By Shobha Shukla
"There is a global epidemic of violence
against women – both within conflict zones and within societies at peace – and it is still treated as a lesser crime and
lower priority," said Angelina Jolie, US actress and then-UN Ambassador for refugees more
than five years ago.
With the onslaught of the pandemic and global public health emergency and cascading humanitarian crises, these words have only become even more relevant today.
The Asia Pacific region presents some very challenging
development indicators for women and girls and socially excluded and
marginalized populations. There are deep rooted gender inequalities and
discriminatory socio-cultural norms and practices arising out of patriarchal
systems and structures, and sexual and other forms of gender-based violence
continues to remain pervasive in the region.
According to latest statistics, the proportion of women in Asia Pacific who have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime ranges from 15% in Bhutan, Japan, Lao PDR and Philippines to 64% in Fiji and Solomon Islands. Also 4% (in Japan) to 48% (in Papua New Guinea) of women have experienced intimate partner violence in the last 12 months.
