When Stones Are Raised

 

Image Used To Tell The Story 

As gender-based and domestic violence continue to scar lives and silence victims, experts, faith voices, and policymakers confront the culture of blame, selective justice, and the urgent need for accountability, compassion, and lasting reform

The numbers are no longer whispers. They arrive in reports, police logs, hospital records, courtrooms, and in the quiet testimonies of survivors whose homes became places of fear rather than safety. Gender-based violence and domestic abuse continue to cut across communities, classes, and cultures, leaving behind physical wounds, emotional trauma, broken families, and a society struggling to reconcile justice with conscience. Experts insist that what is reported reflects only a fraction of reality, as shame, fear, economic dependence, and social pressure still silence many victims.

Specialists in social development point to a convergence of causes: unequal power relations between men and women, deeply rooted cultural norms that excuse aggression, economic hardship that heightens tension in households, substance abuse, and weak accountability systems. According to Dr. Amina Lawal, a gender policy analyst, “Violence thrives where silence is rewarded. When society normalizes control and dominance, abuse becomes invisible, even when it is widespread.” She adds that many victims are conditioned to endure rather than report, especially when reconciliation is prioritized over safety.

The damage is extensive and enduring. Survivors often live with long-term psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and loss of self-worth. Children raised in violent environments are more likely to struggle academically, emotionally, and socially, perpetuating cycles of harm. Economists warn that domestic violence also drains national productivity through lost work hours, healthcare costs, and weakened human capital. What begins behind closed doors eventually spills into the public space, shaping a nation’s moral and social fabric.

Government authorities say steps are being taken. Officials highlight the strengthening of legal frameworks, improved reporting mechanisms, specialized gender desks in police stations, and partnerships with civil society organizations. A senior government official, speaking at a recent stakeholders’ forum, stated, “We are moving from rhetoric to response. Protection of victims, prosecution of offenders, and prevention through education are now central to our strategy.” Critics, however, argue that enforcement remains inconsistent and that many laws fail at the point of implementation.

Beyond policy and prosecution lies a deeper social mirror, one reflected in an ancient story that still unsettles modern conscience. In the account of the woman caught in adultery, (John 8:1-11) she is dragged into public view, surrounded by accusers ready to stone her. Their anger is loud, their certainty absolute. Yet one question hangs unanswered: where is the man who shared in the act? Judgment falls swiftly on the woman alone, exposing a bias that transcends centuries. When Jesus responds, he does not deny wrongdoing, but he reframes justice: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” One by one, the stones drop.

That moment echoes powerfully in today’s discourse on gender-based violence. Society is often quick to interrogate women’s choices, movements, and morality, while male accountability fades into the background. The story challenges selective outrage and calls for introspection before condemnation. It insists that justice must be balanced with truth, responsibility shared, and humanity preserved.

Another scripture deepens the resonance: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The rhyme of action and consequence underscores a universal principle, violence, silence, and injustice eventually return to the society that tolerates them. Experts say this applies not only to perpetrators, but to institutions and communities that look away. Reverend Samuel Okorie, a faith-based advocate against domestic violence, explains, “Faith does not excuse abuse. Scripture calls for correction, restoration, and dignity. Any belief system that shields violence has lost its moral compass.”

Psychologists, legal practitioners, faith leaders, and human rights advocates agree that preventing gender-based violence requires a collective response. Families must reject harmful norms, communities must protect rather than stigmatize victims, religious leaders must speak with moral clarity, and governments must ensure that laws are not merely symbolic but effective. Education, early intervention, survivor support, and firm accountability are repeatedly emphasized as non-negotiable pillars.

The image remains stark: a woman in the center, stones raised, voices shouting, truth partially told. Yet the greater story is not only about her, but about everyone holding a stone, institutions, cultures, systems, and individuals. The enduring question is whether society will continue to condemn selectively, or whether it will choose justice that heals, responsibility that is shared, and mercy that transforms.