where women and girls are still viewed as chattel, as property of males, such effort has to be undertaken across society, and involve education and the contribution of government and community leaders.

Still, it is not an impossible task, and with proper legislation that is scrupulously observed, in time, correct behaviour and gender equality become ingrained in society.

But this is for the future.

Right now, we still see gender discrimination in our midst.

The so-called honour crimes still occur, despite the rhetoric against them.

Girls are still being married off while still children, divorced for no legitimate reason, or raped with relative impunity. To make things worse, rapists can escape punishment if they marry their often unwilling victims.

Where is the fairness in this?

Worldwide, it is estimated by the UN that no less than 35 per cent of girls and women experience physical or sexual violence; 133 million girls and women still experience female genital mutilation; nearly 700 million women were married when they were still children, of which 250 million when they were younger than 15.

What does it take to change this dismal picture is the question repeatedly asked and so far unanswered in a concrete way.

Again, changing laws could be the beginning, if not the ultimate answer.

Hard work is needed to make societies change their perception of women, to make men value women as they deserve.

Women constitute half of the world’s population. Without their fair integration in society, the world’s true progress will continue to be stymied.