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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for abused women
16 results foundAuthor: United Nations Population Fund Title: Programming to Address Violence Against Women: 8 Case Studies: Volume 2 Summary: This is the second volume in a series that documents best practices in preventing and responding to violence against women. The eight case studies include initiatives from Algeria, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Details: New York: United Nations Population Fund, 2009. 57p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 117662 Keywords: Abused WomenRapeSexual Abuse VictimsWomen's RightsWomen, Violence Against |
Author: Travers, Kathryn Title: Women's Safety: A Shared Global Concern -- Compendium of Practice and Policies Summary: This report presents a global compendium of practices on a municipal, non-governmental, and national level in the field of women's safety. It includes 69 examples from 32 countries, and is divided into four sections: municipal strategies, non-governmental initiatives, national government strategies and policies, and tools and resources. Details: Montreal: International Centre for the Prevention of Crime, 2008. 164p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 113418 Keywords: Abused WomenCrime Prevention MeasuresFear of CrimeFemale Victims |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Title: Handbook on Effective Police Responses to Violence Against Women Summary: Volence against women is a global issue of pandemic proportions, which has an impact on all societies. Violent practices against women take many different forms, which vary from country to country according to cultural, social and religious contexts and between different regions within countries. Equally, women do not form a homogenous group. Differences in ethnicity, social status, religion and age mean that women experience similar acts of violence differently. In particular, some groups of women are more vulnerable to violence and therefore require special treatment and support services. Police have long been under criticism for not doing enough to protect women from violence and for an often apathetic attitude towards the problem. This handbook is designed to assist police officers by familiarizing them with relevant international laws, norms and standards relating to violence against women and informing them about some promising practical approaches to effective police response to acts of violence against women. Details: New York: United Nations, 2010. 97p. Source: Internet Resource; Criminal Justice Handbook Series Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118808 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolencePolicingViolence Against Women |
Author: Guruge, Sepali Title: Older Women's Perceptions of and Responses to Abuse and Neglect in the Post-Migration Context Summary: They are a minority within a minority and their very invisibility heightens their vulnerability to exploitation. Older immigrant women are not a group one would normally think of being victims of abuse or neglect, and not much Canadian research exists on these women’s experiences in a post-migration context. This research explores the experiences of older Tamil women, provides critical insight into these women’s experiences of – and their responses to – abuse and neglect. It examines how factors at the individual, community and societal levels have shaped these women’s experiences. Key opportunities for prevention and intervention both within and across new communities are discussed. Details: Toronto: Wellesley Institute, Centre for Urban Health Initiatives, 2010. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 21, 2010 at: http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/category/publication-papers/ Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/category/publication-papers/ Shelf Number: 119850 Keywords: Abused WomenElder Abuse and NeglectImmigrantsImmigration |
Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Access to Justice for Women Victims of Sexual Violence in Mesoamerica Summary: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the Commission" or "the IACHR") presents this thematic report in which it examines the dimensions of the problem of sexual violence in Mesoamerica. It examines the regulatory and jurisdictional dimensions of this issue, as well as the obstacles that women victims encounter in endeavoring to obtain an adequate access to justice, with particular emphasis on El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In this sense, the report focuses on the areas of prevention, investigation, prosecution, and the punishment of sexual violence cases, as well as the judicial protection system's treatment of victims and their next of kin. In this report and elsewhere, the Commission has expressed its concern over the serious de jure and de facto obstacles that women victims of sexual violence encounter in endeavoring to get access to adequate and effective justice. These challenges are impediments to the full enjoyment and guarantee of women's human rights, which are protected under inter-American and international human rights instruments; they also represent a failure on the part of the States to honor their obligation to act with the due diligence required to prevent, investigate, prosecute, punish and redress acts of violence committed against women. Details: Washington, DC: Organization of American States, 2011. 125p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 29, 2012 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/women/docs/pdf/WOMEN%20MESOAMERICA%20ENG.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Central America URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/women/docs/pdf/WOMEN%20MESOAMERICA%20ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 125431 Keywords: Abused WomenSexual Abuse VictimsSexual Violence (Central America)Violence Against Women |
Author: Said, Samah Title: Egypt Violence Against Women Study: Overview of Services on Violence Against Women Summary: This report provides an overview and examination of services currently available to women victims of violence. The focus of the study is a core set of direct protection services for addressing immediate needs for women victims of violence, including health services, shelters, counseling services, help lines, and legal services. In addition, the report describes selected advocacy initiatives by NGOs in recent years which seek to prevent violence against women through legal changes, research, and awareness. To examine the services and initiatives, the report draws on a wide range of data sources. Information on services provided by the government was mostly collected through interviews with key government officials and review of laws, regulations and other key government documents. Site visits were made to eight women’s shelters, eleven health facilities, and two government-sponsored family counseling centers. Information on non-governmental services was obtained through interviews and group discussions with eighty-five NGOs active in women’s issues. The examination finds both government and NGO engagement in providing the core services for protecting victims of violence against women. However, availability of these services is quite limited overall considering the immense challenge of addressing this issue. Specific findings include: Shelters. Eight shelters are currently operating in Egypt, comprising 214 total beds. Despite the limited availability of beds, shelter managers note that many shelters are often empty for extended periods of time. Medical services. Interviewed medical professionals note that they commonly treat cases of domestic violence, but also noted that although women victims receive medical treatment, there are no specific services or protocols at hospitals and health units for victims of violence against women. Helplines. Among 85 NGOs interviewed, only 4 provide helplines, and only one of these is available 24 hours (hotline). In addition, the National Council of Women’s Ombudsmen’s office operates the only government helpline for women. Listening and counseling services. Among the 85 NGOs interviewed, eight provide in-person listening or counseling service available for women victims of violence. In addition, the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MoSS) funds and local NGOs operate 183 Family Counseling Office. Legal services. Twenty-one of the 85 NGOs interviewed provide some legal services which may be accessible to women victims of violence, although most of these organizations focus on other legal issues affecting women In addition, the NCW’s Ombudsmen’s office provides legal assistance to women on a variety of women’s issues, including violence. Advocacy and prevention strategies. Although there have been some national campaigns of note in recent years addressing violence against women, most of the 85 NGOs interviewed acknowledge that campaigns regarding on violence against women have been sporadic. Overview of Services on Violence Against Women 2 Based on the finding a number of recommendations are provided in the conclusion of the report to address the service needs of women victims of violence, focusing primarily on shelters, medical services, and the role of NGOs as service providers. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2009. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2012 at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADQ889.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Egypt URL: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADQ889.pdf Shelf Number: 125528 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women, Services for (Egypt) |
Author: Youssef, Enas Abu Title: Egypt Violence Against Women Study: Media Coverage of Violence Against Women Summary: This study attempts to identify the nature of the coverage of violence against women in the Egyptian mass media with the aim of introducing an effective media mechanism that will help expand interest in this issue beyond the limited academic community and dedicated authorities, and expanded to the general public. This study is based on a secondary analysis of six reports published by the NCW’s Media Watch Unit from April 2005 to March 2006 and from February 2007 to February 2008. The theoretical framework of the study is based on the social cultural analysis model of monitoring the direct relationship between the media discourse and the prevalent culture and the social and political discourses in society. The findings of the analytical study indicate that the media did not give sufficient attention to publishing information related to violence against women. Issues related to violence against women comprised only 17.4 percent of its total coverage of women’s issues, based on the study sample. The representation of community violence was covered more often (66.1 percent of cases of media coverage of violence against women), compared to domestic violence (33.9 percent). Both print media and television were similar in their coverage of community violence (70 percent and 60.2 percent coverage of violence against women, respectively), and in their coverage of domestic violence (30 percent and 39.8 percent, respectively). Radio programs had an equal interest in domestic and community violence (50.1 percent and 49.9 percent coverage of violence against women, respectively). The findings confirm that media discourse tends to focus negatively on sexual harassment of women at work and in the street. However, on the issue of political involvement of women, media discourse was divided between supporting and opposing women in politics. Of particular note is the media’s general agreement with the idea that a woman does not have the right to be nominated for the presidency. The review of the target audiences indicates that media messages do not differentiate by audience categories — rural/urban, age categories, and economic levels. Rather, media discourse is oriented primarily elite audiences. In dramatic representation of violence against women on radio and television, the analysis shows that violence against women is one of the main sources for conflict in plots for broadcast dramas. Of the 48 percent of radio dramas that presented issues of violence against women, 86.8 percent depicted domestic violence and 13.2 percent depicted community violence. Of the 45 percent of television dramas presenting violence against women, 69.5 percent depicted domestic violence and 30.5 percent depicted community violence. The qualitative analysis of the dramatic productions shows that, when these programs portray violence, the family’s disintegration or malfunctioning is mostly the woman’s fault and only she is to be blamed. In addition, in these productions, justifiable reasons are given for violence against women. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2009. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2012 at: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADQ888.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Egypt URL: http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADQ888.pdf Shelf Number: 125530 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceMass MediaViolence Against Women (Eqypt) |
Author: Harding, Rachel Title: Sex Work: Abuse or Choice? The Experiences of Framework's Women Residents Summary: ‘Sex work: abuse or choice’ was in response to the concern that sex working women were regarded only as anti-social behaviour problems. Anecdotally, Framework staff had said that the sex working women resident at projects had typically experienced significant and traumatic abuse, and were presenting at services with complex needs. The study set out to test the hypothesis that the sex working women had indeed experienced abuse, and were presenting with complex needs. In particular, it sought to find out whether a woman’s experience of abuse influenced her decision to sex work. In devising the study and making recommendations following the findings, Framework and POW2 have worked together to raise awareness of the issues faced by sex workers, promote appropriate support and service provision, and seek to establish a safe house for sex working women in Nottingham. The study found much disturbing information about the abuse and the complex needs of the women interviewed. The detailed findings of the report, and especially the statistics, can make shocking reading. However, what cannot be forgotten is that the findings each tell a story of the women interviewed, for whom life has been, in some cases, unbelievably difficult. It is hoped that this research report will be a means of understanding the problems some women have lived, and what effects these have had on them and their ability to cope now. It is therefore important to consider which appropriate response and at what appropriate pace is to be made to the enormous need presented by the women interviewed, some of which they spoke about for the first time. Details: Nottingham, UK: Framework, 2005. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: http://www.ndvf.org.uk/files/document/1043/original.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ndvf.org.uk/files/document/1043/original.pdf Shelf Number: 125623 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceProstitutesProstitutionSex Workers (U.K.) |
Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Access to Justice for Women Victims of Sexual Violence: Education and Health Summary: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights presented today the report Access to Justice for Women Victims of Sexual Violence: Education and Health. The report analyzes the problem of sexual violence in the educational and health institutions in the Americas and the challenges in access to justice for victims of this violence. As established in the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women, or “Convention of Belém do Pará”, the States have the responsibility of acting to fight discrimination and violence against women in all spheres. Notwithstanding, the IACHR report indicates that sexual violence persists against women and girls in the spheres of education and health. The report also found under-reporting of the phenomenon and impunity in the majority of the cases. The report further indicates this type of violence is tolerated by the society given the framework of very hierarchical gender relations. The report identifies girls, indigenous women, women with disabilities and women affected by armed conflict as groups at particular risk to human rights violations. In the case of education, sexual violence tends to be regarded as the natural order of things and as part of discipline and punishment. In the sphere of health, the problem of sexual violence committed by physicians and health-care professionals is virtually invisible. This is due to insufficient norms, procedures for filing complaints and disciplinary investigation in hospitals and health care centers. It is also attributable to inadequate statistics as well as to the meager information available on the rights of patients. The IACHR emphatically reasserts its profound concern over the fact that sexual violence committed against women and girls in educational and health-care institutions still enjoys social acceptance and that the vast majority of these acts are never punished. Even today, this kind of violence in these settings prevents many women and girls across the Americas from fully exercising their rights to education and health. In order to comply with their international human rights obligations, the States must adapt their legislation, public policies and practices and substantially improve their protection systems and the access to justice for victims of this phenomenon. The IACHR reminds the States their obligation to adopt measures in order to make compatible their norms and practices with the American Declaration, the Inter-American Convention, and other international instruments for the protection of human rights, and to comply with the Convention of Belém do Pará, which establishes the obligation for the States to protect women from violence in all its forms and in all spheres, in order to ensure that they can freely exercise their civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. The report contains urgent recommendations that seek to address sexual violence as an extreme form of discrimination and to ensure the basic guarantee of access to justice. The recommendations aim to improve the judicial response to acts of violence committed against women in educational institutions and health-care institutions. The Commission urges the States to overcome lingering cultural and legal obstacles to prevent and – failing that – to investigate and punish acts of sexual violence committed against women and girls in these settings. In addition, the IACHR calls on the States to create the conditions that enable women to use the justice systems to remedy the acts of violence they suffer and to be treated respectfully and decently by public officials. The Commission also calls upon the States to adopt public policies intended to put a stop to cultural patterns that regard sexual violence as the norm or that trivialize it. Details: Washington, DC: Organization of American States, 2011. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2012 at http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/women/docs/pdf/SEXUALVIOLENCEEducHealth.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/women/docs/pdf/SEXUALVIOLENCEEducHealth.pdf Shelf Number: 126408 Keywords: Abused WomenAdministration of JusticeEducationHealthSexual Abuse VictimsSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Kabeer, Naila Title: Violence against Women as 'Relational' Vulnerability: Engendering the Sustainable Human Development Agenda Summary: Violence against women can be conceptualized as a 'relational vulnerability', reflecting women's subordinate status within hierarchical gender relations and the dependencies associated with it. While such violence can take many different forms, this paper focuses on the interpersonal violence of 'normal' times, most often within the home at the hands of intimate partners. The paper provides estimates of incidence, which suggest that it varies considerably across countries and by social group. Factors that lead to violence against women operate at individual, relational, community and societal levels, and help to explain some of this variation. They also suggest the need for interventions operating at these different levels. In conclusion, the paper argues that not only is violence against women and girls a fundamental violation of their human rights, but also has serious consequences for their wellbeing and capabilities, and imposes significant economic costs. These comprise both the direct financial costs of dealing with the phenomenon and the indirect productivity costs that result from it. Ending violence against women is a key component in any sustainable human development agenda and a critical priority for the post-Millennium Development Goal (MDG) development framework. Details: New York: United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report Office, 2014. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Paper, 2014: Accessed February 26, 2015 at: http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/kabeer_hdr14.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/kabeer_hdr14.pdf Shelf Number: 134682 Keywords: Abused WomenFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Towns, Alison Title: "It's About Having Control Back, Freedom from Fear": An evaluation of Shine safe@home programme for victims/survivors of domestic violence Summary: This report provides details of an evaluation of the Shine safe@home programme implemented during the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013. The safe@home programme is targeted towards those victims/survivors of domestic violence who experience repeat victimization and who are at high risk of serious assault or death, with a view to decreasing future victimization. The programme secures the home and provides advocacy services to victims/survivors who have made the decision to keep the person who has used domestic violence out of their home. Outcomes in the first year indicate very positive changes for clients of the programme and their children. The data from 54 clients who received the pre- and post-security upgrade assessment between the 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2013 were analysed for the impact of the safe@home programme on them and their children. Twenty-four clients recruited from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2014 were interviewed some months after the safe@home security upgrade to determine whether changes were maintained in the long term. Key findings concerning the impact of safe@home on adult clients' safety: - Ninety percent of the 54 clients for whom pre- and post-security upgrade data was collected had been physically assaulted by the perpetrator prior to their engagement with the safe@home service. Many victims had experienced multiple physical assaults with 34% (14 of the clients) reporting they had been assaulted more than 25 times during the course of their relationship. At the post-upgrade assessment only one of the 54 clients reported having experienced a further assault. - Prior to safe@home 80% of the 54 clients reported experiencing damage to their possessions and damage to the house from the offender whereas no clients reported such damage after the safe@home security upgrade. - Of the 54 clients 28% reported experiencing an incident from the offender that made them afraid after the safe@home security upgrade and there were some reports from clients after the safe@home security upgrade of stalking behaviours. - There were marked improvements in how safe these 54 clients felt following safe@home compared to the clients who reported on how safe they felt prior to the security upgrade. - Of the 24 clients interviewed for long-term follow up information only one reported an assault that occurred following the safe@home security upgrade and while the programme was still in place. This assault occurred away from the home. - Of these 24 clients 46% had experienced an incident that made them afraid following the security upgrade and while the programme was in place and 63% had experienced unwanted contact or stalking following the security upgrade and while the programme was in place. For most clients, these experiences appeared to reduce or stop altogether following police and court action. Key findings concerning the impact of the safe@home programme on adult clients' quality of life: - Of the 54 clients, 85% had to move house due to the offender's actions prior to safe@home but after safe@home none had to move house. - Close to 40% of these clients had to leave property behind prior to safe@home when moving house but none of them had to after safe@home due to there being no moves. - Approximately two thirds of clients out of 31 reported being prevented by the offender's actions from obtaining employment and more than a third out of 31 from undergoing educational courses at the pre-safe@home security upgrade. At the post-security upgrade assessment no clients out of 23 reported being prevented from obtaining employment and only two clients out of 23 clients reported that they left educational courses due to the offender's actions. - At the pre-safe@home security upgrade assessment approximately 40% of 52 clients reported the violence they experienced involved serious and/or potentially life-threatening injuries. No clients reported receiving any injuries following the security upgrade. - Clients reported improvements in sleep, self confidence, concentration or memory, anxiety or panic attacks, depression, alcohol or drug intake, and happiness after the security upgrade. Key findings relating to the adult victims' children's safety and quality of life were: - At the pre-safe@home security upgrade assessment, 72% of 43 clients with children said that their children had been hurt by the offender whereas no clients reported that their children were hurt by the offender after the security upgrade. No assaults on children were reported by the 22 adults who had children and who were interviewed months after the security upgrade. - Prior to the safe@home programme 28% of 109 children were reported by adult clients to be involved in an assault while being physically held, 64% were reported by these adults to have witnessed an assault and 64% were reported to be in fear of the offender. After the safe@home security upgrade, no child was reported to be involved in an assault while being held, 3% were reported to have witnessed an assault and 29% were reported to be in fear of the offender. - There were improvements in the number of these children reported to show trauma symptoms, problems at school and issues with eating and clinging behaviours. Details: Auckland, New Zealand : Mt Albert Psychological Services, 2014. 222p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2015 at: https://library.nzfvc.org.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=4680 Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://library.nzfvc.org.nz/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=4680 Shelf Number: 135730 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Mama Cash Title: Who Counts? An Inclusive Vision for Ending Gender-Based Violence Summary: In 2012, Mama Cash decided to examine how groups' struggles to end violence cut across our thematic and regional work areas. The groups we fund mobilise not only to resist gender-based violence in their communities and countries; they are also challenging the very definition of what violence is and who experiences it. This report highlights the strategies, challenges and lessons that emerged from in-depth information gathered from 27 groups Mama Cash has funded over the past three years. The report focuses on how organisations define and redefine violence by expanding commonplace (but often incomplete) understandings of what violence is and who experiences it, and it identifies effective strategies groups have used to counter and end violence. It also seeks to capture the challenges faced and lessons learned by those who seek to influence their communities, governments, and other social justice movements in their determination to advocate for the human rights of women, girls and trans people. Details: Amsterdam: Mama Cash, 2013. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2015 at: http://mamacash.org/content/uploads/2013/06/Mama-Cash-report_Who-Counts.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://mamacash.org/content/uploads/2013/06/Mama-Cash-report_Who-Counts.pdf Shelf Number: 135912 Keywords: Abused WomenIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Harris, Anita Title: Young Australians' attitudes to violence against women. Findings from the 2013 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey for respondents 16-24 years Summary: Violence against women is widely recognised as a global issue. It is an often invisible, but common form of violence, and an insidious violation of human rights. It has serious impacts on the health and wellbeing of those affected and exacts significant economic costs on communities and nations. Australia is not immune. The National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey was developed by VicHealth in partnership with The University of Melbourne, the Social Research Centre and experts across Australia, and supported by the Australian Government Department of Social Services as part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022. This is the third survey of its kind, with the first undertaken in 1995 and the second in 2009. The survey tells us that we have been able to challenge a culture that allows violence against women to occur. There have been sustained improvements since 1995 in a number of areas. However, there are other areas in which progress has been minimal, along with some concerning negative findings. This report focuses on the responses given by 1,923 young people aged between 16 - 22 years who participated in NCAS. These findings are compared with those aged 35 - 64 years of age, enabling results to be compared between two generations: young people and their parents. The report identifies positive attitudes and some areas of concern with regard to the attitudes of young people on violence. Details: Carlton South, Victoria: VICHealth, 2015. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/research/young-australians-attitudes-violence-against-women Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/research/young-australians-attitudes-violence-against-women Shelf Number: 136950 Keywords: Abused womenFamily violenceInterpersonal ViolenceOpinion SurveyPublic OpinionViolence Against Women |
Author: Breckenridge, Jan Title: National mapping and meta-evaluation outlining key features of effective Summary: This research project provided a national mapping and meta-evaluation of the key features of "safe at home" programs. "Safe at home" programs enhance safety and prevent homelessness for women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence. The first stage, a state of knowledge paper, provided a comprehensive review of the literature and a national mapping of current "safe at home" programs by jurisdiction, including details of legislation underpinning "safe at home" programs in each jurisdiction. The second stage, the final research report, was a meta-evaluation of select evidence about Australian "safe at home" programs and practices. The meta-evaluation examined 20 evaluations of "safe at home" programs across Australia to identify the key features of effective programs and to provide recommendations for policy-makers, practitioners and researchers. The report found that "safe at home" programs had four common underlying themes, but each focused primarily on maximising women's safety, using protection orders and ouster/exclusion provisions to reduce the risk of a perpetrator returning, or preventing homelessness, using case-management to assess risk, manage safety planning and consider women's needs over time. Overall, one or more of the themes were identified across the "safe at home" evaluations, but the emphasis varied by program and at different points during the response provided. It also found: - The lead agency in each state or territory appears to determine how "safe at home" is rolled out and whether it is focused on housing ("stay at home") or criminal justice ("safe at home"). "Stay at home" responses are mostly offered over a longer period of time, compared with many first-response services involving specialist homelessness services. A longer period of service provision allows for ongoing and dynamic assessment of risk and for women's changing needs to be met at different points of time. - It is still unclear whether independent strategies which could be used in any domestic violence-related intervention (e.g. risk assessment, brokerage, safety alarms and specialised police response) should be considered "safe at home" responses in their own right; or whether these strategies are most useful and of greater impact when embedded in a more comprehensive program, and offers case management beyond the initial crisis period. - Monitoring data indicates that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women are accessing "safe at home" responses, but little is known of the usefulness of such interventions for these groups. As emphasised in all of the Australian evaluations included in this meta-evaluation, "safe at home" is not intended to be the only response for women leaving a violent relationship. While not replacing the need for refuges or specialist homelessness services, "safe at home" programs are an important complementary offering which allows more women to leave a violent relationship. "Safe at home" options are also intended to be a socially just response for some women in certain circumstances to have the important choice to not uproot their lives and those of their children by fleeing their family home. Details: Alexandria, NSW: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS)132p. Source: Internet Resource: ANROWS Horizons, Issue 01/2016: Accessed May 31, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/Safe%20at%20home%20meta-evaluation%20final%20report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/Safe%20at%20home%20meta-evaluation%20final%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 139242 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceVictim ServicesVictims of ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Cortis, Natasha Title: Domestic violence and women's economic security: building Australia's capacity for prevention and redress: Final report Summary: The research report builds on the literature review contained in the ANROWS Landscapes paper "Building effective policies and services to promote women's economic security following domestic violence: State of knowledge paper" (Cortis and Bullen, 2015). That paper discussed how economic abuse is a frequent, yet under-researched tactic of violence. Financial issues, including the prospect of leaving property or assets behind, are major factors in women's decisions about leaving or staying in violent relationships, and the economic difficulties arising from violence, including loss of wealth upon separation, reverberate through women's lives and increase hardship in the long-term. The Landscapes paper also highlighted evidence of inadequacies in the systems intended to identify, prevent and respond to the economic harms arising from violence. This report builds on the Landscapes paper with new statistical analysis and qualitative evidence. The statistical material reinforces how domestic violence contributes to alarming levels of financial stress among Australian women. Domestic violence is associated with economic stressors which penalise women for a number of years after violence is experienced. Interviews with stakeholders demonstrate widespread perceptions that although Australia has some highly effective initiatives in place, these operate on too small a scale to fully address the extent or range of women's needs. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2016. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report; Issue 5: Accessed October 27, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/page-attachments/ANROWS%20Horizons%20Report%20-%20Domestic%20violence%20and%20womens%20economic%20security.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/page-attachments/ANROWS%20Horizons%20Report%20-%20Domestic%20violence%20and%20womens%20economic%20security.pdf Shelf Number: 145014 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceEconomic ConditionsFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Breckenridge, Jan Title: National mapping and meta-evaluation outlining key features of effective "safe at home" programs that enhance safety and prevent homelessness for women and their children who have experienced domestic and family violence: State of knowledge pape Summary: History and development of "safe at home" programs - Domestic violence refuges - Domestic violence was not recognised in policy or as a professional practice issue in Australia until the second wave of feminism in the 1970s (Breckenridge & Laing, 1999). In 1972, as part of an orchestrated social action campaign, feminist activists squatted in empty properties and established the first women's refuge in Glebe, New South Wales. Activist engagement with government directly led to the Commonwealth Labor Government providing initial funding for women's refuges (Breckenridge, 1992). Activist initiatives such as this subsequently proliferated in all Australian States and Territories. These activities were fuelled by dual intentions: highlighting the impacts of domestic violence to create enough political pressure to end it; and providing women with an option to leave a violent partner by providing refuge accommodation in the short term (McFerran, 2007, p. 29). This initial focus on securing and expanding the availability of refuge accommodation had the unintended consequence of the removal of women and children from the family home becoming "normalised" and accepted as the primary response to domestic violence. In the face of no other alternatives, this was regarded for some time as the most effective means to ensure women's safety (Edwards, 2004; Jones et al., 2010; Spinney & Blandy, 2011). The refuge model is a suitable option for some women escaping violence when the perpetrator and/or his supporters are not incarcerated and are highly likely to engage in further and escalating violence. Refuges provide other benefits - for example, the communal living model promotes self-esteem and empowerment via shared experience and mutual support (Murray, 2008, p. 69). However, another contributing factor to the impetus for change was the growing recognition by health and welfare professionals more generally that leaving the family home frequently results in temporary or long-term homelessness, as well as economic and social disadvantage and ongoing disruption to victims' lives (Desmond, 2011). Post separation difficulties such as these can result in some women returning to their violent partner in order to escape homelessness, survive financially and better provide for their children (Braaf & Barrett Meyering, 2011; Desmond, 2011). Beginnings of "safe at home" For over 20 years, high security refuges remained the primary response until the mid to late 1990s when advocacy groups and researchers proposed the option that women and children remain safely in their home while the perpetrator is removed as a means of redressing the socially unjust orthodoxy of women and children fleeing from men's violence (Chung et al., 2000; McFerran, 2007). These later became known as "safe at home" approaches. It was never the intention that "safe at home" become a universal response or to replace existing specialist DV emergency accommodation. In fact, initially there was much anxiety about this being an unrealistic option based on professional concern about whether the safety of women and children could be sustained (Edwards, 2004b). Nevertheless, these recommendations were made at a time when policy and practice developments were increasingly focused on integrated interagency responses, law reform and specialist courts with new models emerging that were underpinned by coordinated responses involving police, courts and services for victims and perpetrators - one of the early examples being the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Family Violence Intervention Program (Cussen & Lyneham, 2012). Original proposals for women and children remaining in the home were based on the assumption that they were not at a high risk of danger and that there would be police and court responses in place that excluded the perpetrator from the home and responded effectively to any subsequent breaches of protection orders. In this respect, calls for "safe at home" options were aspirational and underpinned by some form of integrated interagency model or partnerships being in place at the sector and local level. From the early 2000s, women's specialist domestic violence accommodation services commenced trials of "safe at home" programs including the Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service in Melbourne, the Bega Program, and the South Eastern Sydney and Mt Druitt pilots (Edwards, 2011). The evaluations of these pilot programs indicated that there was the potential for such an approach and demonstrated that it was viable for a select group of women. However, it was also evident that there needed to be consistent court procedures so that perpetrators would be excluded from the home as expected and Apprehended Violence Orders would be properly policed and perpetrators arrested if they breached them (Edwards, 2004; Edwards, 2011). Edwards' (2011) research also highlighted the imperative of ongoing risk assessment and comprehensive responses to perpetrators - the latter responses being offered by organisations other than safe at home programs. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2015. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes: State of Knowledge, Issue 05: Accessed August 6, 2018 at: https://dh2wpaq0gtxwe.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/final%205_3.1%20Landscapes%20SafeAtHome%2029%207%202015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://dh2wpaq0gtxwe.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/final%205_3.1%20Landscapes%20SafeAtHome%2029%207%202015.pdf Shelf Number: 151029 Keywords: Abused WomenDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceVictim ServicesVictims of ViolenceViolence Against Women |