New statistics are out, so Lets talk about Violence Against Women - Understanding the Cause of Gender-Based Violence is crucial in creating an equitable, safer, and more peaceful society for ALL women and girls. In this video, I explain the different types of violence that are perpetuated against women and highlight two causes that explain why these harmful acts are being committed. Additional Statistics on Violence Against Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures Below are examples of religious texts or interpretations that have been misused to perpetuate violence against women in each of the specified religions: Christianity: Ephesians 5:22-24: "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church." Christianity and Judaism: Numbers 30:3-16: This passage outlines rules about vows and oaths made by women and the authority men have to annul them, which has been used to restrict women's autonomy. Link to view the full verse: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2030%3A3-16&version=NIV Hinduism: Manusmriti (Manu Smriti): This ancient Hindu legal text has been criticized for prescribing unequal treatment of women and their subordination. Rigveda: While it contains hymns praising the divine feminine, some critics argue that its ancient verses contain references that may be seen as gender-biased. Practices like sati (widow burning) and female infanticide have historical connections to certain cultural interpretations of Hinduism. The concept of "Dowry" in some Hindu marriages has been misused to exploit and harm women. Islam: Misinterpretations of Quranic verses have been used to justify practices like female genital mutilation or honor killings. Certain Hadiths have been cited to restrict women's roles in public life, such as the "hadith of Aisha" about women's intelligence. The concept of "wali," a male guardian, can be used to control women's decisions in some interpretations of Islamic law. Judaism: Some interpretations of the Torah have been criticized for portraying women as property, particularly in passages related to marriage and divorce. The concept of "agunah," a woman who cannot remarry because her husband refuses to grant her a Jewish divorce (get), has been a source of controversy. Some Jewish communities have restrictions on women leading prayer services or being counted in a minyan (prayer quorum). In some traditional Jewish communities, women may face limitations on their role in religious leadership and scholarship. Buddhism: Certain texts in Buddhism, such as the Vimalakirti Sutra, have been criticized for depicting women as obstacles to spiritual progress. Some interpretations of Buddhist monastic rules (Vinaya) have restricted women's access to full ordination as bhikkhunis (nuns) in some Buddhist traditions. There have been historical instances where Buddhist cultures and societies have practiced female infanticide or favored sons over daughters, influenced by cultural factors more than core Buddhist teachings 0:00 The Prevalence of Violence Against Women 3:18 What is the Cause of Gender-Based Violence? 7:33 Understanding Patriarchy, Sexism, and Gender Inequality Music by Aleksey Chistilin from Pixabay