Economic Violence Among The Most Usual Form Of Violence Within The Private Sphere

Economic violence is one of the most common types of violence that occurs in the private sector, according to UN Women, the agency of the United Nations for gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Achieving or attempting to achieve financial dependency on another person, maintaining complete control over their financial resources, restricting them from accessing them, and banning common activities like working or attending school are all examples of economic violence.

Economic violence is "the worst of the forms of violence that exist, it is the mother of all forms of violence because it is a condition of other forms of violence," according to Graciela Medina, a former Argentine judge and vice president of the Ibero-American Academy of Family Law, Diario Libre reported.

Medina stated during her participation in the XIV Latin American Congress on childhood, adolescence, and family's closing ceremony that this type of violence demonstrates the power dynamics within the couple by forcing the woman to "tolerate physical, psychological, and sexual violence" in order to have a roof over her head and food for her and their children.

In her opinion, " economic violence harms children the most " when they are used as bargaining chips.

The lawyer stressed that " there are no cases of food claims against women " but that maintenance sentences are imposed on men.

Another characteristic that was evidenced is that it affects all social strata, but with a greater impact on vulnerable people. The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ( Cepal) in its 2021 report establishes that 209 million people live in poverty.

Medina highlighted that economic violence produces "so much submission that women do not report it."

The lawyer demands a response from the State.

She gave the example of the “ Acompañarte ” program, an initiative that emerged in Argentina during the pandemic, with which, for six months, the Government provides the applicant with a minimum wage.

"It's not forever, it's so they can take off, it's so they can leave home, feed their children, train and strengthen themselves," she said.

"What good is it that there is a convention that condemns violence if the State does not give guarantees ?" was the thoughtful question sown at the hearing by the jurist.