The challenges to the protection of women against domestic violence in jimma zone, south western Ethiopia

Abstract

Domestic violence against women is one of the scourge and pervasive violence directed against women by their; current or former husband, current or former boyfriends and other friends who has sexual relation with the women. Domestic violence has different patterns of abuse which may include; physical abuse, sexual abuse, economic abuse and psychological abuse. It has numerous and devastating physical and psychological consequences for the victim. Victims of domestic violence experience both short-term and long-lasting health outcomes including death, grave physical injury, reproductive health, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, depression and suicidal behaviour. However, despite of its devastating consequence, its prevalence is very high and the problems are socially condoned in Ethiopia and specifically in Jimma zone. This clearly indicates that th e protection of women against domestic violence in the Jimma zone has been not succeeded which manifests the existence of challenges and obstacles. This in turn makes me to theorize that, there are something flawed which highly hinders the successful protection of women against domestic violence. Therefore, unless, such challenges are identified and take action upon, the women’s human rights will continuously to be violated. Hence, the aim of this paper is to identify the challenges to the protection of women against domestic violence. To this end, the Ethiopian policy and laws regarding domestic violence are analyzed, the practical commitments of law enforcement authority of Jimma zone and sociocultural and religious of Jimma zone community are evaluated in lights of the rights to women against domestic violence. Accordingly, the research identifies different challenges to the protection of women against domestic violence in Jimma zone which includes; legal gap, practical challenges, socio-cultural, socio-economic and religious challenges dominantly. Therefore, unless, take action upon the identified challenges, the women’s human rights will continuously to be violated. Hence, lastly to this end, the researcher arrived at the set of recommendations.