In the intimacy of households, far from prying eyes, a silent drama unfolds that crushes lives, dreams, and destinies. Domestic violence is not a fatality, but a cruel reality experienced by millions of African women every day.
A Systemic Phenomenon
Behind closed doors, violence weaves itself like a complex social fabric. It is not a matter of chance, but the result of a deeply rooted patriarchal system that considers women as inferior beings, objects of possession.Alarming Statistical Realities
The figures reveal a critical situation:
One woman in three is a victim of violence: This is not a simple percentage, but the concrete translation of an oppressive system. Each woman represents a story, a journey of suffering and resilience. These violences transcend ethnic, social, and economic boundaries, affecting both rural and urban environments.
Less than 10% of victims file a complaint: This silence results from a complex set of constraints. Social pressure, economic dependence, fear of retaliation, community stigmatization, and the absence of effective legal protection mechanisms discourage women from denouncing their aggressors.
40% of women believe a husband has the right to beat his wife: This perception reveals the deep internalization of patriarchal norms. The acceptance of violence as a mode of domestic regulation is the result of a transgenerational social construction that normalizes male domination.
The Multiple Faces of Violence
Domestic violence is not limited to physical blows. It takes insidious and systemic forms:
Economic Violence: Beyond mere financial control, this is a strategy of total enslavement. The man controls not only money but also access to education, healthcare, and professional opportunities. A woman without resources becomes a woman without choices, a prisoner of a system that denies her autonomy.
Psychological Violence: These invisible wounds are often more devastating than physical marks. Permanent humiliation, systematic disparagement, emotional manipulation, social isolation: the objective is to destroy self-esteem, to make the woman internalize a feeling of inferiority and helplessness.
Cultural Violence: Traditions are diverted to legitimize domination. Certain practices like levirate, early marriages, inheritance exclusion are presented as “traditions” while fundamentally violating human rights.
Testimony: Nadia’s Silence – An Ordinary Day of Violence
My name is Nadia (pseudonym). I’m 34 years old, have three children, and a life that looks like a daily trap. At dawn, I wake up with a knot of anxiety in my stomach. One gesture can trigger his anger. This morning, the tea is not hot enough. I feel his gaze weighing on me, I hold my breath. “Are you stupid or what? You can’t do anything?” These words crack like a whip. The children lower their eyes. They have learned to become invisible in this atmosphere.
All day, I run. Prepare meals, wash, clean, take care of the children… My work has no value. For him, I don’t “work” since I don’t bring in money. When I tell him about my sewing workshop project, he laughs. “Who would want your poorly sewn fabrics?” And every sound of a door makes me jump. His return is a dreaded moment because it signals that my misery will start again.
That day, a client had frustrated him at work. I feel him tense, the storm is going to break out and I will once again be the one who pays the price. The children make themselves small in their room, they know how we live at home.
A glass that falls. A dish that is not to his taste. Any pretext will be good to make me feel bad. The blows rain down. I no longer scream. Crying would only anger him more. I bite the inside of my cheek to avoid screaming.
Later, he will be sorry. “Why do you force me to do this?” Making me feel guilty is his other weapon. The bruises on my body? “Nobody should know”.
My parents? They advised me to “keep my family” as long as he takes care of our children and I don’t starve, he’s a “responsible” man. My religious advisor? He reminded me of my “wife’s duty” which passes through submission and accepting everything in the name of love. My friends? They are afraid that I will dishonor them by talking or that they will be tagged as bad friends.
I am alone. But not defeated! One day, I will leave. I gather my strength, I save every bill, every coin to offer myself my passport to freedom. For my children who need me, for myself. “Violence is not my destiny”.
This testimony illustrates several crucial mechanisms: Permanent Psychological Control Invisibilization of Domestic Work Social Isolation Cycles of Violence and “Repentance” Normalization of Violence Lack of Institutional and Family Support
Mobilized associations develop multidimensional strategies:
Community Training: It’s not just about raising awareness, but transforming mentalities. Programs involving men, women, community leaders, religious leaders are implemented to deconstruct gender stereotypes and promote a culture of mutual respect.
Awareness: Innovative campaigns now use social media, forum theater, podcasts to reach a wide audience. The objective is to break taboos, give survivors a voice, and emerge a collective consciousness.
Legal and Psychological Support: Centers offer holistic support: free legal assistance, emergency housing, psychological follow-up, professional training to rebuild women’s autonomy.
Economic Empowerment: Microcredits, professional training, cooperatives are developed to enable women to earn financial independence, the key to their emancipation.
A Message of Hope
Violence is not a fatality. Every day, women rise, resist, rebuild. Education, solidarity, and mutual respect are our most powerful weapons. Together, we can break this infernal circle.