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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.