Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

Violence against women In the past few decades, violence against women, or gender based violence, has been recognized as a worldwide problem, crossing cultural, geographic, religious, social and economic boundaries. In 2006, the United Nations Secretary General released an in-depth study on all forms of violence against women, which highlighted that ‘Violence against women persists in every country in the world as a pervasive violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality’. It is shaped by the interaction of a wide range of factors, including histories of colonialism and post-colonial domination, nation-building initiatives, armed conflict, displacement and migration. Furthermore, the specific expressions of violence against women in different contexts are also influenced by economic status, race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, religion and culture (UN General Assembly 2006). Violence against women takes many forms including intimate partner violence and marital rape; sexual violence; dowry-related violence; female infanticide; sexual abuse of female children; female genital mutilation/cutting and other traditional practices harmful to women; early marriage; forced marriage; non-spousal violence; violence perpetrated against domestic workers; and other forms of exploitation and trafficking. The most common form of violence experienced by women globally is intimate partner violence, which is most often perpetrated by a male partner against a female partner. Violence against women is now widely recognized as a serious human rights abuse with far reaching consequences for women, their children and community, and society as a whole. On International Women’s Day 2009, the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, made the following statement: “Violence against women stands in direct contradiction to the promise of the United Nations Charter to ‘promote social progress and better standards of life in large freedom’. The consequences go beyond the visible and immediate. Death, injury, medical costs and lost employment are but the tip of an iceberg. The impact on women and girls, their families, their communities and their societies in terms of shattered lives and livelihoods is beyond calculation. Far too often, crimes go unpunished, and perpetrators walk free. No country, no culture, no woman, young or old, is immune”. Women subjected to violence are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and to report sexual dysfunction, suicide attempts, post-traumatic stress and central nervous system disorders (WHO 2002). Eliminating violence against women remains one of the most serious challenges of our time. This requires clear political will, outspoken, visible and unwavering commitment at the highest levels of leadership of the state and the resolve, advocacy and practical action of individuals and communities. The Secretary-General of the United Nations said on 25 November, 2008: “All of us – men and women, soldiers and peacekeepers, citizens and leaders – have a responsibility to help end violence against women. States must honor their commitments to prevent violence, bring perpetrators to justice and provide redress to victims. And each of us must speak out in our families, workplaces and communities, so that acts of violence against women cease». Said Ban Ki-moon (CEDAW) I. Reading comprehension (08pts) A. Are these statements true or false? Justify by quoting from the text. (1x3=3pts) 1. Violence against women has always been recognized as a worldwide problem. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. Ban ki-moon testifies that guilty people are wandering freely without being punished. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Violence against women prevents us from achieving equality between men and women. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… B. Information transfer: complete the sentences bellow with ideas from the text (0,5x2=1pt) 1. Early marriage; forced marriage; non-spousal violence are some of the………………............... ……………………………………………… 2. The consequences of violence against women not only touches women but also……………… ……………………………………………………………………………………. C. Find in the text words close in meaning with the following ones (0,25x2=0,5pt) Obstacle or barrier (p.1) =……………………………… Someone who commits a criminal action (p.3-4) =……………………………… D. Link sentence A to sentence B using the given link words once. (1x3=3pts) Sentence A Link word Sentence B 1. There is still violence against women Unless whereas although in order to Men are always claiming their innocence 2. Many NGOs are being organized all around the world Organizations have always been fighting against it for decades. 3. Women are said to be the eternal victims To put an end to violence against women 1………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 3………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… E. Referencing: what or who do the underlined words refer to in the text? (0,25x2=0,5pt) It (p.) = refers to…………………………….. Which (p.2) = refers to…………………………….. II. Linguistic competence: (06pts) F. Put the verbs in the right tense and form (0,5x3=1,5pts) Violence against women (always/exist)…………………………………but it (be/not)…………………… as widespread as it is today. If there were not the Media, women (keep) ……………………………….. suffering in silent forever. G. Complete the dialogue meaningfully (0,5x5=2,5pts) Man: Every day, people hear Medias talking about violence against women. ………………………. …………………………………so much folklore around the question? Woman: Women are fed up with supporting so much violence daily. Man: Men also really suffer from this violence,……………………………? Woman: Yes, ……………………………… but this one undergone by men is more moral than physical. Man: Well according to you,…………………………………………………………………………………..? Woman: I think that the physical violence is far more terrible. Man:………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………? Woman: No. A man never beats or ill-treats the woman he loves. H. Word building: complete the passage with the right form of the words (0,5x4=2pts) “Child abuse or (treat)…………………… constitutes all forms of violence, (sex)…………………. abuse, or negligent treatment or commercial or other (exploit)……………………………, resulting in potential harm to the child’s health and (survive)…………………….”. (WHO 1999) III. Essay writing: choose one topic and write about 250 words (06pts) Topic1: A man said: “people only talk about violence against women and never violence against men however many husbands are suffering daily from the arrogance of their wives” comment on this assessment. Topic2: Rape is one of the numerous forms of violence against women and girls. Discuss the causes and propose solutions. Good luck!