the measurement of violence against women in surveys: communalities and differences
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The measurement of Violence Against Women in surveys: communalities and differences. Angela Me, Chief Social and Demographic Statistics Section. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division
The measurement of Violence Against Women in surveys:
communalities and differences
Angela Me, Chief Social and Demographic Statistics Section
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 2
‘Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in,
physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats
of violence, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring
in public or private life.’
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 3
ColombiaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorGuatemalaHonduras
HaitiMexicoNicaraguaParaguayPeruPuerto-RicoUruguay
CanadaUSA
AlbaniaAzerbaijanFinlandFranceGeorgiaGermanyItalyLithuania
NorwayRepublic of MoldovaRomaniaSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUK
MalawiSouth AfricaZambia
Egypt
AustraliaCambodiaChinaIndiaPhilippinesRepublic of KoreaSamoa
Countries with national-level data available for last 15 yearson physical assaults on women by a male partner - 37 countries
Source: "In-depth Study on All Forms of Violence Against Women", Report of the Secretary-General, 2006
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 4
Specialized Surveys
More comprehensive More accurate – larger
sample size – better training
Higher reporting rates More expensive Ad-hoc activity
Module on on-going surveys
Cheaper More regular More limited in the
scope of studying VAW Less attention to VAW
Population-based sample surveys
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 5
UNECE Survey of Surveys
Analysis of
17 countries
25 surveys
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 6
Australia NSO Spec/Mod Mexico NSO Specialized
Canada NSO Spec/Mod New Zealand Specialized
Denmark Min. Specialized Norway Specialized
Finland Min Specialized Spain Women Specialized
France INED Specialized Sweden Women Specialized
Germany Research Specialized Switzerland Research Specialized
Italy NSO Spec/mod UK HO Module
Lithuania Women Specialized USA NSO/Res Spec/Mod
National Surveys in the “extended” ECE
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 7
Prevalence of Sexual assault-sexual violence in women
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Australia,2002
Canada,2004
France,2000
Germany,2003
Italy, 2002 Spain,2002
UK, 2001
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 8
Differences-Communalities
• What type of violence to cover • Intimate partner violence• Sexual abuse and rape• Incest• Emotional abuse• Child abuse• Abuse of domestic workers• Violence by members of the extended family• Economic violence• StalkingImportant to define what acts are considered violence
United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division
Proportion of women that reported violence within a relationship in the last 12 months in France
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Verbal abuse Emotionalblackmail
Repeatedpsychological
pressure
Physical abuse Rape and otherforced sexual acts
Source: Domenique Fougeyrollas-Schwebel, 2000 Enveff Survey
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 10
Physical violence
Finland: making threats of physical violence by telephone, letter, and/or face to face; physical assault such as hitting/beating, kicking, or making use of weapons.
Canada: threats of violence, hitting with fists or weapons, with or without physical injury.
IVAWS: the use of physical force with the intent to harm or frighten a woman, and physical attempts or threats, which refers to the verbal, and/or physical intent to inflict harm which the woman believed was able and likely to be carried out.
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 11
Sexual violence
Finland: sexually threatening behavior; attempt to have forced sex; and/or forcing to have sex. Sexual harassment was defined as “such male sexual behavior that is unwanted
Canada: any form of non-consensual or forced sexual activity or touching, including rape. The term “sexual assault” encompasses a wide range of criminal acts ranging from unwanted sexual touching to sexual violence involving weapons, and is categorized according to three levels of severity
IVAWS: any form of non-consensual or forced sexual activity or touching including rape. It is carried out against the woman’s will using physical or threatened force, intimidation or coercion. Includes sexual touching
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 12
Analysis of surveys
92% of the surveys: detailed questions on sexual violence
80% of surveys: included physiological abuse
80% dedicated surveys: included stalking
40% modules: included stalking
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 13
Type of violence by type of survey
Type of Survey Type of violence
Violence Against Women Surveys (15)
Victimisation Surveys (8)
Other Surveys (2)
Physical Violence N % N % N %
Pushed, grabbed, shoved 13 87% 6 75% 2 100%
Threatened to hit 10 67% 4 50% 2
Threw something 12 80% 5 62% 2
Slapped 12 80% 7 87% 2
Kicked, bit or hit 14 93% 6 75% 2
Hit with something 14 93% 5 62% 2
Beat up 11 73% 5 62% 2
Choked 13 87% 5 62% 2
Used or threatened with a gun or knife 13 87% 6 75% 2
Other 9 60% 5 62% 2
At least one indicator of physical violence 15 100% 7 87% 2 100%
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 14
Type of violence by type of survey
Type of Survey
Type of violence
Violence Against Women Surveys (15)
Victimisation Surveys (8)
Other Surveys (2)
Psychological abuse: control 11 73% 3 37% 0 - including psychological harassment 4 27% 3 37% 0 Isolates her 11 73% 2 25% 0 Torments her constantly 3 20% 1 12% 0 Hinders her from visiting her family or to keep in touch with friends and neighbors
14 93% 3 37% 1
Ignores her or treated her indifferently 8 53% 1 12% 0 Gets angry when she spoke with another man
11 73% 1 12% 1 (DHS)
Expects her to ask permission before seeking health care for herself
1 7% 0 0
Decides what she can do or not do 4 27% 0 0 Emotional blackmail 4 27% 1 12% 0 Other 5 33% 3 37% 1 (DHS) Included at least one indicator of controlling behaviour
15 100% 4 50% 1 (DHS) 50%
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 15
Type of violence by type of survey
Type of Survey
Type of violence
Violence Against Women Surveys (15)
Victimisation Surveys (8)
Other Surveys (2)
Psychological abuse: berating Verbal abuse 9 60% 2 25% 1 Humiliates her 10 67% 2 25% 1 Says that what she does is always wrong 4 27% 0 0 Doesn’t care about her needs (you have the worst place at home, the worst of the meals, etc.).
1 7% 1 12% 0
Blames her in front of her children 3 20% 0 0 Perpetrator has done things to scare or intimidate her on purpose
6 40% 1 12% 0
Perpetrator has threatened to hurt someone she cared about
12 80% 2 25% 1 (DHS)
Other 4 27% 1 12% 0 Included at least one indicator of berating 14 93% 4 50% 1 (DHS) 50%
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 16
Type of violence by type of survey
Type of Survey Type of violence
Violence Against Women Surveys (15)
Victimisation Surveys (8)
Other Surveys (2)
Stalking Followed or spied on her 9 60% 4 50% 0 Sent her unsolicited letters /written correspondence
4 27% 4 50% 0
Made unsolicited phone calls to her 6 40% 4 50% 0 Stood outside her home, school, or workplace
5 33% 4 50% 0
Left unwanted items for her to find 1 7% 2 25% 0 Tried to communicate in other ways against her will
4 27% 3 37% 0
Vandalized her property or destroyed something she loved
7 47% 3 37% 0
Made direct or indirect threats to harm her, her children, relatives, friends or pets
7 47% 2 25% 0
Other 2 13% 4 50% 0 Included at least one indicator of stalking
12 80% 4 50% 0 0%
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 17
Type of violence by type of survey
Type of Survey
Type of violence
Violence Against Women Surveys (15)
Victimisation Surveys (8)
Other Surveys (2)
Economic abuse Doesn’t value her work 1 7% 0 0 Refuses to let her go out to work 6 40% 0 0 Takes the money she earn 7 47% 1 12% 0 Does not pay his fair share of the household expenses
3 20% 0 0
Other 6 40% 1 12% 1 (DHS) Included at least one indicator of economic abuse
10 67% 2 25% 1 (DHS) 50%
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 18
Differences-Communalities
• How to ask women about their experience with violence (questionnaire design)• Single direct questions or multiple behaviorally
specific questions (“Have you ever been slapped, kicked, or beaten?”). Behavior-based questions are considered more effective. Important to avoid words such as rape, abuse
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 19
• Carefully choose wording and the number of questions
• Ask about experiences with violence in behavioural terms
• Provide opportunities for disclosure
• Avoid single questions
United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division
Good Questionnaire Design
During the past five years, has your partner:1. threatened you with his/her fist or anything else that could have hurt you?2. thrown anything at you that could have hurt you?3. pushed, grabbed or shoved you in a way that could have hurt you?4. slapped you?5. kicked, bitten, or hit you with his/her fist?6. hit you with something that could have hurt you?7. beaten you?8. choked you?9. used or threatened to use a gun or knife on you?10. forced you into any unwanted sexual activity by threatening you, holding you down, or hurting you in some way?
Source: Measuring VAW: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 21
• Reference period of victimization • Lifetime (used particularly for rape
and sexual abuse) • Previous 5 years, previous 12
months, previous 6 months• The shorter the period, the more
accurate are the data but larger the sample needs to be
Differences-Communalities
United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division
Five-year and one-year rates of spousal violence in Canada, 1993, 1999 and 2004
12
3
8
3
7
2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
5 year 1 year
Sources:Statistics Canada, Violence Against Women Survey 1993; General Social Survey on Victimisation 1999 and 2004
1993
1999
2004
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 23
Analysis of surveys
The majority of dedicated surveys used “lifetime”, often jointly either with “one year” or with both “one year” and “five years”. For the surveys that only had a module on VAW, the most common time reference was instead “one-year”. One survey module (USA) used 6 months.
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 24
• Reference population
• 15-49
• 15 or 18 years and plus
• Only married or with partner
• Some studies cover men as well
Differences-Communalities
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 25
Analysis of surveys
52% of the surveys did not have an upper age limit
44% of the surveys had age limits3 surveys included institutions9 surveys included also men (all but one-
USA- are modules)
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 26
• What to collect
• Perpetrators (relationship with the victimized woman)
• Injuries (very difficult to standardize it)
Differences-Communalities
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 27
Perpetrators of physical violence against women, Germany, 2004
Partners, former partners, lovers
50.2
Acquaintances from work, training or school
15.8
Casual acquaintances 10.8
Unknown persons19.5
Professional caregivers, professional
helpers, others3.4
Friends, acquaintances,
neighbours11.8
Family members 30.1
Source: Health, Well-Being and Personal Safety of Women in Germany, A Representative Study of Violence against Women in Germany, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany, 2004
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 28
13
21
29
34
44
0 10 20 30 40 50
Received medical attention
More than 10 separate incidents
Needed to take time off dailyactivities
Feared for her life
Injured
Percent
9
12
15
17
21
30
37
0 10 20 30 40 50
Afraid for children
Shame / guilt
Sleeping problems
Lowered self-esteem
Depressed / anxious
Fearful
Upset / confused
Percent
Impacts and consequences of spousal assaults
on women, Canada, 2004
Impacts and consequences of spousal assaults
on women, Canada, 2004
Refers to violence over the previous five years. Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey on Victimization 2004
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 29
Analysis of surveys
80% of the surveys included information about physical injuries
Great majority of the surveys asked information about the use or not of medical services
84% of the surveys asked victims about their search for help
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 30
Other issues… • Telescoping effect
• Sampling
• Non-responses
• Mode of data collection (increase reporting and assuring privacy)
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 31
ConclusionsMany differences …..BUT ….
Some communalities:
• avoidance of general definitions of violence and use of highly detailed and behaviour-specific questions,
• inclusion of physical and sexual violence as a minimum set,
• use of “lifetime” and “one year before the survey” as reference period.
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 32
International/Regional level
There is the need to build from the existing communalities in order to develop International/Regional Recommendations on how to measure VAW in official statistics
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 33
International/Regional level
A great deal of work has been already carried out at international level to develop standard survey modules (WHO, DHS, IVAWS)
Building on this work national statistical systems should be guided on how to design and carry out national surveys as part of official statistics for a sustainable collection of VAW statistics
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 34
Increased Attention and Commitment to tackle Gender Violence• Standard indicators to measure violence against women• Encourage national statistical offices to have a more active role in collecting and disseminating statistics in this area.
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 35
Gender-Based violence against women and men?
16
11
19
19
23
27
36
81
44
61
0
9
5
8
40
57
48
49
53
23
0 20 40 60 80 100
Sexually Assaulted
Used or threatened to use a gun or knife
Choked
Beat
Hit with something
Kicked, bit or hit
Slapped
Pushed, grabbed or shoved
Threw something
Threatened to hit
Per Cent over 5 Years
Men
Women19
10
11
10
44
13
10
29
21
34
2 e
2 e
0 10 20 30 40 50
Were physically injured
Received medical attention
Were hospitalized
Took time off daily activities
Experienced 10+ assaults
Feared for their lived
Percent of spousal victims
Female victims
Male victims
Figure 1: Types of spousal abuse experienced by women and men, Canada, 2004
Figure 2: Impact of Spousal Violence on Victims, Canada, 2004
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 36
Indicators
Physical violence: The proportion of women who experience severe or moderate physical
violence at least once during (the last year/lifetime) by perpetrators (intimate/other relative/other known person/stranger/state authority).
Sexual violence: The proportion of women who experience penetrative sex without
consent or other sexual violence without consent (one/few/many) time/s during (the last year/lifetime) by perpetrators (intimate/other relative/other known person/stranger/state authority).
Intimate partner violence: The proportion of women (who have ever had an intimate partner) who
experience physical or sexual violence at least once or often (>2 times) during (the last year/lifetime) by (current or former partner).
Harmful practices: Female genital mutilation/cutting Early marriage Female infanticide