<B>By Pauline ETIENNE</B>

“No one is ever considered guilty for trying to save her own life.” This slogan of a French association aimed at fighting violence against women could have helped Nisha or Taramatee, if they had known about it. These women had already made several complaints that they were victims of domestic violence.

But these complaints did not prevent the former from being murdered by her husband and the latter from being in the ICU of Victoria hospital after her former husband sprayed her with acid as she was going to work. We could be tempted to say that the International Day to fight violence against women was celebrated “just at the right moment” (last Friday) if the reflection did not appear so cynical.

I am sometimes tempted to believe that there is only one step between us in Mauritius and the lot of women in the most fundamentalist countries of the world… How have we reached such a situation where newspapers publish at least one case of domestic violence practically everyday?

In fact, the weirdest aspect of violence against women is the feeling of women when they decide to leave their husbands. Instead of feeling relieved that they will finally get out of this hellish situation, they can’t help having some feelings of guilt. They are caught in such a vicious circle that makes them believe that either their behaviour or – worse – their condition as women has led them to such a situation. Even if they may not be totally conscious of it, they may feel they have somehow deserved what is happening to them. Because violence is often not only physical but also psychological. Perpetrators of violence know perfectly well how to make women feel guilty and turn the situation to their own advantage.

But the situation is even worse in Mauritius as these women are often confronted with a double tragedy. In many cases, social or family pressure increases their feelings of guilt even more. When a woman gets married, the accepted thinking is that she now “belongs” to her husband. Parents or relatives will rarely try to interfere in the relationship between the couple… even if it can turn out to be dangerous for the married woman.

Of course, the family can’t be held responsible for the violence inflicted on women. They have the duty to give advice and offer their help to the victim but they can’t force her to leave her home. The victim is the only one responsible for making the right decision. The role of society and the authorities concerned is to provide them with information to make them aware of their situation.

Domestic violence is a crime and is punishable by law. The government announcement that it will amend the Protection Order Bill – aimed at allowing the police to arrest the perpetrator of violence and send him to prison for a short period – can only be applauded. But the aim should not only be to punish the perpetrator; it should also help the victims. How useful will such amendments be if women fail to ask for a protection order? The fact that their husband may go to jail might prevent them from deciding to go to the police… They should be made to realise that they deserve better treatment.