VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 2012

Worldwide violation of basic human rights – Health burden – Intergrational effects

Myths Battering is rare Men who batter their partners are the rough, mean looking type Battered women are always uneducated, poor and of low income / working class Battered women are easy to see

WORLDWIDE 95% of domestic violence is male perpetrated 1 in 4 men will use violence against their partner( 1 in 4 women are victims ) 85 – 95% cases of child sexual abuse are male perpetrated

South Africa No reliable figures: – Domestic violence is not officially defined as a crime – Included amongst other cases like common assault and attempted murder Statistics generally underestimate the extent Under-reporting Violence is endemic

South Africa 19 – 27% women reported violence from their partner 65% of teens in Cape Town reported having sex against their will 50 % of murdered women in ’99 were killed by their intimate partner

Causes Learned behaviour Opportunity or societal factors Stress Decision

Causes Socio-economic influences: – Culturally ascribed and defended – Economic dependence and poverty Political influences: – Communities that have experienced high levels of oppression and violence, continue to experience high levels of violence including gender-based violence

Dynamics Escalation Acute battering Sorrow Use of power to gain control in a relationship

Consequences Increased risk of HIV transmission Health burden Divorce Homicide / suicide Broken families

Consequences STI’s including HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancy, infertility, genital and non-genital injuries, urinary tract infections, genital irritation, vaginal bleeding and infection, chronic pelvic pain and pain during intercourse (WHO, 2002). Girls sexually assaulted as children increased risk of being victimised again as adults. Forced first sexual initiation third most-strongly associated factor with teenage pregnancies (WHO, 2002).

Consequences Greater risk of attempting or committing suicide (WHO 2002), depression, generalised anxiety, reduced self esteem, panic phobias, substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Astbury, 2006). In comparison to non-victimised women, rape survivors six times more likely to develop PTSD at some point in their lives. Also constitute the single largest group suffering from PTSD. Of all the traumatic stressors studied to date (including natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes), sexual violence most strongly predicts likelihood of victims subsequently developing PTSD

Why stay? Fear of partner’s action Isolation Economic dependency

Solutions Training for criminal justice officials Training for health sector workers More support services Public education

Support structures POWA Child Protection Unit Church / civil groups