The United Nations estimates that, worldwide, one girl out of three will be exposed to violence from her boyfriend. In Norway, one in four women are subjected to some kind of violence by their partner, while more than 5 percent of women have been subjected to physical force and violence from their partner at least once in the past calendar year, writes the White Ribbon. Only this year, there have been 8,000 rapes more than 90, 000 cases of any form of violence against women in Norway.
Women are, of course, exposed to violent conflicts and random violence, but much of violence against women occurs at home. We are talking about violence in intimate relationships. It is a basic human right to live a life without violence or fear of violence. Domestic violence is not a private matter but a social responsibility. We all have a responsibility to do something about it.
Family violence has a long history. For a long time, this type of violence was taboo and, thus, invisible. One didn’t used to talk about it, even if people outside the family saw it and knew what was going on. It is the women’s movement and NGOs, as well as the general public more recently, which shed the light on the phenomenon of domestic violence.
Violence against women presents a challenge for gender equality. It concerns us all, men and women alike, old and young. It's about being safe in your own town and village. We must do away with old-fashioned attitudes and have a police force with enough resources to be present and visible. We need a healthcare system that can detect those who might commit such acts. We have a joint responsibility to strengthen the respect for women's integrity and dignity. All women should have the right to meet every day, evenings and nights included, without fear of violence and abuse. Rape and abuse are unacceptable.
In my opinion, there is a broad political consensus on these issues. The challenge is to act.