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Facts About Violence Against Women

http://www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/factsheets/viol.htm

What are the types of violence against women?

Behaviors included in the broad category of violence against women include homicide, intimate partner abuse, psychological abuse, dating violence, same-sex violence, elder abuse, sexual assault, date rape, acquaintance rape, marital rape, stranger rape and economic abuse. The effects of this violence can negatively affect a woman’s reproductive health, as well as other aspects of her physical and mental well-being. Long-term risks include chronic pain, physical disability, drug and alcohol abuse and depression. Women with a history of physical or sexual abuse also have an increased risk for unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and adverse pregnancy outcomes. The vast majority of violence against females is perpetrated by males.

Are some women more at risk for physical assault than others?

Physical assault by someone known to the victim is a leading cause of injury to women. Nearly two million women are assaulted each year in the United States, and more than half of women will be physically assaulted during their lifetime. A large proportion of women (64 percent) reporting rape, physical assault and/or stalking, were victimized by a current or former partner.

Even pregnant women are not immune from physical violence inflicted by partners. Violence directed toward women by their partners during pregnancy affects as many as 324,000 annually.

Does risk for violence against women change with age?

Violence against females can begin as child abuse and continue throughout the lifespan.

Elder abuse, defined as the mistreatment of any person older than age 60 years of age, is quite common. Older females are victimized more often than men. In Illinois, although only 59 percent of the general population older than 60 are women, three of every four elder abuse victims are female. The most common victim of elder abuse is an older woman with a chronic illness or disability; the most common perpetrator is a spouse or another relative living with her. United States data shows that family members are the perpetrators of elder abuse 90 percent of the time. Abusers are adult children (47 percent), spouses (19 percent), other relatives (9 percent) and grandchildren (9 percent). Abusers are more likely to be male, even though the majority of caregivers to older adults are women. Elder abuse is quite clearly a family problem.

Is violence against women all that common?

Estimates of assaults on women by partners range from approximately 2 to 4 million per year. The Illinois State Police recorded 114,373 domestic violence offenses in 2000; 76 percent of these offenses involved assault/ battery charges. A total of 54,640 orders of protection were issued, with 4,574 of these orders being violated. About 25 percent of all hospital emergency department visits by women result from domestic assaults.

How can I support someone who has been physically or sexually assaulted?

• Do not blame the victim, assure her that the assault was not her fault. Questions or comments such as, “How did you get yourself in that situation?,” “Why were you there?,” or “You should have known better,” only blame the victim when the responsibility should be placed on the offender.
• Listen. Often the best way to be of help to the victim is to be there for them as they grieve and sort through what has happened.
• Offer support. Let the victim know that you are available to help them. She may feel better having you accompany her to the police department or clinic, or you may be able to help her cook a meal or take care of children while she obtains legal or medical counsel as she works through her feelings and decides what to do next.

"Violence Against Women "

From: United Nations Department of Public Information,
January, 1995.

http://www.earthtym.net/abuse.htm

A Platform for Action

" Violence against women derives essentially from the lower status accorded to women in the family and in society. It is abetted by ignorance, lack of laws to prohibit violence, inadequate efforts by public authorities to enforce existing laws, and absence of educational and other means to address its causes", says the Draft Platform for Action. Experience in a number of countries shows that women and men can be mobilized to fight against violence in all its forms and that effective public measures can be taken to address both the consequences and the causes of violence.

The Draft Platform proposes specific measures Governments and communities can take to eliminate violence against women.

These include:

1. Recognize violence against women as a violation of women's human rights;

2. Cooperate with the Special UN Reporter on Violence against Women;

3. Study and widely publicize root causes and mechanisms of different forms of violence against

women;

4. Analyze and review existing laws relevant to violence against women and develop new

legislative efforts, in accordance with the Declaration on Violence against Women;

5. Address both the causes and the consequences of violence against women, using both legal

and social measures. Emphasize preventing violence as well as protecting women subject to

violence;

6. Launch legal literacy program and information campaigns on existing laws and women's

human rights;

7. Include in the curricula material on gender inequality and violence;

8.Train the judiciary and the police to ensure fair treatment of women targets of violence,

increase recruitment of women into the police forces and ensure higher representation of

women in the judiciary;

9. Set up high-level national bodies to oversee the working of safeguards for women;

10. Take specific action to protect women and girls who are subjects of sex trafficking and

forced prostitution;

11. Take special measures to protect women with disabilities and female migrant workers.

Recognizing Abuse
Kathryn Patricelli, MA

Abuse is not the easiest thing in the world to recognize, even if it is happening to you directly. Not everyone who is being abused understands that what they are experiencing is abuse. Some may recognize that something isn't right about how they are treated, but they may be afraid to speak up and name it as abuse for fear of retribution from their abuser. The following list describes various interactions that people might have that are examples of abuse. If one or more of these things is happening to you, there is very good chance that you are being abused.

0 Being physically, sexually, or emotionally hurt and/or violated by your partner on a regular basis.
0 Being called hurtful names and/or being put down by partner on a regular basis.
0 Being controlled by partner. For instance, if your partner tells you that you are not allowed to have friends, leave the house without his permission, or tells you that you are not allowed to pursue your own goals growth, such as attending school or finding work.
0 Becoming more withdrawn so that you do not spend much time with others who may clue in to the fact that abuse is happening to you.
0 Finding yourself making excuses for partner’s bad and harmful behavior (perhaps so that you won't have to accept the fact that abuse is happening).
0 Recognizing that your relationship has a pattern or cycle in which something abusive occurs, you tell partner that you will not tolerate the abuse anymore, but then forgiving your partner when he or she apologizes.
0 Blaming yourself for bad things your partner has done to you. For example, telling yourself that you are really difficult to live with so you deserve to be hit.
0 Feeling trapped in your own home and being fearful when you know partner is coming home.

If you are a third party to a potentially abusive situation (suspected child abuse, domestic abuse or elder abuse), it may be difficult to know if abuse is happening in any direct manner. You might need to rely on circumstantial evidence to identify the abuse. The following list suggests things to look for that could be indicative of abuse.

0 There are physical signs of injury, such as bruises, sores, burns, cuts, or black eyes. Such injuries may be hidden (e.g., behind sunglasses or with clothing)
0 The victim makes implausible excuses for injuries or absences ("I fell down the stairs").
0 The victim displays personality changes (angry, depressed, moody, defensive, etc.)
0 The victim becomes withdrawn, or suddenly fearful.
0 The victim becomes depressed, or more irritable or agitated than normal.
0 The victim has difficulty sleeping at night, or may display excessive tiredness (can be a symptom of depression)
0 The victim's appetite changes for better or worse. Weight loss or gain may occur (can be a symptom of depression).
0 The victim's self-esteem lowers.
0 The victim is distracted and has difficulty concentrating.
0 The victim neglects hygiene (becomes smelly, goes unwashed; may be an attempt to ward off a sexual predator if a child, or as a consequence of depression).
0 Changes are noted in the victim's personal appearance or in the appearance of his or her home or living environment.
0 The victim complains of pain in the genital region (more common in children).
0 For older children and adults, the victim 'acts out', becoming sexually promiscuous, and/or using drugs.
0 Elders may display confusion

Know Your Rights
Abusive Behaviour and Change


Serina* has been going out with John* for six years since they were in college. Having a quiet disposition, Serina always let John make the decisions in their relationship, from which film to watch to recently when they were thinking of purchasing a house together. John has always been protective and possessive of Serina's attention. Initially, Serina thought it to be a sign of his commitment. However, it has escalated to an extent where she was not allowed to spend time with her friends without him around, and he would question every male friend she has. He became suspicious of her male colleagues and they have been having more and more arguments because of his excessive jealousy. Not only that, John checks her mobilephone at the end of the day to see the phonecalls and SMSes she has made or received. Sometimes, John became so violently angry that he punched and hit her. However, after every violent incident, he would cry and apologise about his "bad temper", promising to change. Holding on to his promise, Serina gave him chance after chance.

However, she is beginning to feel more and more suffocated by the relationship. Thinking that things might change if they separated for a while, Serina ventured to discuss this with John. He became aggressively livid and began accusing her of having another man. He would not listen when Serina denied it and in fact started to hurl objects around the room at her. Worried for herown safety, Serina left the place and stayed over with a friend. She started to question the state of her relationship with John. Will he change?

Abusive men batter women to have power and control over their intimate partner in order to manipulate, intimidate and rule over them. Men who abuse their partners come from all races, religions, socioeconomic classes, areas of the world, educational levels and occupations. Although they may appear normal and even charming to outsiders, and even to their partners at first, once a relationship is established, they become more and more abusive.

Although there is no guarantee that men who abuse can change, it is possible for them to learn to change how they act, and more positive ways of relating to women. Men who abuse must want to change. If a man really wants to stop the violence against his partner, he must take responsibility for his action. He must stop blaming his partner, alcohol, stress, drug or anything else for provoking him to be violent. Men can also seek counselling and agree to attend several sessions.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THE ABUSER IS CHANGING?

While a boyfriend or husband may apologise for his actions and vow to change, this can be another phase in manipulating the wife or girlfriend to stay. Consider the following questions before deciding if he has changed or is changing:

Some signs that he is changing:

• Has he completely stopped saying and doing things that frighten you?
• Can you express your anger toward him without being punished for it?
• Can he argue without being abusive or domineering?
• Does it feel safe to bring up topics that you know upset him?
• Can he listen to your opinion and respect it even when he disagrees?
• Does he respect your wishes about sex and physical contact?
• Has he stopped expecting you to do things for him?
• Can you spend time with your friends without being afraid that he will retaliate?
• Can you do other things that are important to you, such as go to school or get a job?
• Are you comfortable with the way he interacts with the children, if you have any?
• Do you feel safe leaving them alone with him?
• Is he being supportive and does he give compliments? Does he listen to what you have to say?
• Does he do his share of housework and childcare?

If the answers to most of the above are positive, then chances are, the abuser really wants to change and is making a difference.

Some signs that he is NOT changing:

• If he is receiving counselling or treatment, does he use it against you in anyway? Does he tell you that he is not as bad as the other abusers there?
• Does he tell you that you are abusive?
• Does he tell you that you owe him another chance?
• Does he say that he can't change without your support?
• Does he try to get you or the children to feel sorry for him?
• Does he instil fear in the children about the future, or finances, or where they'll live etc?
• Do you have to keep after him to attend his counselling sessions?
• Is he making his abuse sound like a lot less than it really is when he talks about it?
• Is he pressuring you to drop any protection order you may have against him?

If the answers to most of them are yes, then he is not changing his abusive behaviour.

Although everyone wants to have a healthy and long-lasting relationship, not all relationships are that way. To help build a healthy relationship, consider:

Respect

This means acting in ways that show you value your partner. You listen to his or her ideas even when they are different from yours and you treat your partner as an equal. This also means not forcing your partner to act in ways that are contrary to their wishes.

Understanding

Being understanding means that you think about your partner's feelings and that you care about how your behaviour might affect him or her, and your relationship.

Responsibility

This means that your partner can count on you. You take care not to harm your partner by, in example, taking risks that could lead to sexually transmitted diseases. To get more information, call a woman's organisation or your nearest Welfare Office.

*Names changed to protect WAO's client's confidentiality.
Prepared by Jaclyn KeeWomen's Aid Organisation - 20 Years of Service to Women and Children

Stop Violence Against Women Campaign

Violence against women is a human rights scandal. At least one out of every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime.
In Europe, domestic violence is the major cause of death and disability for women aged 16 to 44.
In the United States, a woman is raped every 6 minutes; a woman is battered every 15 seconds.
Rape of women is widespread in armed conflicts such as Colombia and Darfur.
Trafficking of women has become a global phenomenon where victims are sexually exploited, forced into labor and subjected to abuse. Murders of women in Guatemala, Russia, India, and other countries often go uninvestigated and unpunished.
The experience or threat of violence affects the lives of women everywhere, cutting across boundaries of wealth, race and culture. In the home and in the community, in times of war and peace, women are beaten, raped, mutilated, and killed with impunity.
In 2004, Amnesty International launched its global Stop Violence Against Women Campaign to help break the silence around this scandal, stop the violence, and create a world where women and girls are afforded their basic human rights. Across the globe, Amnesty International members have united to work towards making women's human rights a reality; the campaign is intended as a contribution to the efforts of the women's rights movements around the world. With this campaign, Amnesty International will show that the right of women to be free from violence is integral to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As long as violence against women continues, the promise to humanity of the Universal Declaration cannot be fulfilled.
How Amnesty International's Campaign Will Stop Violence Against Women
To acheive its goals in helping to end violence against women, Amnesty International is:
Urging governments and armed groups to end impunity for violence against women during times of conflict and post-conflict
Demanding that governments abolish discriminatory laws and practices that perpetrate violence against women in the family and in the community
Calling for the adoption of new laws and policies to provide women protection from violence
We support women's human rights defenders, and we are urging governments to ratify the Treaty for the Rights of Women (CEDAW) and its protocol without reservations.
In the US, we have worked in support of anti-violence legislation and other national initiatives to stop violence against women. We have worked to increase public awareness of violence against women as a global human rights issue and to contribute to efforts to challenge attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women.
Amnesty International has used a human rights framework to guide its campaigning work to stop violence against women. By using a human rights framework to oppose violence against women, we help to change the perception of violence against women from a private matter to a public concern that requires action from recognized authorities. Use of the framework also enables Amnesty International to use international human rights standards and laws to cut across national boundaries, cultures and religions to protest violence against women in all its forms. And perhaps most importantly, it makes it possible to use international remedies to hold governments accountable if they fail to meet their obligations to protect women from violence, regardless of who commits it or where it's committed.

Kota Kinabalu: Anyone who dares to suggest that his wife is no longer attractive will be courting legal trouble soon.

Plans are afoot to amend the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) 1994 to include a clause on emotional violence against women. Presently, the Act only provides for legal procedures that protect women against physical abuse.

Women Development Department Director-General, Dato' Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur, said it is timely to amend the DVA to safeguard women both physically and emotionally.

"One of the department's focus is to amend the DVA by including a clause that will defend and protect women when they are emotionally abused by men, particularly husbands.

"The department, which is under the Ministry of Women Development, Family and Community, is in the process of bringing the proposed amendment to Parliament to be approved," she said.

Dr. Noorul described emotional violence as abuse that would scar women's emotions deeply and lower their self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence.

An example would be when a husband tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured, she said.

On the proposed penalty for emotional violence, she said it is yet to be finalised. She said this in a press conference at the closing of a seminar on how to curb violence against women at Wisma Wanita here, on Tuesday.

Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun closed the seminar organised by the Sabah Women Affairs Department.

About 300 participants including civil servants, students and non-governmental organisations (NGO) attended the one-day seminar.

The main objective of the seminar was to expose participants particularly young women to steps that can be taken should they fall victim to violence.

Also present were Permanent Secretary to Azizah's Ministry, Datin Asnimar Sukardi and Sabah Women Affairs Department director, Siti Sapoo Hj. Ahok.

In her speech earlier Dr Noorul said the annual rise in the number of sex crimes involving women and children in the country was actually indicative of the growing level of public awareness to report such cases.

"Don't let the statistics fool you with all the high numbers of rape, outraging of modesty and sodomy cases in our country.

"It shows the awareness of the public to come forward to report such heinous crimes to the police.

"Even in incest cases, the mothers of the victims courageously come forward to lodge police reports," she said.

Dr Noorul said rape was still the most common sex crime committed against women and children in the country followed by molest and sodomy.

In 2005, she said the department recorded 1,931 rapes followed by molest (973) and sodomy (71) and that these cases continued to rise in 2006 with rape accounting for 2,041 cases, 1,066 molest and 71 sodomy cases.

In 2007, she said there were 3,098 rape cases followed by 2,228 molest and 101 sodomy cases. And in 2008, the number of rapes rose to 3,098 cases followed by 2,228 molest and 130 sodomy cases.

Dr. Noorul said the police statistics for 2008 also revealed a 10 per cent increase in rape cases compared to 2007.

She said the growing awareness to report such cases was a new phenomenon compared to 10 to 20 years ago when many families would have been more concerned about the family's reputation and therefore embarrassed to report the crimes .