1 Activity 7 Italian experience on violence against women survey Maria Giuseppina Muratore

2 The contribution of violence against women surveys To highlight the hidden phenomenon of violence To break mytes and sterotypes on violence To stimulate the culture debate To sensityze public opinion

3 Critical issues Differerent perception: Linked to different culture, social and geographical background Sensitivity of the topic: Fear to disclosure, guilty feeling, fear to be perceveid as coresponsible, fear of being punished Memory effect: forgetting, removal, difficulty to place the event in the right timing (telescoping effect)

4 The contribution of official statistic on studing violence Citizens’s safety survey Citizens’s safety survey 2002 (more information) Violence against women survey 2006 Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine

5 Agreement between Istat and the Department of Equal Opportunities at the Council Precidency Deepening on sexual harassment and sexual violence A new dedicate survey on violence against women –A focus domestic violence Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine The contribution of official statistic on studing violence

6 A sensitization path From questions on sexual harassment and sexual violence To the collection of verbal sexual harassment more difficult to collect (verbal harassment, to be followed, other information on violence ….) Desire to know more and to find more apt tools Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine

7 Different Violence Forms Verbal (critics, humiliations,) Psychological (downgrating, blackmail, intimidation) Economic (control of expenditure, no acces to money, no information on income) Stalking physical Sexual Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine

8 Violence authors Generally it’s repeated along years It’s characterized by escalation and has an own cycle Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine It can be perpetrated by an unknown person, by a friend, a colleague, a relative or by a parents It is domestic violence when the author is a partner, an husband, a cohabitant, a fiancé or a former partner

9 Violence and, above all, violence in the family is still an underreported and an understudied social problem  Women rarely disclose what has happened to them and even more rarely  they report to the police  they seek for help in the crisis centres or in other social services Official data gathered with criminal statistics do not provide enough evidence on violence against women. Especially in cases of domestic violence

10 Violence in criminal statistics Few data in register statistics - Police statistics Increasing of reported sexual violence since the 1996, age of the new law on sexual violence (crime against the person; no more against the morality) * *historical series interruption since 2004

11 And … The rate of sexual violence reported to the police is absolutely low Only the 7% delle donne report the violence suffered in the life course only 9% in the last 3 years it increases to 15,5% when the offender is a stranger it decreases to 4% if the offender is a known person

12 To learn about violence against women (with regard to its prevalence, incidence rate and nature ) Information should be gathered from those directly involved (i.e. women), who are asked about their lives Only surveys on domestic violence can achieve this aim

13 The beginning of the survey  From a sensitization process: of research comunity of society  From an agreement Istat and Departement of Equal Opportunities  Responding to international debate

14 and …… Women desire to disclosure their violence experience More open attitude to reveal The need to measure the hidden phenomenon Tabù and Stereotypes How to help women

15 Starting points To look at exisisting surveys in other countries (statics Canada, NVAWS –Usa, finnish, IVAWS, WHO) But …. Attention to the real possibility to use the same methodologies over different countries At the presence of different cultural contexts Different meanings given to violence and their different forms Study of research feasibility, in the own context

16 The research aims to address several aspect of violence against women: Prevalence and incidence rate of different types of violence a specific attention has domestic violence by current or former partner –psychological –economical –physical –sexual Characteristics of those involved and characteristics, consequences and costs of violence, the history of violence Risk and protective factors related to individuals as well to socio-demographical domain The every day life context in which violence can arise

17 Surveys on violence against women are complex: need to address sensitive issues Need methodological and procedural dedicated tools that help women to disclosure and beforehand to recognize what is violence in her life. Focus on: variables measured way of posing questions funnelling effects use of specific terms specific training of interviewers social perception of the problem of violence against women

18 Characteristics of Surveys  Use of large and representative samples of the population  Use of validated instruments and appropriate methodology  Use of standardized procedures  Periodically repeated, approx. every five year  Focus on quality beside quantity

19 Il problema Il contesto internazionale Il contesto nazionale Gli obiettivi L’indagine: le strategie a) pre-test b) focus group c) interviste a test.privilegiati Pre-test On the pretrial version of the questionnaire, on 78 women, 11 of whom from crisis centres Focus groups carried out with: - abused women (2) - shelters’ workers (6) - interviewers with experience on victimization surveys (1) - women from 18 to 70 years old different from those of the above groups (1) L’indagine - strategies Interviews to key professionals legal and social experts working in the field of violence against women, lawyer, judge, policeman …

20 What is domestic violence (especially psychological violence) Different expressions of violence (Economical violence, Psychological violence, Physical violence, Sexual violence) How women deal with violence, which is their perception Early precursors of dv, cycle violence The attribution of responsibility Risk factors Consequences of violence The role of children or of other push in reporting or going out of violence Prejudices and stereotypes Regarding: Content of the questionnaire

21 How to gain women’s faith (for the training of interviewers) Feelings experienced from women as regards the survey Characteristics of interviewers The emotional impact on interviewers What to ask and how Wording and sequence How to introduce the study Length of the interview Regarding: Procedural methods

22 L’indagine: le strategie a) pre-test b) focus group c) interviste a testimoni privilegiati i risultati How to approach the woman Results - Methodology To motivate on Importance of the study Find the best time for her (with no partner in the house) Timetable of interviews from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm on Saturday Possibility to make an appointment and to call to a mobile phone to augment privacy Reassure about privacy issues/anonymity Create a good climate of confidence and faith Toll free number (to reassure, to have information, to give more information to be found, as “alarm bell”) Letter signed by Istat president presidente (to reduce the refusal rate) Restitution

23 Funnelling effect Different types of crime analysed are presented with a screening procedure which helps to focus the attention on both the type of violence as well as on all possible authors The language adopted should be clear and not redundant Questions should also adopt sentences not using jargons or other unclear questions. No name it ‘VIOLENCE’ The type of violence is defined in a way that women can remember and reflect their lives as if in a mirror Ask gradually about violence The questions measuring violence should be included gradually Wording and the questionnaire design

24 Go in gradually into the relationship with the female interviewer Ask questions on the every day life, leisure time, social networks, health, before those on violence Repeat the screening of physical and sexual violence for the actual and the former partner Insert the questions on violence from the partner in the section on the partner’s characteristics, after having asked about the relationship and the psychological violence battery

25 L’indagine: le strategie a) pre-test b) focus group c) interviste a testimoni privilegiati i risultati Revision of the questionnaire 2004 pilot survey on women years old  Survey feasibility  Some critical aspects: Focus group small test on 200 interviews 2006 full fledged survey on women

26 Interviewers were chosen based on the following: –Female; –Minimum 24 years old; –Comfortable discussing issues related to violence against women; –Sensitivity and maturity; –Professional experience in CATI surveys as well as in dealing with cases of violence (according to the type of the group); –Prior experience in handling similar sensitive research studies; –Listening skills, empathy, no counselling; –Probing, no judgment; –Warm tone of voice that helps creating a positive climate; –Capacity to keep adequate detachment; –Skills to elaborate own emotions and to handle unexpected situations; –Motivation Interviewers Selection The Pilot Survey: Survey organization Interviewers selection Interviewers training Monitoring phase Sample Results of the survey quality

27 6 days of theoretical training From 9am to 2pm - sexual violence - domestic violence About the subject - emotional abuse and psychological violence - risk factors - consequences - how to recognize it how to read the question About the - how to codify the answer Methodology - the sample - the contact procedure how to handle them - no counsellor About the emotion - warm tone of voice - learning the detachment and empaty Interviewers Training The Pilot Survey: Survey organization Interviewers selection Interviewers training Sample Monitoring phase Results of the survey quality

28 Help assistance during the entire collection phase Every day quality indicators (refusal rate, contact/non contact rate, appointment rate, average lenght...) –For interviewers –For interviewer group –For time of calls –At local level Debriefing with interviewers every week Psychological support Monitoring phase The Pilot Survey: Survey organization Interviewers selection Interviewers training Monitoring phase Sample Results of the survey quality

29 1.Design - two stages random sample stratified at the first stage 2.First stage - households present on the official list of telephone subscribers 3.Stratification criterion - Stratus variable: region and type of municipality 4.Size household selected all over the country and a sample for possible substitution (territorial criterion of proximity) 5.Second stage - Women aged years old 6.Selection criterion - Random selection between eligible women Sample The Pilot Survey: Survey organization Interviewers selection Interviewers training Monitoring phase Sample Results of the survey quality

30  Multidisciplinary approach of research team Psychologist (1 or 2) Sociologist(2) Statisticians (2) Since 2 years before the survey  Female interviewers well recruited and well trained at the aim to be supportive but not a counsellor (65 for a period of 8 months)  Costs of telephone interview: 20 euro each interview Resources

31 Main results

32 The figures of violence women aged have suffered physical or sexual abuse 31,9% of women ,8% physical abuse 24,7% sexual abuse 4,7% rape or attempted rape 14,3% by partner 24,7% by non partner

33 Prevalence of domestic and non domestic violence Partner Non Partner (From the age of 16) Partner and/ or non partner Physical or sexual abuse14,3 24,7 31,9 Physical abuse12,0 9,8 18,8 Sexual abuse6,1 20,4 23,7 Rape and attempted rape2,4 2,9 4,8 The 69,7% of rape are made by partner About the 63% of physical violence is made by a partner

34 Forms of physical violence THROWN SOMETHING AT YOU OR HIT THREATENED to hurt you physically PUSHED OR GRABBED YOU WISTED YOUR ARM OR PULLED YOUR HAIR SLAPPED, KICKED, BIT OR HIT YOU WITH A FIST STRANGLE OR SUFFOCATE YOU, BURN OR SCALD used or threatened to use a KNIFE OR GUN on you PHYSICALLY VIOLENT towards you in a different way

35 Forms of sexual violence Unwanted touching Attempted rape Unwanted sexual intercourse suffered as violence Rape Partner coercion to do something sexual that you find degrading or humiliating Sexual violence in a different way To be forced to have sex with others

36 Violence outside the partnership Physical or sexual abuse Physical abuse Sexual abuse Rape or attempte d rape A known person12,8 6,7 8,5 2,3 Relatives2,1 1,7 0,5 0,2 Acquaintance6,3 2,6 4,3 1,2 Friends3,0 1,6 1,7 0,5 A family friend0,4 0,1 0,3 0,1 Work colleagues2,6 0,8 2,1 0,3 Strangers15,3 3,6 13,4 0,7 Total24,7 9,8 20,4 2,9 Total (absolute value in thousands) The same framework is present for sexual violence before 16 years. The 6,6% of women had been victimized, the author of violence was: a relative in the 23,8% of cases an other known persons in the 24,7% an unknown persons for the 24,8% of victims

37 Psychological violence (BY THE CURRENT PARTNER) Restraining behaviours 46,7 Controlling behaviours 40,7 Economic violence 30,7 Downgrading 23,8 Intimidation 7,8 Very often psychological violence come together with physical violence 43,2% of women have suffered psychological violence, the 21,1% often or sometimes

38 STALKING (BY AN EX PARTNER) Women who suffered stalking by a partner when they were separating or after the separation are , the 18.8%

39 The seriousness of partner violence Very or enough serious 64,2 Injuries 27,2 Fear of life dangerous 21,3 How do you consider the violence suffered? A crime18,2 Something wrong but not a crime 44,0 Only something that is happened 36,0 Even for rape and attempted rape, only 26,5% of the victims regards the incident as a crime The same trend is for non partner violence, even if less accentuated

40 Victims’ silence Not reported abuses93,8% in a partnership 92,5% outside a partnership 95,6% Even for rape and attempted rape, the dark figure is broad 93,3% Furthermore, a lot of women don’t talk to anyone about violence30,5% in a partnership 33,9% outside a partnership 24,0%

41 Victims’ silence Physical violence Sexual violence Actual partner Former partnerTotal Reporting behaviour yes No Partner violence

42 Talking about violence P artner Non partner No one 33,9%24,0 Friends 36,9% 41,0 Family members 32,7% 32,2 Partner - 23,9 Other relatives 9,5% 7,2 Judges, lawyers, police 4,9% 2,2 Work colleagues, boss etc. 4,2% 8,6 Social services agents 3,9% 0,8 Physicians, nurses, first aid workers 3,7% 1,3 Women’s centre, Crisis centre 2,8%* 2,4 * Data does not include victims who suffered only one incident in which they have been threatened or bitten or grabbed

43 The consequences of domestic violence women during their life suffered repeated violence by their partner. For this reason among them suffered of: loss of confidence and self esteem 48,8% helplessness44,9% troubles in sleeping 41,5% anxiety 37,4% depression 34,8% troubles in concentration24,3% recurrent pains in different parts of the body18,5% troubles in taking care of children14,3% self injuries, suicide intentions12,3%

44 …..In conclusion Many things can be done to achieve good data, taking into account the social and cultural context of each specific country It’s important to guarantee a periodicity of the surveys in order to assure the regular monitoring of the level and characteristics of the violence Also at international level, even if data are not completely comparable, data are very useful to monitor the trend But not only surveys …. It’s important to define standards in delivering the services (the relation between women and police, shelters, community services, medical services) And define a common system for the collection of data to harmonize the monitoring of violence through the use of services Policies can be developed based on the knowledge built trough the surveys and the data collected from the services