Poverty leading to more violence against women [Archives:2003/690/Business & Economy]

Mahyoub Al-Kamaly
A social study published recently has concluded that there are a number of social and economic factors behind the increase in violence against women in Yemen.
The study has confirmed that poverty, deprivation, and illiteracy are leading causes in the increase of crimes against women.
Results of surveys indicate there is rise in families under the line of poverty, now past 35 per cent, and the proportion of unemployment, also over 35 percent. Women occupy 18 per cent.
Added to those factors are the rise in population, and a drop in the woman role in economic activities.
Also, new values alien to the society such as bribery and nepotism and swindling and cheating are a result of the economic, social, political and cultural changes that contribute to weaken the social structure and ethical values.
Other factors contributing to the problem is a spread weapons in society, and the negative side of information, in addition to migration from countryside to towns.
There is also the information negative effects a result of absence of monitoring. Added to those causes and factors is the internal migration from the countryside to urban areas and the cultural shock it causes to conservative families.
All the above mentioned factors and causes have expanded the circle of effect on life of women, depriving them of work and movement and arousing the spirit of crime and its increase among the society circles, particularly the women.
According to official statistics the registered yearly averages of crimes reach to about 3,000 various types of crimes. Results of a study conducted in six governorates have clarified where there are woman prisoners and in 14 governortes where there are no women prisoners
Crimes among woman circles are mostly physical attack, fraud, taking intoxicating liquors and attempted murder. The study also said that a group of women are exposed to injustice of the family and restraints resulting from its traditional social system, as well as depriving women of their legal rights to protection and dealing with them according to the valid law.
The study also indicates that some families leave women in prison and remain there without trial, and even in case of the trial the woman spends her sentence period in prison and after the end of the sentence period some women remain in it as the society would not accept the crime she had committed.
Some working women are exposed to acts of confiscating their rights and dispensing of their dues by their bosses under justification of family expenses and facing requirements of living.
The study also stresses the importance of taking care of this social segment, founding certain establishments for their qualification and education, providing opportunities for them and helping them to be able to face life problems and consequently live with rights and a stable life.
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