The Serpent’s Tale: Women’s Rights Issues
At least 60,000 wisewomen were tortured and killed during the European Witch Trials (1450-1750). The Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Roman Catholic Church (or Roman Church as it was then known) during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of heresy, including sorcery and witchcraft, mainly in Italy and Malta.
Although The Serpent’s Tale is set in the 16th century, the social issues it explores, such as the subjugation of women by patriarchal religious doctrines; violence against women, including abuse, rape and torture; and maternal mortality, remain endemic in our global society as the following statistics from www.womankind.org.uk (2009) reveal.
- Domestic violence causes more deaths worldwide in women aged 15-44 than war, cancer or malaria
- 1 in 3 women worldwide are beaten, abused or raped
- 1 in 4 women worldwide are beaten while pregnant
- 1 in 7 women worldwide are raped by their spouse
- 1 woman dies every minute from pregnancy related causes, most of which are preventable
- 5,000 women worldwide are killed in honour killings each year for ‘crimes’ such as trying to leave an abusive marriage
- 2 million girls worldwide are forced into marriage each year
- 6,000 girls worldwide are forced to undergo female circumcision each day
For information on what you can do to help vulnerable and oppressed women, please download the Take Action for Women pdf.
