|
1 JULY 2013
| DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: 30% OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE ASSAULTED BY PARTNERS
|
A report released 20 June by the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), based on studies from 1983 to 2010, uncovered that 40% of women killed
worldwide were victims of a partner. It also reported that 30% of women indicated they were sexually or physically assaulted by a former or current
partner.
The Director General of W.H.O., Dr. Margaret Chan of China who presented the report, considered such domestic violence a global epidemic health
problem.
The report presents initial results based on interviews with 24,000 women by carefully trained interviewers. The study was implemented by W.H.O., in
collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), PATH, USA, research institutions and women's organizations in the
participating countries. The report covers 15 sites and 10 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, Japan, Peru, Namibia, Samoa, Serbia and
Montenegro, Thailand and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The findings document the prevalence of intimate partner violence and its association with women's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive
health. Data is included on non-partner violence, sexual abuse during childhood and forced first sexual experience. Information is also provided on
women’s responses: Whom do women turn to and whom do they tell about the violence in their lives? Do they leave or fight back? Which services do they
use and what response do they get?
Chapter 10 of the report concludes with 15 recommendations to strengthen national commitment and action on violence against women. Data from the
report show that violence against women is widespread and demands a public health response.
To download main report, go to this site.
|
