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Begin New Search Topic Intimate Partner Violence

1. Cost of Violence Study – Switzerland: A Halving Global Violence Report

Author:
Li Li, Anke Hoeffler, and Teresa Artho
Publication Date:
09-2023
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Center on International Cooperation (CIC)
Abstract:
The aim of this report is to document the prevalence of interpersonal violence and its associated costs in Switzerland, and to identify policies, programs, and recommendations to address the economic impact of violence in the country. Interpersonal violence is understood to be homicide, physical assault, and sexual assault, since much of these are perpetrated in the domestic sphere. In this report, the authors provide separate numbers for domestic violence, which includes intimate partner violence (IPV). Additionally, this research will contribute to the forthcoming Flagship Report of the Halving Global Violence Task Force, and aims to inform national and global discussions about the business case for investments in violence prevention. While assigning monetary values to injuries and death may be seen as morally questionable, it is essential for understanding the magnitude of the issue and informing policy decisions. By quantifying these costs, we can better comprehend the burden of violence. In addition, the cost distribution of different forms of violence can help guide policymakers in allocating resources to tackle the most pressing issues, as well as devising effective violence reduction measures.
Topic:
Economics, Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Europe and Switzerland

2. Silence kills! Victim-blaming social norms and violence against women

Author:
Sevinç Bermek, Konstantinos Matakos, and Asli Unan
Publication Date:
07-2023
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Economic and Political Research (NICEP)
Abstract:
Despite its huge social, psychological and economic costs, gender-based, intimate partner violence (IPV) is a phenomenon that persists in many countries. IPV is often not actively contested by society the persistence of victim-blaming norms might increase its social acceptability and thus hinter policy and behavior change. Are persisting victim-blaming attitudes and lack of action/policy support because of differences in own values or social norms? This paper examines the role of patriarchy values and social norms on gender attitudes towards and action/policy support regarding intimate partner violence. We conducted an online survey experiment in which a sample of 4,000 respondents in Turkey –a country with the highest IPV prevalence among OECD members– was randomly assigned to receive hypothetical IPV scenario treatment with or without invocation of social norms, or control. Simply making the existence of a social norm salient (by eliciting respondents’ incentivized beliefs on what the majority/others think) increased support for policies to combat IPV by 3 to 4 percentage points compared to the control group. Our results suggest that while patriarchal attitudes are rather immovable and better at predicting own attitudes towards gender-based IPV, social norms do a much better job at changing policy preferences and (incentivized) behavior. Thus, policy change is possible even if individual patriarchy values are relatively stable. These findings highlight the need to consider the role of social norms when designing policies to tackle IPV. By exploiting our dynamic information-updating design, we also find strong convergence of individuals’ attitudes (on gender-based violence) to the elicited social norms.
Topic:
Women, Gender Based Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Survey, and Social Norms
Political Geography:
Turkey and Middle East

3. Diplomacy: The Future is Female (Full Journal Issue)

Author:
Meagan Torello, Nahla Valji, Pablo Castillo, Tanya Ansahta Garnett, Kari Øygard, Lina Abirafeh, Catherine Tinker, Renata Koch Alvarenga, Rachel Clement, and Lyric Thompson
Publication Date:
08-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
The Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations
Institution:
School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Abstract:
In the second issue of our 20th volume, the critical diplomatic roles from grassroots advocacy to international negotiations are explored. Nahla Valji and Pablo Castillo open this issue, arguing for the importance, and ultimate necessity, of gender parity for the success of the United Nations’ peace and security efforts. This article discusses the great need for gender parity both within the UN system as well as within its advocacy on the ground. Following, Tanya Ansahta Garnett and Kari Øygard offer a case study on women’s roles in peacebuilding and civic engagement in post-conflict Liberia. They discuss whether or not women’s participation and representation is an effective strategy towards meaningful long-term change. Lina Abirafeh then examines the widespread issue of genderbased violence in the Arab region by outlining several case studies. Abirafeh then considers how it continues to withhold women’s political and legal progress in the region. Changing gears, Catherine Tinker and Renata Koch Alvarenga then survey the successes and continued drawbacks to gender equality in climate finance, offering a call to action for quicker implementation of a genderresponsive approach to mitigating the effects of climate change. Rachel Clement and Lyric Thompson conclude this issue by discussing the theory behind a feminist foreign policy and what it will take to move beyond the definition to a comprehensively feminist approach to foreign policy that is engrained in all sectors of diplomacy while also elevating traditionally unheard voices.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Gender Issues, United Nations, Women, Inequality, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Arab Countries and Global Focus

4. Intimate Partner Violence as Evidence of Widespread Gender-based Violence in the Arab Region

Author:
Lina Abirafeh
Publication Date:
08-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
The Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations
Institution:
School of Diplomacy and International Relations, Seton Hall University
Abstract:
The Arab region is a diverse grouping of 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Despite a range of economic, political, and security configurations, the one commonality is the region’s poor standing in terms of gender equality, ranking lowest in the world on both the 2018 Global Gender Gap Report and the Women, Peace, and Security Index.1 The World Economic Forum (WEF) found that, despite progress in closing the gender gap across the region in 2018, it nonetheless remains the world’s least gender-equal region.2 It will take the Middle East and North African economies “153 years to close the gender gap at the current rate of change,” the report stated.3 While Tunisia topped the region for gender equality, ranking 119 globally; the UAE ranked 121 with the gender gap closed at 64.2 percent;4 Saudi Arabia ranked 141 with a 59 percent gender gap rate, showing “modest progress,” with improvement in wage equality and women’s labor force participation; and Lebanon ranks third to last in the region, ahead of only Syria and Yemen. As such, social indicators are not promising – and not progressing. Patriarchal societies, growing conservative movements, and lack of political will to advance and achieve gender equality together are building a foundation to foment a backlash against women’s rights and freedoms. Gender inequality exists in many forms and can be found in the realms of health, education, economics, and politics. However, gender-based violence remains the most egregious manifestation of inequality and entrenched patriarchy in the region. No country is immune to gender-based violence; one in three women and girls worldwide will experience some form of gender-based violence in their lifetime.5 The Arab region is no exception. Ending gender-based violence has proved to be an intractable human rights challenge partially due to its prevalence across all socio-economic and cultural groups. This violence takes many forms – sexual, physical, emotional and economic. Globally, intimate partner violence is the most common form of gender-based violence.6 Labeling gender-based violence when it occurs remains a challenge. An inability to identify it makes it extremely difficult to legislate against and eradicate. For instance, in many countries worldwide, sexual harassment, marital rape, and coerced sex are not considered violence. This is not to mention verbal harassment, which is also not considered a violation of women’s rights and bodily integrity.
Topic:
Gender Issues, Women, Gender Based Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Middle East, Arab Countries, and North Africa

5. Interventions to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence

Author:
SVRI
Publication Date:
11-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
One of the most common forms of men’s violence against women, intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs in all countries. Although women can be violent in relationships with men and violence is found in same-sex partnerships, the overwhelming burden of IPV is borne by women at the hands of men.
Topic:
Crime, Women, Gender Based Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Kenya, Nigeria, Jordan, Peru, and Global Focus

6. Interventions to Reduce Gender Based Violence in Humanitarian Settings

Author:
SVRI
Publication Date:
11-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
Globally, recent years have seen the highest levels of displacement on record. This adds extra urgency to the need to close evidence gaps and identify how to reduce and respond to the risks of gender-based violence (GBV) in humanitarian settings.
Topic:
Humanitarian Aid, Poverty, Children, Refugees, Gender Based Violence, Displacement, Child Marriage, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Kenya, Middle East, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Ethiopia, and Democratic Republic of Congo

7. Working with Adolescents and Youths to Reduce Gender Based Violence

Author:
SVRI
Publication Date:
11-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
Identifying effective ways to prevent forms of gender-based violence (GBV) among adolescents and youths is vital to reduce rates of GBV. Adolescents are uniquely impacted by GBV: their young age and inexperience with relationships can heighten their risk for physical and sexual intimate partner violence. Being a victim of GBV during adolescence can lead to long-lasting negative mental and physical health outcomes, and can set young women on a trajectory for subsequent abuse.
Topic:
Health, Gender Based Violence, Youth, Sexual Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Moldova, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras, and Swaziland

8. The Hidden War: Legal Responses to Intimate Partner Violence in Fragility and Conflict

Author:
Matt Moore
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
Millions of women suffer intimate partner violence (IPV) each year in countries experiencing or emerging from war. While the international community has increasingly recognized the urgency of combating conflict-related sexual violence, much less attention has been accorded to preventing IPV and addressing its repercussions in conflict-affected settings. Addressing the full spectrum of violence in conflict entails preventing IPV and supporting IPV survivors. Recent evidence suggests that IPV prevalence can increase in some conflict settings due to the breakdown of traditional social and governance institutions, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress and harmful gender norms, and economic dislocation, among other factors. This report looks at what is known about IPV in conflict settings and focuses on one strategy to improve the situation of survivors: increasing their access to justice. The case of Liberia, a country that has contended with the legacy of conflict and attempted to use legal reforms to combat high rates of IPV, is investigated in depth.
Topic:
Women, Conflict, Justice, Intimate Partner Violence, and Gender
Political Geography:
Global Focus

9. The impact of intimate partner violence on child development in Peru

Author:
Mariel Bedoya, Karen Espinoza, and Alan Sanchez
Publication Date:
03-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Group for the Analysis of Development (GRADE)
Abstract:
Resarchers used longitudinal data from a cohort of Peruvian children (n=1,720) tracked starting at the age of 1 year old to test the association between alcohol-induced physical IPV (intimate partner violence) against the mother during the child’s first two years of life, and the child’s cognitive, socio-emotional and schooling outcomes between the ages of 5 and 8. Multivariate regression techniques are used to estimate the relationship of interest, as they allow for controlling of child, household, and community characteristics. The authors find that early life exposure to IPV is negatively associated with cognitive outcomes (vocabulary and math test scores) for all children, and with self-efficacy for girls. We find no association with child’s self-esteem and age of school enrollment indicators. The effects are larger among children whose mothers are better educated and live in urban areas. Results remain robust across different specifications and after isolating changes in relevant variables over time.
Topic:
Development, Children, Gender Based Violence, Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Latin America and Peru

10. Impact of BRAC’s Coordinated Approach in Addressing Violence against Women and Children

Author:
Samir Ranjan Nath, Ruman Ali, Sharin Shajahan Naomi, and Raihana Azim Upoma
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University
Abstract:
Violence against Women and Children (VAWC) is a significant obstacle to reduce poverty, and achieve gender equality that is closely associated with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BRAC’s five years strategic plan (2016-2020) includes reducing violence, which indicates BRAC’s priority and concern to continue and develop its interventions for addressing violence against women and children. Part of this endeavour includes understanding existing gaps in the interventions and envisioning stronger interventions. Although BRAC’s six programs viz., CEP, HRLS, GJ&D, BEP, MF and HNPP have huge outreach across Bangladesh for creating awareness and taking action against VAWC, these programs have worked separately to combat the issue. The VAWC project intends to work on a comprehensive VAWC model that would bring coordination among the existing components or platforms functional in four programs to address the violence in three areas: protection, prevention and rehabilitation. This intervention of the coordinated approach is currently being piloted in Cumilla and Gazipur district of Bangladesh. After completion of the intervention, RED has conducted this study to see the impact of the intervention as well as the effectiveness of the coordinated approach that the program applied. The end line survey was focused on intimate partner violence as well as violence against children, and the qualitative part explored how the coordinated approach is working in the field through combining different program’s interventions. The quantitative survey found limited success of the program’s impact on intimate partner violence and violence against children that are deeply rooted in patriarchal ideology. However, the qualitative study found effectiveness and promising aspects of the coordinated approach in the areas of reporting, legal justice, preventing early marriage, linkage with local government, journalists and community leaders, and reintegration. Taking insights from both of the studies, the research recommends exploring new means for creating awareness on patriarchal ideology, scaling up the interventions on a long-term basis as well as more advocacy with government and local leaders.
Topic:
Women, Sustainable Development Goals, Gender Based Violence, and Intimate Partner Violence
Political Geography:
Bangladesh and South Asia