Date: April 29, 2024 Mon

Time: 10:29 pm

Results for violence against women

418 results found

Author: McCarry, Melanie Title: Violence Against Women in Rural and Urban Areas Summary: This report compares and contrasts violence against women in rural and urban settings. Details: Bristol, UK: University of Bristol, 2009 Source: National Federation of Women's Institutes Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117297 Keywords: Rural Crime Urban Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Access to justice for women victims of violence in the Americas Summary: This report on the situation of women victims of violence examines major obstacles that women encounter when they seek effective judicial protection to redress acts of violence. The report offers recommendations about what states need to do to act with due diligence necessary to offer an effective and prompt judicial recourse when incidents of violence occur. The analysis is based on findings drawn from the data compiled from a variety of sources, including the administration of justice systems, civil servants and government representatives, civil society, academia, and women of differing races, ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances. Details: Washington, DC: General Secretariat, Organization of American States, 2007 Source: Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 115187 Keywords: Female Victims Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Cook, Paul J. Title: Service Academy 2005 Sexual Harassment and Assault Survey Summary: This report provides results of a servey designed to assess the incidence of sexual assault and harassment and related issues at the U.S.Service Academies. Details: Arlington, VA: Defense Manpower Data Center, Survey & Program Evaluation Division, 2005 Source: SRA International, Inc; Defense Manpower Data Center; DMDC Report: no. 2005-018 Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117610 Keywords: Sex Offenses Sexual Harassment Violence Against Women

Author: United Nations Population Fund. Technical Support Division Title: Gender-based Violence in Sierra Leone: A Case Study Summary: This case study is part of a multi-country initiative to assess the progress made in field-based efforts to address gender-based violence since the adoption and implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1325. The case study focuses on the prevalence of gender-based violence in Sierra Leone, on programming efforts and on gaps in programming. It concludes with recommendations for improving the nation's capacity to address gender-based violence. Details: New York: United Nations Population Fund Source: Internet Resource Year: 0 Country: Sierra Leone URL: Shelf Number: 113794 Keywords: Violence Against Women

Author: Jarvinen, Justine Title: Hard Knock Life: Violence Against Women: A Guide for Donors and Funders Summary: Violence against women can have such far-reaching consequences that tackling it may also help to reduce mental health problems, homelessness, substance abuse, prostitution and child abuse. This report examines the role that charities could play in helping women and their children when victims of violence. Details: London: New Philanthropy Capital, 2008. 131p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 114578 Keywords: Child Abuse Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Miller, Allison Title: Inventory of Spousal Violence Risk Assessment Tools Used in Canada Summary: This is an inventory of which (if any) spousal violence risk assessment tools are currently being used by criminal justice personnel (e.g. police, corrections, probation officers) with the goal of preventing future risk and harm to victims of spousal violence in Canada. Details: Ottawa: Research and Statistics Division, Department of Justice Canada, 2009. 25p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: Shelf Number: 118362 Keywords: Family Violence (Canada) Risk Assessment Spousal Abuse (Canada) Violence Against Women

Author: Kifer, Misty M. Title: To Protect and Serve: A Look at a Collaborative Effort to Address Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Summary: This is an evaluation of a collaborative project in Bingham County, Idaho. Since 1997, three agencies in Bingham County, Idaho have received STOP funding at one time or another. The Bingham County Sheriff's Office, the Bingham Crisis Center, and the Blackfoot Police Department (BPD) received grant money to develop and strengthen support services for victims of domestic violence as well as improving law enforcement strategies to convict perpetrators of violent crimes against women. The first agency to receive STOP funding was the Bingham Crisis Center. This set the course for a very innovative program designed to address domestic violence and sexual assaults. Funds received in 1997 helped to establish the Bingham County Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force. This task force, comprised of thirteen key agencies, established a protocol in 1998 addressing each agency's responsibilities in cases involving domestic violence and sexual assaults. Task Force agencies include the Blackfoot Police Department, the Bingham County Sheriff's Office, the Bingham County Prosecutor's Office, 7th District Judicial Judges, local emergency room personnel, the Bingham Crisis Center and the Blackfoot City Prosecutors. The establishment of the task force allowed agencies to work together to identify problem areas, solutions, and opportunities for interagency training. In the following years, the Bingham County Sheriff's Office and the Blackfoot Police Department received funding for digital cameras and other recording devises to better document cases for prosecution. The Bingham County Sheriff's Office also received funding for a full-time domestic violence investigator. The Bingham Crisis Center received funding to provide victim services, such as individual and group counseling and bilingual/bicultural services for victims. Further, all three agencies participated in interagency training. This evaluation describes the project's genesis, its goals and structure, how it operated, the methods used to evaluate its success, and whether it met its goals. The majority of information provided in this evaluation is culminated from quarterly grant reports submitted by the three Bingham County subgrantees to the Idaho State Police Department of Planning, Grants and Research. These quarterly reports have consistently contained valuable information about project goals, objectives, and any obstacles or achievements reached by the program. Due to these self-evaluation efforts, resource and time restrictions, this report will utilize the data and information provided by these programs along with additional analysis of domestic violence offenses that have taken place within Bingham Countyand whether it met its goals. Information used in this report is taken from each project's quarterly program reports, the case management records of the Bingham Crisis Center and Bingham County Sheriff's Office, newspaper reports, as well as police reports submitted through Idaho's Incident-Based Reporting System (IIBRS). Details: Meridian, ID: Idaho State Police, Planning, Grants and Research Bureau, Statistical Analysis Center, 2008. 33p. Source: Accessed April 25, 2018 at: https://www.isp.idaho.gov/pgr/Research/documents/BinghamEvaluation6-24_001.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://www.isp.idaho.gov/pgr/Research/documents/BinghamEvaluation6-24_001.pdf Shelf Number: 117145 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Idaho) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Assault Victim Services Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: George, Christine C. Title: Analysis of Shelter Utilization by Victims of Domestic Violence - Quantitative Analysis. Final Technical Report Summary: This report addresses two primary issues: 1) The shelter and service utilization patterns and outcomes and housing needs of women who are domestic violence victims, and 2) the stages in the process by which they make changes in their situation. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2010. 206p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118689 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Chicago) Family Violence Shelters Victims of Crime, Services for Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

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 Women Domestic Violence Policing Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Violence Against Women: A Briefing Document on International Issues and Responses Summary: This briefing document is intended as an introduction to the topic of violence against women, an issue of increasing global concern. It summarizes: the international context; definitions and main concepts; what we know about the scale of violence against women internationally; the connections to development; the impact on women's lives; and four stages of response. Case studies from around the world are used as illustrations throughout. Details: Manchester, UK: British Council, 2008. 43p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118666 Keywords: Battered Women Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Reynolds, Robert Title: Prevention of Murders in Diadema, Brazil: The Influence of New Alcohol Policies Summary: In July, 2002, Diadema adopted a new municipal code requiring that all alcohol retailers in the City of Diadema cease alcohol sales at 11:00 pm. City records suggested that the adoption and enforcement of this new alcohol policy was preventing assaults against women and murders in Diadema. This research protocol evaluates the outcomes of the new alcohol policy by addressing two questions: 1) Does the new alcohol policy prevent murders in Diadema? 2) Does the new alcohol policy prevent assaults against women in Diadema? The study concluded that since January 2000 there has been a steady improvement in public safety and Diadema has become a safer city. The reductions in murder and in assaults against women began before the adoption of the new alcohol policy in July 2002, and these reductions accelerated after the new policy was implemented. Details: Calverton, MD: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, 2004. 9p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2004 Country: Brazil URL: Shelf Number: 118670 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (Brazil) Domestic Violenc Homicide Violence Against Women

Author: Gaber, Milica Antic, ed. Title: Violence in the EU Examined: Policies on Violence Against Women, Children and Youth in 2004 EU Accession Countries Summary: This report presents the results of a 2-year project conducted by a research team of 10 partner organizations from 10 countries that accessed the EU in 2004. Papers in the report all address the issue of violence against women, children and youth from different theoretical perspectives and analyzed using different methodological approaches. Some of the issues discussed include : sexual harassment; trafficking in persons; sexual exploitation in prostitution and pornography; children as victims of violence in the family; mail-order brides; and labor exploitation. Details: Ljubljana: University of Ljuljana, Faculty of Arts, 2009. 199p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 118683 Keywords: Forced Labor Human Trafficking Mail-Order Brides Pornography Prostitution Sexual Exploitation Sexual Harassment Violence Against Women

Author: Amnesty International Title: Ending Domestic Violence in Albania: The Next Steps Summary: This report analyses the progress made in addressing domestic violence in Albania over that last three years after the adoption of the Law on Measures against Violence in Family Relations. It concludes that more women now have confidence to report domestic violence to the authorities. Yet, despite the growing number of petitions made for protection orders, the Albanian government needs to take further measures to implement the law and ensure the prevention of, protection from, and prosecution of domestic violence. Details: London: Amnesty International, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119167 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Albania) Favelas Gangs Police Reform Slums Violence (Brazil) Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Wing, Janeena Jamison Title: Family and Intimate Partner Violence Trends: 2004-2007 Summary: This report summarizes statistics regarding family and intimate partner violence victims in Idaho for the years 2004-2007. Details: Meridian, ID: Idaho State Police, Statistical Analysis Center, 2009. 32p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119234 Keywords: Family Violence (Idaho) Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Gancheva, Yordanka Title: The Costs of Domestic Violence Against Women in fyr Macedonia: A Costing Exercise for 2006 Summary: This costing exercise represents the first attempt to estimate the cost of domestic violence against women in the Republic of Macedonia. The study provides the idea and the model for estimating the costs of domestic violence against women as well as the type of information needed for the estimation. It covers costs incurred by government as well as costs incurred by non-governmental organizations offering services and costs to the women victims and those who assist them. Details: Skopje: Economic Policy Research Institute, 2008. 97p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Macedonia URL: Shelf Number: 119225 Keywords: Costs of Crime Domestic Violence Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Council of Europe. Directorate General of Human Rights, Gender Equality and Anti-Trafficking Division Title: Final Activity Report: Council of Europe Task Force to Combat Violence Against Women, Including Domestic Violence (EG-TFV) Summary: The aim of the Task Force was to identify measures that had proved effective at national and international level in preventing and combating violence against women, including domestic violence, and to make recommendations on their use in the Council of Europe member states at large. To this end, it has reviewed new policies and practices in this field and has identified measures taken in several member states in terms of legislation, support services and data collection, in order to discern general trends in preventing and combating violence against women. It makes recommendations in all these fields and identifies priority areas for future action by all member states as well as the Council of Europe. Furthermore, it has taken into account the Council of Europe’s previous work in addressing men’s involvement in combating violence against women and has addressed the issue of men’s multiple roles in this field. Details: Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 2008. 99p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2008 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 119229 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Rape Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: Melton, Ada Pecos Title: Final Report: Participatory Evaluation of the Tribal Victim Assistance Programs at the Lummi Nation and Passamaquaddy Tribe Summary: This report summarizes the results of process evaluations of two tribal victim assistance (TVA) programs - the Lummi Victims of Crime (LVOC) Program in Washington State and the Passamaquoddy Tribal Victim Outreach Advocate (TVOA) Program in Maine - both of which are federally funded “on-reservation” victim assistance programs intended to provide permanent, accessible, and responsive crime-victim assistance services on tribal lands. The evaluation focus was: 1) to examine the process used by each TVA Program to address identified problems; 2) to determine how well the TVA programs fit or met victim needs in each tribal community; 3) to understand the program impact on clients; and 4) to identify possible outcomes achieved by the program. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice Source: Internet Resource Year: 0 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117346 Keywords: American Indians Domestic Violence Victim Services Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Day, Tanis Title: The Economic Costs of Violence Against Women: An Evaluation of the Literature Summary: This brief provides an overview of the work that has been undertaken world-wide on the economic costs of gender-based violence. The focus of the analysis is to examine estimates of the costs of violence, to compare methodologies used, and to understand the scope of what has been accomplised to date. The paper analyzes existing studies, shows their geographic coverage, indicates the types of costs addressed, and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies used. Details: Vienna: United Nations, 2005. 66p. Source: Internet Resource; Expert Brief Year: 2005 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119277 Keywords: Costs of Crime Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Duvvury, Nata Title: Costs of Intimate Partner Violence at the Household and Community Levels: An Operational Framework for Developing Countries Summary: Violence in intimate partner relationships is the most common form of gender-based violence experienced by women across the globe. However, while domestic violence exacts an enormous toll on society, putting a dollar figure on the actual cost is difficult. This paper attempts to develop an operational framework for estimating economic costs of domestic violence in developing countries. Details: Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women, 2004. 42p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2004 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119278 Keywords: Costs of Crime Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mitchell, Christine Title: Domestic Violence Homicides in Utah: 2000 through 2008 Summary: This report attempts to provide some background on domestic violence homicide in general, as well as further detail and context to incidents in Utah over the recent 9-year period (2000-2008). The data obtained from incidents in Utah appear to be consistent with previous research on domestic violence homicide, based on the data that was available. Homicide in general is a very complex crime, and domestic violence homicide in particular is influenced by many factors related to both the individuals involved as well as contextual and relationship factors. It is clear from the data presented here that many interrelated antecedents need to be taken into account when attempting to understand any given domestic violence homicide incident. A clearer articulation of these factors can hopefully help practitioners and policy makers who are involved in the prevention of domestic violence homicide involving intimate partners, children, and others. Details: Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, 2009. 35p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119470 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Utah) Homicide Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: McGregor, Kiah Title: National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey 2009: Changing Cultures, Changing Attitudes - Preventing Violence Against Women. Project Technical Report and Summary of Findings Summary: The survey involved approximately 13,000 men and women from across Australia. It included Indigenous Australians, people from culturally diverse communities and a sample of 16- and 17-year old respondents. The design of these components was supported by an Advisory Group to ensure the research approach was methodologically, ethically and culturally sound. The survey establishes a contemporary baseline upon which to improve our understanding of factors leading to the formation of community attitudes on violence against women, and will help to inform the design and implementation of future prevention interventions that will address violence against women across our communities. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2009. 80 p.; 208p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 119473 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Brame, Robert Title: The Impact of Proactive Enforcement of No-Contact Orders on Victim Safety and Repeat Victimization Summary: This study examined the impact of proactive enforcement of court-imposed no-contact orders (NCOs) on offender behavior and victim safety in cases of misdemeanor domestic violence. The major research goals and objectives were to assess whether proactive enforcement: (1) increased victim knowledge about no-contact orders; (2) reduced contact between offenders and victims; and (3) increased victim safety and promoted well-being. Details: Unpublished report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2009. 131p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 17, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228003.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228003.pdf Shelf Number: 117133 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protection Orders Repeat Victimization Restraining Orders Violence Against Women

Author: PATH (Inter-American alliance for the Prevention of Gender-based Violence) Title: Strenthening Understanding of Femicide: Using Research to Galvanize Action and Accountability Summary: This publication provides an overview of a conference on femicide convened jointly by PATH, the Inter-American Alliance for the Prevention of Gender-based Violence, the Medical Research Council of South Africa, and the World Health Organization in Washington, DC, April 14–16, 2008. The conference brought together activists, researchers, and forensic professionals from 13 countries, with the aim of identifying common ground for strengthening research and galvanizing global action to prevent femicide and end the impunity so often granted to perpetrators. Details: Seattle, WA: PATH, 2009. 112p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119510 Keywords: Femicide Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Cissner, Amanda B. Title: Evaluating the Mentors in Violence Prevention Program: Preventing Gender Violence on a College Campus Summary: This report presents findings from a two-year evaluation of a gender violence prevention program known as Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP). The program was developed in 1993 at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and, in an earlier evaluation, was found to produce significant positive changes in attitudes and predicted behaviors among high school age youth. The program is based on a peer leadership model, targeting not only potential perpetrators and victims, but also seeking to empower those who might otherwise be passive bystanders to potentially violent situations. The program relies on adult staff to train youth participants (“Peer Educators”), who in turn facilitate workshops attended by larger numbers of their peers (“Workshop Participants”). This study, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, examines the replication of the MVP program with college fraternity and sorority members at Syracuse University. Accordingly, this study seeks to document whether the program is effective when implemented by individuals other than the original Boston-based staff, as well as whether the program can be effectively adapted for a college age population. The study includes both process and impact evaluations. The former is based on a combination of planning meeting and training session observations; interviews with program staff; and participant focus groups. The impact evaluation utilizes a quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test survey design to measure change in the attitudes and predicted behaviors of 424 program participants, including 103 Peer Educators and 321 Workshop Participants. In addition, 396 surveys were completed by a comparison group, composed of Syracuse University fraternity and sorority members who did not participate in the program. Data provided by Syracuse University was used to estimate program impact on official reports of violence. The impact evaluation was designed to test five hypotheses: 1. Students will have less sexist attitudes after completing the MVP program. 2. Students will have an increased sense of self-efficacy—a sense that they can act to prevent gender violence—after completing the MVP program. 3. Students will attribute less sexist attitudes to their peers after completing the MVP program. 4. The impact of the MVP curriculum will be greater among Peer Educators, who receive a more intensive version of the curriculum, than among Workshop Participants. 5. Due to the limited population targeted by the MVP program, no impact is anticipated on the overall incidence of reported violence on the Syracuse University campus. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2009. 78p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 10, 2010 at http://www.courtinnovation.org/_uploads/documents/MVP_evaluation.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/_uploads/documents/MVP_evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 119587 Keywords: Campus Crime Crime Prevention Date Rape Dating Violence Gender Violence Mentoring Sexual Assault, College Campuses Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Paz, Monica G. Title: Bringing the Global to the Local: Using Participatory Research to Address Sesxual Violence with Immigrant Communities in NYC Summary: This study reveals, in their own voices, the experiences New York City immigrant women have with sexual violence and their thoughts on ending this victimization. Many of the women who participated in this pilot study talked about the situations they faced and the barriers they experienced in seeking help for sexual violence. The study examines: 1) the scope and impact of sexual violence against (documented and undocumented) immigrant women; 2) help-seeking behaviors, including knowledge and attitudes about sexual violence services in their New York City communities; and 3) community-specific strategies to end sexual violence. Details: New York: New york City Alliance Against Sexual Assault, 2008. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2010 at: http://www.svfreenyc.org/media/research/par_1_report08.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.svfreenyc.org/media/research/par_1_report08.pdf Shelf Number: 117660 Keywords: Immigrants Sex Offenses Sexual Assault Sexual Violence (New York City) Violence Against Women

Author: Eckman, Anne Title: Exploring Dimensions of Masculinity and Violence Summary: During the Yugoslavian wars that took place between 1991 and 2001, numerous cases of gender-based violence were reported, including mass rapes of women and sexual abuses like castration of men and boys imprisoned in war camps. Currently in the NW Balkans, an emerging culture of violence is visible. In the context of conflict and reconstruction, multiple masculine identities are shaped and formed according to the intersection of masculinity with religion, nationality and ethnicity. Youth represent a key opportunity to construct alternative definitions of masculinities and reduce gender-based violence. Working toward the reduction and elimination of gender-based violence, CARE International NW Balkans and CARE International is implementing a groundbreaking program working directly with young men between the ages of 13 and 19 to deconstruct masculinity in their cultures and determine how gender norms and male socialization lead to inequitable attitudes and behaviors toward women and girls. Details: Atlanta, GA: Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE); Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), 2007. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2010 at: http://www.careinternational.org.uk/download.php?id=916 Year: 2007 Country: Europe URL: http://www.careinternational.org.uk/download.php?id=916 Shelf Number: 118736 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Masculinity Rape Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: New Zealand. Task Force for Action on Sexual Violence Title: Te Toiora Mata Tauherenga: Report of the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence Incorporating the Views of Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together Summary: In July 2007, in response to public outcry about the acquittals in the rape trial involving Louise Nicholas and action by Te Ohaakii a Hine – National Network Ending Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) a Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence (TASV) was established. This report presents 71 recommendations to the government to prevent and respond to sexual violence. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Ministry of Justice, 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2010 at: http://www.justice.govt.nz/policy-and-consultation/taskforce-for-action-on-sexual-violence/policy-and-consultation/taskforce-for-action-on-sexual-violence/documents/tasv-report-full Year: 0 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.justice.govt.nz/policy-and-consultation/taskforce-for-action-on-sexual-violence/policy-and-consultation/taskforce-for-action-on-sexual-violence/documents/tasv-report-full Shelf Number: 119663 Keywords: Rape (New Zealand) Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Towns, Alison Title: The Cultures of Cool and Being a Man: Getting in Early to Prevent Domestic Violence Summary: This study explored young men’s ideas about control, power and equality in boyfriend/girlfriend relationships and the social and cultural values and beliefs that contribute to these ideas. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2009. 155p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2010 at: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/PublicationDetails.aspx?publication=14557 Year: 2009 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/PublicationDetails.aspx?publication=14557 Shelf Number: 119664 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (New Zealand) Violence Against Women

Author: Keesbury, Jill Title: Comprehensive Responses to Gender Based Violence in Low-Resource Settings: Lessons Learned from Implementation Summary: From 2006-2009, the Population Council undertook a program of technical assistance and research to strengthen the evidence base on gender-based violence (SGBV) programming in sub-Saharan Africa. This project created an active network of implementers and researchers across sub-Saharan Africa, all of whom were charged with developing, implementing and evaluating core elements of a comprehensive, multisectoral model for strengthening responses for survivors of SGBV, especially survivors of sexual violence. The comprehensive model includes health, criminal justice, and psychosocial services required by survivors, and works to strengthen the linkages between these sectors. Seven organizations in six countries (Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Senegal) partnered with the Population Council to implement the comprehensive model in part or in whole, and an additional thirteen organizations actively participated in the South-South technical assistance network. Based on the experiences of these partners, this document reviews the findings, lessons learned, and promising practices in the provision of comprehensive SGBV services in sub- Saharan Africa. It draws on the data generated by the network partners to identify core issues in the provision of quality, comprehensive care for survivors of SGBV. These findings are intended to serve as a resource for programmers and policymakers throughout the region, and contribute to the emerging evidence-base on such program strategies. Details: Lusaka, Zambia: Population Council, 2010. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2010RH_CompRespGBV.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Africa URL: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2010RH_CompRespGBV.pdf Shelf Number: 119690 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Gender-Based Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Jones, Anwen Title: The Effectiveness of Schemes to Enable Households at Risk of Domestic Violence to Stay in Their Own Homes: Research Report Summary: A Sanctuary Scheme is a multi-agency victim centred initiative which aims to enable households at risk of violence to remain safely in their own homes by installing a 'Sanctuary' in the home and through the provision of support to the household. This evaluation was carried out in 2009/10 and involved interviews with national stakeholders, local case studies (interviews with service providers, support providers, local stakeholders, and service users), and a cost-benefit analysis. It shows that overall Sanctuary Schemes were thought to have been successful in their main aim of providing a safe alternative for households at risk of domestic violence, and preventing the disruption associated with homelessness. It also highlights that there are different types of installation and security measures and also variation in the way schemes operate post installation. Nevertheless, respondents in all areas reported similar outcomes and, for the most part, service users reported positive experiences. Details: West Yorkshire, UK: Communities and Local Government Publications, 2010. 147p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1697772.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1697772.pdf Shelf Number: 119692 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Domestic Violence Famly Violence Housing Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Jones, Anwen Title: Santuary Schemes for Households at Risk of Domestic Violence: Practice Guide for Agencies Developing and Delivering Sanctuary Schemes Summary: A Sanctuary Scheme is a multi-agency victim centred initiative which aims to enable households at risk of violence to remain safely in their own homes by installing a 'Sanctuary' in the home and through the provision of support to the household. This guide highlights the transferable lessons from an evaluation of Sanctuary Schemes, and will be particularly useful for local level practitioners in developing strategies to prevent homelessness and support for households at risk of domestic violence. Details: West Yorkshire, UK: Communities and Local Government Publications, 2010. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2010 at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1697793.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/1697793.pdf Shelf Number: 119691 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Housing Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: World Health Organization Title: Preventing Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Against Women: Taking action and Generating Evidence Summary: Intimate partner and sexual violence affect a large proportion of the population – with the majority of those directly experiencing such violence being women and the majority perpetrating it being men. The harm they cause can last a lifetime and span generations, with serious adverse affects on health, education and employment. The primary prevention of these types of violence will therefore save lives and money – investments made now to stop intimate partner and sexual violence before they occur will protect the physical, mental and economic well-being and development of individuals, families, communities and whole societies. This document aims to provide sufficient information for policy-makers and planners to develop data-driven and evidence-based programmes for preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women and is divided into the following chapters: Chapter 1 outlines the nature, magnitude and consequences of intimate partner and sexual violence within the broader typology of violence. Chapter 2 identifies the risk and protective factors for such violence and the importance of addressing both risk and protective factors in prevention efforts. Chapter 3 summarizes the scientific evidence base for primary prevention strategies, and describes programmes of known effectiveness, those supported by emerging evidence and those that could potentially be effective but have yet to be sufficiently evaluated for their impact. Chapter 4 presents a six-step framework for taking action, generating evidence and sharing results. In the closing section, several future research priorities are outlined and a number of key conclusions drawn. Details: Geneva: World Health Organization, 2010. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2010 at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564007_eng.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2010/9789241564007_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 119737 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Sex Offenses Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Davis, Robert C. Title: Effects of Second Responder Programs on Repeat Incidents of Family Abuse Summary: This paper reports the results of a systematic review of the effects of second responder programs on repeat incidents of family violence. An exhaustive search yielded ten studies (including three that were unpublished) that met our criteria that included: (a) following a report of a family violence incident to the police, a second response that included a home visit, (b) a comparison group, and (c) at least one measure of repeat family violence. Fixed and random effects metaanalysis indicated that the second response intervention did not affect the likelihood of new abuse as reported on victim surveys, but did slightly increase the odds of a new report made to the police. We interpret these results to mean that the intervention does not affect the continuation or cessation of family violence, but does somewhat increase victims’ willingness to report incidents to the authorities when they occur. Details: Oslo: Campbell Collaboration, 2008. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2010 at: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/233/ Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/233/ Shelf Number: 119744 Keywords: Battered Women Family Violence Repeat Victimization Spouse Abuse Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Schrottle, Monika Title: Comparative Reanalysis of Prevalence of Violence Against Women and Health Impact Data in Europe - Obstacles and Possible Solutions. Testing a Comparative Approach on Selected Studies Summary: The issue of data comparison between regions, countries and over time has emerged as an important question, especially since differences in prevalence rates have become more visible through quantitative research. Data comparison between locations and over time can help us understand whether the data reflect a common and persistent social problem, which explanations may account for differences in findings, and which political and societal circumstances may be responsible for variations and continuities. Comparative data can advance theory and suggest improvements to cultural, political and societal response to violence and human rights violations. However, accurate data comparison is more difficult than it seems. Ignoring or misjudging the scientific and methodological framework of specific data sets and studies easily leads to wrong conclusions and unwarranted interpretations. Sometimes even small differences in the details of data collection, time-frames, recorded acts and contexts seriously limit comparability. Recently there have been several attempts to compare prevalence data and health impact data post hoc, but these approaches faced many political, scientific and methodological problems and data comparison was sometimes not conducted in an adequate manner. Addressing these problems has been one of the goals of the “Coordination Action on Human Rights Violations” (CAHRV), a European research network that includes experts in the field of prevalence and health impact research. In a first step researchers reviewed European surveys on the prevalence and health impact of violence against women and compiled an overview of the methodologies used, and the findings reported in each study. Results showed that the studies are constructed quite differently from one country to the next, and that in its present published form neither prevalence nor health impact data are comparable on a European level. The present report documents the second step towards making existing prevalence data more comparable. This involved post-hoc, inter-country comparisons through secondary analysis of original datasets and is presented here as an exemplary case for the comparative study of published survey data. Included in the analysis were surveys that were fairly comparable with regard to methodology and the questions asked about violence. The datasets are from the national violence against women surveys in Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania and Sweden, and were available because members of the CAHRV research group had been involved in the original data collection in their countries and were familiar with the datasets and their methodology. The central aim of the secondary analysis was to test whether it is possible to compare prevalence data post hoc through a harmonization of definitions and samples (as will be explained in the next chapter). This procedure highlighted possibilities and limitations for post-hoc data comparison of studies that are not identical in methodology, data collection and sampling. The results suggest that the procedure is useful not only for further post-hoc research in the field but also as a way to ground policy recommendations more reliably in an emerging comparative knowledge base. The secondary analysis shows the difficulties and challenges for comparison and comparability of prevalence and health impact data in Europe. This approach can contribute to the development of data collection standards, a high priority in the development of the field that will be the focus of the third year of the CAHRV research network. Details: Osnabrueck, Germany: CAHRV (Co-ordination against Human Rights Violation), 2006. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2010 at: http://www.cahrv.uni-osnabrueck.de/reddot/D_20_Comparative_reanalysis_of_prevalence_of_violence_pub.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Europe URL: http://www.cahrv.uni-osnabrueck.de/reddot/D_20_Comparative_reanalysis_of_prevalence_of_violence_pub.pdf Shelf Number: 111274 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Amnesty International Title: Breaking the Silence: Sexual Violence in Cambodia Summary: Reports of women and girls being raped are on the increase in Cambodia. Amid a culture of impunity, victims have limited access to justice and the acute lack of medical services and psychological support reflects social attitudes to rape and other sexual violence. This report exposes how corruption and discrimination within the police and courts prevent survivors of rape from receiving justice and the necessary assistance. Amnesty International calls on the Cambodian government to firmly address inadequate law enforcement, extrajudicial settlements, weak prosecution and widespread corruption in cases of suspected sexual violence. Details: London: Amnesty International Publications, 2010. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2010 at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA23/001/2010/en/17ebf558-95f0-4cf8-98c1-3f052ffb9603/asa230012010en.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Cambodia URL: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA23/001/2010/en/17ebf558-95f0-4cf8-98c1-3f052ffb9603/asa230012010en.pdf Shelf Number: 118417 Keywords: Rape Sexual Abuse Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Logan, T.K. Title: The Kentucky Civil Protective Order Study: A Rural and Urban Multiple Perspective Study of Protective Order Violation Consequences, Responses, and Cost Summary: Intimate partner violence affects thousands of women each year and results in substantial personal and societal costs. In response to the need for victim protection, states have established civil protective orders (PO). This study addresses several gaps in the research literature on civil protective orders by examining PO effectiveness, enforcement, and cost effectiveness. A selected rural area and a selected urban area were compared to better understand subtle jurisdictional differences. This study used multiple data sources including victim self-reports, key informant interviews, and court data on offenders in order to address three major questions: (1) Rural versus urban similarities and differences: Do community contextual factors matter? This question was answered by examining official data and the current literature on rural versus urban differences and by examining rural and urban key informant (n=188) perceptions of factors associated with responses to PO violations to better understand community contextual factors in addressing partner violence. (2) Civil protective orders: Justice or just a piece of paper? This question was answered by following 106 rural and 107 urban women at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months after receiving a PO to examine partner violence prior to obtaining a PO and after obtaining a PO as well as the PO process, PO violations, victim decisions regarding whether or not to report the violations, and justice system responses to reported violations (99% follow-up rate, n=210). Also, civil and criminal system histories and justice system responses to PO violations were examined using official court records on PO respondents in the cases involving the rural and urban women who participated in the study. (3) Costs of protective orders versus partner violence: Is it really worth it? This question was answered by examining personal and societal costs of ongoing partner violence, including costs to the justice system and to victim quality of life, six months before and six months after a protective order was obtained to better understand the full spectrum of costs associated with partner violence and the economic impact of protective orders on partner violence and abuse. Results showed that half (50%) of the study participants indicated that the protective order had been violated while half did not during the six months after receiving the protective order. Even for those who experienced protective order violations, the abuse was significantly reduced over time. However, results also suggest that community contextual factors do matter in the protective order process and in the enforcement of protective orders. For example, more urban than rural PO violators had protective order violation charges during the six month follow-up period. Further, stalking the six months prior to obtaining the protective order was significantly associated with protective order violations even after controlling for a number of relevant variables. Finally, a wide range of costs was examined for each participant including medical, mental health, criminal justice, legal, lost earnings, property losses, and time lost for family and civic responsibilities as well as an index of quality of life six months before the protective order and six months after the protective order was issued. Overall, including changes in quality of life, protective orders saved the state $85 million in a single year, a moderate estimate of cost savings. When the quality of life index is excluded from the cost analysis, study results show that victim safety is positively impacted by protective orders at very little cost except in cases with stalking. This study advances knowledge about PO effectiveness, enforcement, and costs, and provides information for policies and practice to increase both the effectiveness of protective orders and ultimately the safety of women threatened by partner violence in different jurisdictions. Details: Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, Department of Behavioral Science, 2009. 175p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2010 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228350.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228350.pdf Shelf Number: 116664 Keywords: Costs of Crime Intimate Partner Violence Restraining Orders Stalking Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kishor, Sunita Title: Profiling Domestic Violence: A Multi-Country Study Summary: This study uses household and individual-level data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program to examine the prevalence and correlates of domestic violence and the health consequences of domestic violence for women and their children. Nationally representative data from nine countries—Cambodia (2000), Colombia (2000), the Dominican Republic (2002), Egypt (1995), Haiti (2000), India (1998-1999), Nicaragua (1998), Peru (2000), and Zambia (2001-2002)—are analyzed within a comparative framework to provide a multifaceted analysis of the phenomenon of domestic violence. Details: Calverton, MD: ORC Macro, 2004. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 22, 2010 at: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/OD31/OD31.pdf Year: 2004 Country: International URL: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/OD31/OD31.pdf Shelf Number: 113399 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights Title: Violence Against Women in Cambodia: 2006 Summary: Historically, Cambodians have suffered through a culture of violence perpetuated by the Khmer Rouge regime and other political groups. The impact of this violence continues to affect many people within Cambodia. One of the most vulnerable affected groups are the women of Cambodia. Violence against women – particularly in the form of domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation – is one of the most serious human rights problems in Cambodia. Although Cambodia is beginning to recognize the significance of violence against women, the extent of the Government’s willingness to educate the judiciary, the police and the public on these issues, and to implement laws and policies that prevent such violence and protect victims, is still quite limited. Cambodia ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1992 and committed to enforcing the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals (CMDG) in 2000. Both instruments contain provisions to reduce and eliminate violence against women, but there has been insufficient government action to implement them. Since 1992, the Government’s progress in reducing and eliminating violence against women since 1992 has been slow and often inadequate. In 2006, the period covered by this report, no new laws or influential policies protecting women from violence were passed or implemented by the Government. This report aims to provide a realistic account of the trauma suffered by Cambodian women from domestic violence, rape, and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The report is based on information from LICADHO’s Women’s Rights Office, based in Phnom Penh, and staff in 12 provincial offices, and it also features personal stories of violence from four Cambodian women. Details: Phnom Penh, Cambodia: LICADHO, 2007. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2010 at: http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/reports/files/105LICADHOReportViolenceWoman2006.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Cambodia URL: http://www.licadho-cambodia.org/reports/files/105LICADHOReportViolenceWoman2006.pdf Shelf Number: 117362 Keywords: Domestic Violence Human Trafficking Rape Sexual Exploitation Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Map of Gaps 2: The Postcode Lottery of Violence Against Women Support Services in Britain Summary: This report shows that in many parts of the UK, services for women who have experienced violence are chronically under-funded or simply do not exist. Women shouldn’t be subjected to this postcode lottery. This is a call to action for everybody who cares about this issue, and a firm reminder for those in local and national government with the power to make a difference. Urgent effort must be made to provide funding and support to ensure that all women can get help whenever they need it and wherever they live. Details: London: End Violence Against Women and Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2009. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/map_of_gaps2.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/map_of_gaps2.pdf Shelf Number: 114338 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Female Victims Victim of Crimes, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: Ringland, Clare Title: Domestic Homicide in NSW, January 2003 - June 2008 Summary: This brief examines trends and characteristics of domestic homicides in NSW over the period January 2003 to June 2008. During this time, there were 215 victims of domestic homicide, 115 females and 100 males. The rate of domestic homicide per year remained stable, ranging from a low of 0.46 per 100,000 population in 2004 to a high of 0.63 per 100,000 population in 2006. Forty-three per cent of domestic homicide victims (70 females and 23 males) were killed by intimate partners, and 19 per cent by parents. Stabbing was the most common act causing death, with knives used in over one-third of domestic homicides. The use of knives increased over the period, while the use of firearms decreased. Over three-quarters of offenders were male, and one-third of offenders may have had a history of mental illness and/or been suffering from mental illness at the time of the homicide. Twenty-six per cent of offenders were persons of interest in a violence-related incident in the 12 months prior to the homicide, and 52 per cent in the five years prior. In the 12 months prior to the homicide event, only 10 per cent of victims had been identified as a victim in a violence-related incident where the homicide offender was identified as a person of interest. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue Paper No. 42: Accessed October 11, 2010 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb42.pdf/$file/bb42.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb42.pdf/$file/bb42.pdf Shelf Number: 118552 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Homicide Victims of Crime Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Hague, Gill Title: Bride-Price, Poverty and Domestic Violence in Uganda Summary: This report outlines the key findings from the first-ever research study on Bride-Price, Poverty and Domestic Violence in Uganda, conducted as a response both to the growing interest in the practice of bride-price and to moves for its reform in Uganda and other countries in Africa. The research was undertaken between January 2008 and June 2009 through an international collaboration between MIFUMI, an NGO and women's rights agency based in Uganda working on domestic violence and poverty alleviation, and two UK research groups, the Violence Against Women Research Group, University of Bristol, and the Centre for the Study of Safety and Well-being, University of Warwick. The aims and objectives of the research were: To investigate, through an action research approach, the impacts of bride-price on the capabilities of women, children and families in terms of development, quality of life, health, decision-making and community participation; To explore possible inter-relations between bride-price and poverty; To investigate possible inter-relations between bride-price and domestic violence; To develop policy recommendations for Uganda, and to contribute to national, pan-African and global debates on bride price, including with the Ugandan government and through international protocols and the Kampala International Declaration on Bride-price; To develop a local action-oriented dissemination plan, including a collaboratively developed community awareness-raising programme to reach several thousand people; and To contribute to the Millennial Development Goal (MDG) framework, especially MDG3 on gender and empowerment. Details: Bristol, UK: MIFUMI Uganda, Violence Against Women Research Group, University of Bistol; Warwick, UK: Centre for the Study of Safety and Well-being, University of Warwick, 2009. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2010 at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/shss/swell/final_report_-_bride_price_poverty_and_domestic_vi.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Uganda URL: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/shss/swell/final_report_-_bride_price_poverty_and_domestic_vi.pdf Shelf Number: 119920 Keywords: Domestic Violence Poverty Socioeconomic Status Violence Against Women

Author: Arieff, Alexis Title: Sexual Violence in African Conflicts Summary: Civilians in Africa’s conflict zones — particularly women and children, but also men — are often vulnerable to sexual violence, including rape, mutilation, and sexual slavery, carried out by government security forces and non-state actors, including, rebel groups, militias, and criminal organizations. Some abuses appear to be opportunistic, or the product of a larger breakdown in the rule of law and social order that may occur amid conflict. However, sexual violence has also been employed by combatant groups as a tool of war, seemingly designed to wreak damage on entire communities. While such abuses are by no means limited to Africa, weak justice systems in many African states can mean that victims have little legal redress; survivors are also often shunned by their families and communities. Sexual atrocities have been reported in many African conflicts over the past two decades, including in Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda. The issue has been particularly salient in eastern DRC, where security forces, rebel organizations, militias, and other armed groups have inflicted sexual violence upon the civilian population on a massive scale. This report provides a detailed case study of DRC and an index of active U.S. programs there. Multiple U.S. government agencies and implementing partners contribute to efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence in African conflicts. Agencies and departments include the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense, among others. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has taken the lead on the Obama Administration’s initiative to address the issue, through speeches, official travel, public remarks, writings, and actions at the United Nations. In August 2009, Clinton traveled to Goma, in eastern DRC, where she pledged $17 million to support U.S. government efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in that country. The pledge includes $10 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF) for “programs and activities to assist victims of gender-based violence” in DRC provided by the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-32). The 111th Congress has repeatedly expressed interest in the issue of sexual violence in African conflicts and support for programs to address it through legislation, hearings, and other congressional actions. Potential issues for Congress include the authorization and appropriation of targeted assistance programs; oversight of Administration and multilateral policies; and oversight of coordination between U.S. government agencies and international donors. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2009. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: CRS Report to Congress, R40956: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40956.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Africa URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R40956.pdf Shelf Number: 119929 Keywords: Rape Sex Offenses Sexual Slavery Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kharboush, Ibrahim F. Title: Spousal Violence in Egypt Summary: One-third of Egyptian women have been physically abused by their husbands, according to the 2005 Egypt Demographic and Health Survey; and 7 percent said they are beaten “often.” These women mostly suffered silently and did not seek help. Violence against women is a costly and pervasive public health problem and a violation of human rights. It is often referred to as “gender-based violence” because it stems from women’s subordinate status in the family and society. The abuse can take many forms. Violence against women, whether perpetrated by husbands or others, and whether it happens inside or outside the home, undermines women’s health and well-being. It can also have far-reaching and long-term consequences for the women’s children and for society. Today, patriarchal norms continue to relegate many Egyptian women to a subordinate position relative to men, providing fertile ground for men’s abusive and damaging behaviors at home and in public. Harassment of women in public has escalated to the point where Egypt’s national economy may be affected: A recent World Bank study showed that 15 percent of men and 12 percent of women in Cairo who oppose the idea of women working outside the home cite potential sexual harassment as the reason. This policy brief presents an analysis of the 2005 and 2008 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys and the latest research on spousal violence conducted in the Alexandria Governorate by the Suzanne Mubarak Regional Centre for Women’s Health and Development. These studies reveal that violence against women is widespread and alarming, and highlight the urgent need for government and civil society to address the issue and end this scourge that hinders progress toward Egypt’s development goals. Details: Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2010. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2010 at: http://www.prb.org/pdf10/spousalviolence-egypt.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.prb.org/pdf10/spousalviolence-egypt.pdf Shelf Number: 119935 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Sexual Harassment Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Raphael, Jody Title: Talking About Stalking: Interviews with Chicago Patrol Officers Summary: Although research has documented that stalking represents a particularly dangerous and often lethal aspect of domestic violence, data show that Illinois stalking laws go underutilized. This research study reports on interviews with 40 Chicago Department of Police patrol officers and detectives in the spring of 2009, undertaken to hear from them why the law is so rarely used and what barriers might exist to bringing stalking charges in Chicago. Details: Chicago: DePaul University College of Law, Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, 2009. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2010 at: http://www.law.depaul.edu/centers_institutes/family_law/pdf/stalking%20study.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.law.depaul.edu/centers_institutes/family_law/pdf/stalking%20study.pdf Shelf Number: 119956 Keywords: Domestic Violence Stalking Violence Against Women

Author: Williamson, Emma Title: Pilot Project: Domestic Abuse and Military Families Summary: This pilot project will seek to ascertain, via a focus group and on-line survey, i) the nature and extent of abuse experienced by military families, ii) service use, and iii) service needs of both perpetrators and victims of abuse in this context. During this developmental (pilot) phase we will be seeking to establish baseline data which identifies service need and potential interventions. The families of service personnel and the personnel themselves will benefit if we are able to identify triggers to abusive behaviour at home and external and internal interventions which may reduce the likelihood of domestic abuse occurring in these families. This research project examines the: 1) Nature and extent of domestic violence within military families; 2) Impact of this abuse and identify potential interventions; 3) Kind of services families may, or may have tried, to access in the past; 4) Ways in which service personnel explain the reasons for their abusive behaviour and whether specialist interventions might be developed to assist them. Details: Bristol, UK: University of Bristol, 2009. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2010 at: http://www.bris.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2009/rk7020/finalreport.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.bris.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2009/rk7020/finalreport.pdf Shelf Number: 119958 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Military Victims of Domestic Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Military Personnel: Sustained Leadership and Oversight Needed to Improve DOD's Prevention and Treatment of Domestic Abuse Summary: In 2001, the Deputy Secretary of Defense stated that domestic violence will not be tolerated in the Department of Defense (DOD). Despite this posture, DOD's clinical database indicates that 8,223 incidents met criteria for domestic abuse in fiscal year 2009. However, because this database includes only cases reported to military clinical offices, it does not represent all cases. In response to a congressional request, GAO evaluated whether DOD is able to determine the effectiveness of its domestic abuse efforts. To conduct this review, GAO reviewed legislative requirements and DOD guidance, analyzed domestic abuse data, and interviewed officials involved in domestic abuse prevention and treatment and persons eligible to receive services at five military bases. DOD has taken some actions to prevent and treat domestic abuse in response to recommendations made by the Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence in 2001 through 2003 and by GAO in a 2006 report. However, DOD has no oversight framework with goals, milestones, and metrics with which to determine the effectiveness of its efforts. This issue is complicated by uncertainty regarding the completeness of DOD's data on domestic abuse. In 2007, DOD issued guidance on military protective orders after GAO had found that its lack of guidance had resulted in inconsistent practices. However, DOD closed its Family Violence Policy Office in 2007, which had staff dedicated to overseeing the implementation of recommendations made by the Defense Task Force, after DOD had taken action on some key recommendations. At that time, the specific responsibilities of that office for overseeing implementation of the remaining Task Force recommendations were not reassigned, although overall oversight responsibility remained with the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. DOD guidance assigns many domestic abuse-related responsibilities to this office, including responsibility for developing DOD's domestic abuse instruction and ensuring compliance. GAO found the following examples in which having sustained leadership attention and an oversight framework would have helped guide DOD in obtaining information that would allow it to fully manage its efforts and determine their effectiveness: (1) Significant DOD guidance has been in draft since 2006. As a result, the services are anticipating ways to implement the draft guidance, which contains, among other things, new guidelines for the services' clinical treatment and evaluation boards, without finalized guidance. (2) The database intended to satisfy legislative requirements enacted in 2000 continues to provide incomplete data, and DOD still collects domestic abuse data in two databases. In 2006, GAO reported on data discrepancies in these databases and recommended that they be reconciled. This recommendation remains open, and those problems continue today. Because DOD cannot provide accurate numbers of domestic abuse incidents, it cannot analyze trends. (3) It is DOD policy to target families most at risk of domestic abuse, but DOD has not defined goals for its efforts or metrics with which to measure progress. DOD collects only information on gender, rank, age, and substance use. Without information on other factors, such as length and number of deployments, DOD will be unable to fully analyze risk factors. During GAO's site visits, these factors were routinely mentioned. (4) DOD lacks metrics for measuring the effectiveness of its awareness campaigns. As a result, it does not know how to direct its resources most effectively. Without sustained leadership and an oversight framework, DOD will remain unable to assess the effectiveness of its efforts to prevent and treat domestic abuse. GAO recommends that DOD finalize guidance on how the services are to comply with DOD policies and develop an oversight framework to guide its efforts to prevent and treat domestic abuse that includes collecting data on contributing factors and establishing metrics to determine the effectiveness of DOD's awareness campaigns. In commenting on a draft of this report, DOD generally concurred with GAO's recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2010. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-10-923: Accessed October 14, 2010 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10923.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10923.pdf Shelf Number: 119965 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Military Personnel Spouse Abuse Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Townsend, Stephanie M. Title: Sexual Violence Research Initiative: Report of Evaluation Findings Summary: The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) is a global project that promotes research on sexual violence in order to improve policy and service delivery. This report presents an external evaluation of the SVRI and details the methods and findings of that evaluation. Using archival review and key informant interviews, the evaluation assessed key progress indicators and six dimensions of the SVRI's performance: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, institutional development, complementarity, and sustainability. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Sexual Violence Research Initiative, 2010. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: http://www.svri.org/Evaluation2010Report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.svri.org/Evaluation2010Report.pdf Shelf Number: 119967 Keywords: Sexual Violence Victims Services Violence Against Women

Author: Albright, Danielle Title: Deterring Domestic Violence: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Arrest and Protective Orders Summary: Domestic violence is a significant problem in the State of New Mexico, with incidence rates almost twice the national average. In 2004, law enforcement agencies across the state responded to 26,940 incidents of domestic violence, an incidence rate of 15.3 per 1000 persons. Comparatively, the domestic violence incidence rate nationally was 8.9 per 1000 persons in 2004. Of those incidents documented in New Mexico in 2004, Caponera identified 4,011 (or about 6%) as domestic violence incidents for which at least one of the parties involved filed a petition for a protective order with the courts. To date there has been limited research evaluating the effectiveness of either law enforcement intervention or protective orders in New Mexico. As policymakers in the State continue to debate ways to enhance the responsiveness of law enforcement to domestic violence and to make protective orders both more widely available and the enforcement of these orders more uniform, research evaluating the factors that shape the use and effectiveness of the formal interventions is needed. The current research examines the effectiveness of formal social controls in response to a sample of domestic violence incidents that were reported to law enforcement authorities, brought before the District Court as a petition for a protective order, or both in Bernalillo County, New Mexico in 2002. Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center, Institute for Social Research, University of New Mexico, 2008. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 21, 2010 at: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://nmsac.unm.edu/contact_information/nmsac_publications/ Shelf Number: 120049 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protective Orders Restraining Orders Violence Against Women

Author: TNS Opinion & Social Title: Domestic Violence Against Women Summary: The aim of this survey is to measure the evolution of European public opinion concerning domestic violence against women since 1999, which can be seen as the starting point for collecting information about the public’s view on this important problem. Evolutions are particularly interesting to study considering the changing legal context over the past ten years. The first important message that comes out of the study is the rising awareness of Europeans. The survey also shows broad support for EU action in this area. - 98% of people are now aware of domestic violence across the EU compared to 94% in the previous survey. - Awareness of domestic violence against women is very high across the EU, thanks to media such as television (92%), newspapers and magazines (59%) informing the vast majority of EU citizens about the problem. - Domestic violence remains very common: one respondent in four across the EU knows a woman among friends or in the family circle who is a victim of domestic violence. Since the previous survey, the proportion of Europeans (on a comparable EU15 basis) that say they know a victim of domestic violence in their circle of friends or family has increased from 19% to 25%. - One person in five knows of someone who commits domestic violence in their circle of friends and family (21%). - Women are more likely than men to know a woman who has suffered from domestic violence. They are also more likely than men to be aware of people who commit this crime, and more likely to view the problem seriously and to advocate tougher penalties for those responsible. - 78% of Europeans recognise that domestic violence is a common problem. - Attitudes to domestic violence have generally become much tougher, with far more people (86%, up from 63% for the EU15) now saying that domestic violence is unacceptable and should always be punishable by law. In the European Union as a whole, 84% consider that domestic violence is unacceptable and should always be punishable by law. - Sexual and physical violence are seen as the most serious forms of violence suffered by women with 85% of respondents in both cases considering that these are “very serious”. - There is strong support for EU involvement in eradicating domestic violence against women (87% of respondents feel that the EU should probably or definitely be involved). - However, while most people believe that laws are in place to prevent domestic violence, very few (14%) are familiar with specific EU measures to tackle the problem. Details: Brussels: European Commission, 2010. 222p. Source: Internet Resource: Special Eurobarometer 344: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_344_en.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_344_en.pdf Shelf Number: 120132 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Public Opinion Sexual Violence Victims of Family Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: Meyer, Silke Title: Responding to Intimate Partner Violence Victimisation: Effective Options for Help-Seeking Summary: Approximately one in four women in most Western nations are at risk of becoming a victim of intimate partner violence (IPV). Interventions for IPV victims have shown to be significant in preventing negative outcomes. Using data from the International Violence Against Women Survey, this paper examines predictors of help-seeking by IPV victims and considers whether such responses are influenced by the severity of abuse experienced. Many IPV victims seek assistance informally from family and friends in the first instance and that experience may affect subsequent attempts to seek help from more formal sources. This study found that victims of IPV are more likely to explore formal avenues of support when married to the abusive partner, have children who have witnessed incidents of abuse, have used drugs or alcohol to cope with abuse and where the abusive partner has previously received counselling for his behaviour. It was found that in cases where the victim had experienced more severe types of abuse, and/or if they felt their life had been threatened during the most recent incident, there was a significantly increased likelihood of formal helpseeking. Collectively, these findings can inform the enhancement of current responses made by formal sources of support to better accommodate the needs of IPV victims and their children. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2010. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 389: Accessed November 3, 2010 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/6/2/C/%7B62CAE35B-C4C7-4231-8163-911079CE46FE%7Dtandi389.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/6/2/C/%7B62CAE35B-C4C7-4231-8163-911079CE46FE%7Dtandi389.pdf Shelf Number: 120172 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Ventura, Lois A. Title: An Exploratory Study of Court-Referred Batterer Intervention Programs in Ohio Summary: Batterer intervention programs (BIP) have been the subject of considerable research over the past 20 years. What emerges is a growing recognition that static variables, such as batterer profiles and demographics, or the particular length, design or approach of batterer intervention programs, have not yielded significant findings of effectiveness, such as the reduced likelihood to re-offend or increased safety of abused women. While prior research shows a modest positive effect, little evidence exists to support the effectiveness of one BIP over another. One of the few consistent findings in prior research is that the success of batterer intervention programs depends, to some degree, on how embedded they are within the community response to domestic violence. Consequently, there is a growing interest to examine programs in context, as part of a larger and more elaborate intervention system, including courts, law enforcement, victim services, socio-medicolegal and other community resources. This study created an inventory of court-referred batterer intervention programs in Ohio and gathered general descriptive information about them. The following highlights emerged from the study: Probation officers reported that a substantial number of their probationers have a history of domestic violence; More than three-quarters of all batterer intervention programs operate as part of a larger agency. Most programs are part of a larger mental health agency or community service organization; The surveyed batterer intervention programs predominantly served Caucasian male offenders between the ages of 28 and 35. Some or most of the program’s participants are parents; More than 80 percent of the batterer invention programs surveyed employ elements of the Duluth and/or cognitive-behavioral models; More than 90 percent of the surveyed programs reportedly address power and control, personal responsibility, male socialization, social responsibility, sexism, patriarchy, and anger management as a standard part of their curriculum; More than half of the programs report a completion rate of 76 percent or better. Analysis of factors associated with program completion suggests that the less rigorous the demands on the participant, the greater the program’s completion rate. This study is the precursor to future studies that will examine more closely the extent to which courtreferred batterer intervention programs in Ohio are integrated into larger domestic violence intervention systems and what effect that integration has on victim safety and violence reduction. The goal of future investigation will be to develop evidence-based policies for integrated batterer intervention systems in Ohio. Details: Columbus, OH: Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, 2006. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2010 at: http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_BIPfull.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United States URL: http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/ocjs_BIPfull.pdf Shelf Number: 120197 Keywords: Battered Women (Ohio) Batterer Intervention Programs Domestic Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Doucey, Marie Title: Gender and Human Security in the Haitian-Dominican Border Zone Summary: The border shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic (DR) is a North-South 391 km porous and neglected piece of land. Its vulnerability to various forms of traffcking and smuggling defnitely poses a risk to the safety of the area at a national, binational and regional level. Security in Haiti is a recurrent topic for researchers and policy analysts. The violence in Port-au-Prince's slums and the challenges faced by the security sector since the 1990's have been extensively studied. However, the border zone has rarely been explored from a security point of view, and, so far, there is no report1 that captures the dynamics and tensions related to gender and human security on either side of the Haitian-Dominican border. This research paper seeks to fill that gap and expose relevant findings that can help us understand a complex region, which since the earthquake has become an area of interest to many researchers and policy-makers. Details: Santiago, Chile: Global Consortium on Security Transformation, 2010. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: New Voices Series, No. 8: Accessed November 10, 2010 at: http://www.securitytransformation.org/images/publicaciones/New%20Voices%20Series%208.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Haiti URL: http://www.securitytransformation.org/images/publicaciones/New%20Voices%20Series%208.pdf Shelf Number: 120078 Keywords: Border Security Human Smuggling Human Trafficking (Haiti) Violence Against Women

Author: Arean, Juan Carlos Title: Fathering After Violence: Working with Abusive Fathers in Supervised Visitation Summary: This guide is intended to assist the grantees of the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation Program or SVP) that want to enhance the safety and well-being of women and children by working more deliberately with abusive fathers who use the centers to visit their children. Although fathers are not always the visiting parents and, in fact, in some centers mothers make up almost half of the visiting caseload, this document was designed to target in particular visiting fathers who have been violent with their intimate partners. This publication takes as a point of departure the minimum practice standards outlined in the Guiding Principles of the Supervised Visitation Program (Guiding Principles or GP) and builds upon that document to propose a continuum of more advanced interventions for the engagement of abusive fathers in visitation centers. These interventions are based on the learnings from the Fathering After Violence Initiative, developed by the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and five current and past SVP grantees with funding from the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW). The work described in this guide is grounded on two key premises: Men who use violence can be held accountable for their behavior and simultaneously be encouraged to change it; and women and children can benefit from this approach. Details: San Francisco: Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2008. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 30, 2010 at: http://www.endabuse.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/fathering_after_violence.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.endabuse.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/fathering_after_violence.pdf Shelf Number: 120315 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Perez, Laura Title: National Outrage: Violence Against Internally Displaced Women and Girls in Eastern Chad Summary: This report focuses on conflict-related violence against internally displaced women and girls in the department of Dar Sila in eastern Chad. It investigates how the problem has changed over time, analyses the responses of the Chadian government and humanitarian community, and reviews the legal frameworks for protecting the human rights of survivors of violence. Details: Geneva: International Displacement Monitoring Centre, Norwegian Refugee Council, 2010. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2010 at: http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/5380E72B539D04CAC12577E6003D9F9C/$file/Chad_SCR_Nov2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Chad URL: http://www.internal-displacement.org/8025708F004BE3B1/(httpInfoFiles)/5380E72B539D04CAC12577E6003D9F9C/$file/Chad_SCR_Nov2010.pdf Shelf Number: 120397 Keywords: Human Rights Rape Violence (Chad) Violence Against Women

Author: Krkeljic, Ljiljana Title: Small Arms and Gender-Based Violence in Montenegro Summary: Data shows that the family context, otherwise a synonym for protection and safety, in some situations becomes a source of violence and violation of fundamental human rights. It is known that domestic violence usually occurs when there is a need to gain and maintain dominance and control over another human being. All the data obtained in the course of this research show that women are the primary victims of family violence, and also suffer other forms of violence outside the home. The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women describes violence against women as a “manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women”. At the same time, violence is one of the “crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men.” Although domestic violence in Montenegro, just like anywhere else in the world, violates many rights protected by international human rights conventions and also constitutes a violation of domestic laws, one of the biggest obstacles in recognising family violence as a violation of human rights is the belief that “personal” bodily injuries and emotional distress suffered within one’s family are not subject to any law, be it domestic or international. This is also one of the biggest obstacles to victims seeking help and protection. Considering the fact that in such a social environment we see a willingness on the part of women to seek and receive help, the results obtained are highly relevant for understanding gender-based violence. As for domestic violence in Montenegro, defined as a pattern of abuse and use of force including threats, isolation and intimidation, the use of firearms deepens the issue of violence considerably, posing a direct threat to the life of the victim, and to her physical and mental integrity. Since it is men who mostly own arms, and judging by the statements of battered women that it is their husbands, partners, brothers and sons who threaten them with weapons, women are paying a high price for the presence of firearms in the home. Violence against women involving the use of firearms is not an inevitable phenomenon, but a result of tolerance of, and leniency and towards the issue, which is part of Montenegrinhistoric and cultural patterns. No matter what the social context of domestic violence and violence against women may be like, the presence of weapons always has the same effect – the more weapons there are, the more danger to women they pose. Montenegrin society has some serious issues to tackle in order to prevent the abuse of small arms and to curb the culture of armed violence, which is, considering the current situation (vis-a vis the presence of arms in Montenegrin homes) a highly complex task. The reasons for this lie in the immediate destructive effect of the use of firearms in violent behaviour, as well as in the socialisation effects of such patterns, which may have a trans-generational character as role models for behaviour. Awareness of the fact that armed violence poses a risk to life and health, and that the family context in which it happens does not reduce this risk, should be a high priority issue when considering strategies for the reduction of civilian possession of small arms. The pattern of keeping armed violence within the boundaries of family secrets and the traditional role of women as their guardians means that responses to violence necessitate help both for the victim and for the perpetrator. In order to develop such awareness in Montenegrin society there needs to be proper victim protection mechanisms in order to develop a sense of safety and trust in society’s response to domestic violence. Protection mechanisms would function most effectively if they operate within a multi-sectoral approach and involve various forms of protection from the police, the judiciary, and social and health care sectors at the same time as activities aimed at changing public attitudes and prejudices upon which many patterns of behaviour concerning the possession, carrying and use of arms are based. Details: Porgorica, Montenegro: United Nations Development Programme, Montenegro, 2007. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 14, 2010 at: http://www.seesac.org/uploads/Small_Arms_and_Gender-Based_Violence_in_Montenegro.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Europe URL: http://www.seesac.org/uploads/Small_Arms_and_Gender-Based_Violence_in_Montenegro.pdf Shelf Number: 120501 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence (Montenegro) Firearms Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Muggah, Robert Title: Timor-Leste Armed Violence Assessment Final Report Summary: This report brings together research and analysis produced for the Timor- Leste Armed Violence Assessment (TLAVA) over the period 2008–10. The TLAVA was a two-year field research-based project to explore pressing security issues in Timor-Leste, with a specific focus on the dynamics of armed violence. Co-sponsored and administered jointly by the Small Arms Survey and ActionAid Australia (formerly Austcare) with support from AusAID, the project produced five Issue Briefs and two legal analyses, as well as workshops and consultations with key domestic Timorese and international stakeholders. The overarching goal of the project was to marshal existing and new research to systematically examine the gap between real and perceived armed violence in Timor-Leste, and produce accessible publications to inform interventions. Based on consultations with stakeholders in Timor-Leste, the project focused on three specific areas: an assessment of the risk factors, impacts, and socio-economic costs of armed violence in relation to population health—particularly women, children and male youths, and internally displaced persons (IDPs); a review of the dynamics of armed violence associated with ‘high-risk’ groups such as gangs, specific communities in affected districts, petitioners, veterans, and state institutions, and potential triggers such as elections; and the role of arms (e.g. bladed, home-made or ‘craft’, and manufactured) as a factor contributing to armed violence. In addition to the reports generated by the TLAVA, the research team sought to ensure the transfer and exchange of skills and training for sustainable research on armed violence, and to strengthen domestic monitoring and information management capacities in the public health and security sectors to prevent and reduce armed violence. This report is organized by thematic area, reviewing specific topics covered in the Issue Briefs, specifically the presence and control of small arms in Timor-Leste, group-related violence and state and civil society efforts to control it, and sexual and gender-based violence and recent developments in addressing it. Owing to important developments since the publication of the original Issue Briefs, researchers and contributors provided updates on these topics in 2010. While not all substantive areas of the TLAVA could be revisited, the conclusion reflects on future directions for research on armed violence in Timor-Leste. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 2010. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 14, 2010 at: http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-Special-Report-12.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: http://www.timor-leste-violence.org/pdfs/Timor-Leste-Violence-Special-Report-12.pdf Shelf Number: 120508 Keywords: Gangs Gun Violence Guns Violence (Timor-Leste) Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Breckenridge, Jan Title: Thinking About Homicide Risk: A Practice Framework for Counselling Summary: Research tells us that many women experiencing domestic violence do not disclose their experience when seeking counselling but instead raise other related problems such as relationship conflict, depression or parenting issues. These women may '�fall under the radar' if counsellors are not able to identify domestic violence and homicide risk. • Knowing how and when to assess for homicide risk is an essential skill for all counsellors who may work with women experiencing domestic violence, particularly those at non-specialist services. This paper proposes a multi-systemic practice framework to help counsellors assess for and respond to homicide risk in family violence contexts. The framework outlines the four main system domains that counsellors may need to address: the client system; the therapeutic relationship; the organisational context; and the system of services. Details: Sydney: Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Stakeholder Paper 9: Accessed December 15, 2010 at: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Stakeholder%20Paper_9.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Stakeholder%20Paper_9.pdf Shelf Number: 120521 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Homicide Violence Against Women

Author: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Title: Harmful Traditional Practices and Implementation of the Law on Elimination of Violence Against Women in Afghanistan Summary: UNAMA Human Rights’ 56-page report: Harmful Traditional Practices and Implementation of the Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women in Afghanistan, documents the prevalence of customary practices that violate women’s rights, including child and forced marriage, the giving away of girls to settle disputes, exchange marriages, forced isolation in the home and “honour” killings, describes the Government of Afghanistan’s response to these practices, and makes recommendations to end such practices. UNAMA Human Rights publishes the report produced in cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights today to mark International Human Rights Day on 10 December and the end of the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence campaign. Based on extensive research discussions and interviews carried out in 2010 in nearly all 34 provinces of Afghanistan with women, men, Government authorities, religious leaders and community groups, UNAMA Human Rights found that such practices are widespread, occurring in rural and urban communities, among all ethnic groups and worsened by three decades of insecurity and poverty. Rooted in discriminatory views and beliefs about the role and position of women in Afghan society, harmful traditional practices cause pain, suffering, humiliation and marginalization for millions of Afghan women and girls. The report observed that harmful practices are further entrenched by the Afghan Government’s inability to fully protect the rights of women and girls, underscoring the need to expedite implementation of the Law on Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW law) that criminalizes many harmful practices. The report notes that most harmful traditional practices are not only crimes under Afghan law, but are also inconsistent with Sharia law. Extensive discussions with a diverse range of Islamic legal experts informed UNAMA Human Rights’ analysis of the principles of Sharia law. Details: Kabul: UNAMA, 2010. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 20, 2010 at: http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Publication/HTP%20REPORT_ENG.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Afghanistan URL: http://unama.unmissions.org/Portals/UNAMA/Publication/HTP%20REPORT_ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 120546 Keywords: Human Rights (Afghanistan) Violence Against Women

Author: European Commission Title: Violence Against Women and the Role of Gender Equality, Social Inclusion and Health Strategies Summary: The purpose of this study is to provide a systematic analysis and insight into the social aspects of violence against women, considering all types of violence (e.g. physical, psychological and sexual) and focusing primarily on analysis of gender equality, social inclusion and health strategies, as well as the action plans available to combat violence, and paying specific attention to the three angles of prevention, treatment, and reintegration of victims into society. The goal is to present a clear picture of what takes place in these domains within the 27 Member States, the three EEA/EFTA countries and the three candidate countries (Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey). The information in this report was mainly provided by the national experts of the EGGSI network of experts in gender equality, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care. The report is organised in three chapters: the first summarises the main features of violence against women in Europe. The second chapter gives an overview of policies addressing violence against women from the perspective of prevention, support for the victim and social reintegration. The final chapter presents some general conclusions. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2011 at: ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6336&langId=en Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 120721 Keywords: Battered Women Sexual Abuse Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Marcovich, Malka Title: Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation and Prostitution of Women and Girls in Iraq Summary: Trafficking, Sexual Exploitation and Prostitution of Women and Girls in Iraq is particularly based on firsthand knowledge gained through a consultation process with women and women’s organizations in Iraq and the neighboring region, over a period of three years. Many factors combine to promote the rise of sex trafficking and prostitution in the area: the US-led war and the chaos it has generated; the growing insecurity and lawlessness; corruption of authorities; the upsurge in religious extremism; economic hardship; marriage pressures; gender based violence and recurrent discrimination suffered by women; kidnappings of girls and women; the impunity of perpetrators of crimes, especially those against women; and the development of new technologies associated with the globalization of the sex industry. Organizations that have experience aiding victims of gender based violence, who are in contact with women in the brothels and in prisons, and who have done research in the field, as well as reports from international agencies and NGOs, address these factors. Not only war and economic insecurity push women and girls into prostitution but also the social situation of widows and single women who, without resources, are also without social networks and protection. Male violence, including battering of wives, incest and honor crimes are also push factors. Women and children have been the primary victims who have suffered the consequences of both the brutal reign of Saddam Hussein and the Baath Party and the war begun in 2003. The backlash against women and women’s rights and the terrorizing of women has become commonplace. The impotence of authorities has encouraged a culture of impunity in which crimes against women are minimized, neglected and denied. Security is a key issue for both victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and other forms of violence against women, and for those who assist and advocate for victims. This report investigates the factors that promote trafficking in women for prostitution, identifies the obtacles in preventing sexual exploitation and in punishing perpetrators, and recommends ways of addressing violence against women and protecting victims of trafficking and prostitution in Iraq. Details: Amman, Jordan: Norwegian Church Aid, 2010. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2011 at: http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/PageFiles/726/Report,%20Trafficking%20in%20Iraq%20(PDF).pdf Year: 2010 Country: Iraq URL: http://www.kirkensnodhjelp.no/PageFiles/726/Report,%20Trafficking%20in%20Iraq%20(PDF).pdf Shelf Number: 120825 Keywords: Child Prostitution Human Trafficking (Iraq) Prostitution Sexual Exploitation Violence Against Women

Author: Burman, Michelle Title: Responding to Gender-based Violence in Scotland: The Scope of the Gender Equality Duty to Drive Cultural and Practical Change Summary: This research, undertaken for the Equality and Human Rights Commission by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research explores some of the arguments for and against a gender aggravation in Scots criminal law before considering the evidence thus far of the impact the Gender Equality Duty (GED) has had on Scotland's criminal justice system, and makes a number of useful recommendations for the future. This research has its roots in well-established policy debates in Scotland. Following the passage of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003, which introduced a new statutory aggravation for crimes motivated by religious prejudice, the then Scottish Executive convened a working group to explore and make recommendations on whether there was a case for similar provision for other social groups. The report and recommendations of the Hate Crime Working Group, published in 2004, recognised that the debate to introduce gender aggravation was one of the most contested issues which it had looked at, but it did not believe that at that stage it could recommend introducing such a provision. These debates re-emerged with Patrick Harvie's member's bill which was to become the Offences (Aggravation by Prejudice) (Scotland) Act 2009. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, along with many organisations in the women's sector in Scotland, stated in its evidence on the bill that it did not believe that a statutory gender aggravation would be an effective additional criminal justice response to identifying and tackling crime motivated by gender prejudice. This of course begs the question about what is required to better address these types of crime. This piece of research aims to be a useful contribution to this debate. It explores some of the arguments for and against a gender aggravation in Scots criminal law before considering the evidence thus far of the impact the Gender Equality Duty (GED) has had on Scotland's criminal justice system, and makes a number of useful recommendations for the future. The EHRC subscribes to a gendered model of violence against women, which sees it as both a cause and consequence of wider gender inequality. We hope this report can help inform ongoing policy debate on criminal justice agencies' response to violence against women, particularly in light of the new single equality duty which Scottish Ministers will in due course place on Scottish public authorities under powers conferred on them by the Equality Act 2010. We believe that the appropriate regulatory framework for public bodies working in this area is one of the prerequisites for further improving on Scotland's record of identifying and tackling gender-based crime. Details: Edinburgh: Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2009. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2011 at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/Scotland/Research/responding_to_gender-based_violence_in_scotland_report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/Scotland/Research/responding_to_gender-based_violence_in_scotland_report.pdf Shelf Number: 120833 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Based Crime (Scotland) Violence Against Women

Author: Esfahani, Asal Title: Countering Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Liberia Summary: More than three years after former president Charles Taylor relinquished power ending a 14 year bloody civil war, Liberia is at a pivotal point of transitioning from a post-conflict emergency setting towards reconstruction and development. However, the alarmingly high incidence of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of the most vulnerable populations in Liberia poses a significant threat to the success of development efforts. SEA perpetuates subsistence behavior and renders victims utterly dependent on others for their survival; it increases unwanted pregnancy and school drop-out rates, facilitates the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs and perpetuates societal trauma. Consequently, the government of Liberia, in collaboration with UN agencies, international and local NGOs and Liberian citizens has launched a nation-wide awareness-raising campaign against SEA, and many organizations are currently working to sensitize the mass population in order to counter widespread tolerance of this harmful practice. However, the cycle of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable groups persists at every level of Liberian society. This paper presents an exploratory study of the current state of SEA in Liberia. Our research seeks to determine the causes of SEA in Liberia, evaluate current responses to the problem and identify gaps in existing mechanisms to alleviate the problem. While sexual exploitation and abuse occurs throughout the world and at all levels of society, it is most prevalent in countries affected by poverty and conflict. In line with this, this paper proposes three root causes of SEA in Liberia: poverty, societal trauma and unregulated power differentials. Details: Washington, DC: George Washington University, 2007. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2011 at: http://www.gwu.edu/~oid/Capstone/2007%20Capstone/Countering%20Sexual%20Exploitation-Liberia.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Liberia URL: http://www.gwu.edu/~oid/Capstone/2007%20Capstone/Countering%20Sexual%20Exploitation-Liberia.pdf Shelf Number: 120871 Keywords: Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Sexual Exploitation (Liberia) Violence Against Women

Author: PSEA In Country Network - Liberia Title: Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Liberia: A Case Study Summary: In an effort to combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), the United Nations in Liberia has taken measures to prevent, report, and investigate SEA cases, and to impose sanctions against the perpetrators. One such measure was the development of the In-Country Network (ICN). The ICN is a network of representatives from the United Nations and international NGOs that serves as the primary body for coordination and oversight on prevention and response to SEA among the humanitarian community. Since its establishment in 2005, the ICN in Liberia has taken steps to ensure enhanced accountability, coordination, and communication relating to the prevention and response to cases of SEA by personnel working for the UN, its affiliated partners, international NGOs and other humanitarian assistance workers. Working in close collaboration with the government of Liberia and local partners, the ICN in Liberia has enjoyed a significant level of success in setting up mechanisms to implement international standards and policies relating to the prevention of SEA, not the least of which are the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse ST/SGB/2003/13 and the Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel. The innovative approach taken in Liberia is a result of several enabling factors such as the country’s relatively small size and population, the Government's prioritization of the issue, a strong UN presence, and the large local and international civil society presence. Despite some of the specific conditions of the Liberian context, the Liberia approach to prevention and response to SEA can be adapted to other post-conflict and development settings. This case study highlights several areas of good practice that can be replicated. Details: Monrovia, Liberia: PSEA In Country Network - Liberia, 2008. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2011 at: http://www.un.org/en/pseataskforce/docs/prevention_and_response_to_sexual_exploitation_and_buse_in_l.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Liberia URL: http://www.un.org/en/pseataskforce/docs/prevention_and_response_to_sexual_exploitation_and_buse_in_l.pdf Shelf Number: 120872 Keywords: Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Sexual Exploitation (Liberia) Violence Against Women

Author: IDASA Title: Women and Law Enforcement in Zimbabwe Summary: The women of Zimbabwe have had varying experiences with national law enforcement agencies and many of them are unpleasant. These experiences are the same regardless of whether the women are activists or not, but perhaps worse for female activists. Police officers have been responsible for some of the most serious human rights and rule of law violations in Zimbabwe today. Police brutality in Zimbabwe extends to opposition politicians, students, trade unionists, journalists and members of civil society organisations, this paper however focuses on women. Women have encountered torture, assault, harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment at the hands of the police, who act in breach of their professional and legal obligations. The police have a responsibility to respect human rights, but the fate of women activists, especially those from Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) members, tells a different story. In a series of reports from 2007, WOZA demonstrated the perils of both being an activist and female5, showing the kinds of abuse and the consequences of abuse at the hands of the police. From a sample of 1983 WOZA members, 42% reported assault, 33% reported physical torture, 64% reported humiliating and degrading treatment, and 78% reported political threats. Many violations occurred during the course of protests where the police were the perpetrators, but it was also the case that equally many took place in police custody. The female members of the NCA have also suffered the same fate; as they stated in a 2009 study, 70% of the perpetrators of violence were from various branches of the police force6. Assault was the most common violation, mentioned by 80% of these members, and the weapons used in the assaults were baton sticks and booted feet, part of the uniform of the police. The brutality meted out against female civil rights activists, is well documented, with one of the most notorious cases being that of Jestina Mukoko, Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project. Jestina was abducted from her home by members of the Central Intelligence Organization on December 3, 2008, and held captive in police custody for several weeks, where she was brutally beaten, tortured, forced to confess to an alleged plot to mount a terrorist incursion from neighboring Botswana, and subsequently imprisoned before being brought to court, where she was eventually granted bail on February 27, 2009. Jestina‟s experience of police intimidation was not an isolated incident; another example is the case of Gertrude Hambira, now living in exile in South Africa after being harassed by senior law enforcement agents and members of the Joint Operations Command [JOC]. Police abuse is not the privy of women activists, even women who attempt to report domestic violence are frequently disrespected, and often told to go back home and resolve their differences with their partners. The Domestic Violence Act came into force in 2007, and was hailed as one of the most progressive laws for the advancement of women in Zimbabwe. Despite this Act being in place, women continue to be subjected to abuse by their partners as there is a general reluctance by the police to enforce the Act and protect abused women. The manner in which the police handle women will potentially undercut women‟s confidence in the police‟s ability to deal with domestic violence issues. Many police officials view domestic violence as a “private” matter, best left behind closed doors. This has resulted in attitudes and systems that minimize police responses and discourage specialized responses to women who are victims. The conduct of the police is a breach of Section 5 of the Domestic Violence Act, and numerous international treaties, as they frequently decline to listen to complaints, investigate them, advise complainants, facilitate access to medical assistance, and ensure the women are aware of the legal remedies at their disposal. Whilst women are protected by law as citizens of Zimbabwe, this becomes ineffective when the protection cannot be implemented, and especially when the ones supposed to offer protection are perpetrators of violence and intimidation. Women and children should be confident and feel secure when they see a policeman or a soldier. There is need to restore confidence in law enforcement agents so that they protect women and their dignity. Details: Harare, Zimbabwe: Research and Advocacy Unit, 2011. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://peacewomen.org/assets/file/Resources/UN/ssr_womenlawenforcementzimbabwerau_rau_01march2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://peacewomen.org/assets/file/Resources/UN/ssr_womenlawenforcementzimbabwerau_rau_01march2011.pdf Shelf Number: 121007 Keywords: Police Misconduct (Zimbabwe) Police Use of Force Violence Against Women

Author: Del Vecchio, Jennifer Title: Continuing Uncertainties: Forced Marriage as a Crime Against Humanity Summary: On 22 February 2008, the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) delivered its judgment in the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) case. This decision stands out as unique for setting significant precedent in the development of gender-based crimes in international criminal law by holding forced marriage to be a crime against humanity under the “other inhumane acts” category contained in Article 2(i) of the Statute of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Although this recognition of forced marriage signifies the SCSL’s commitment to actively prosecute gender-based crimes, and may further set persuasive precedent for other international adjudicative bodies, there remain certain elements of this crime that, despite the Appeals Chamber’s decision, are unsettled and unclear. The purpose of this paper is to raise, explore, and assess these pressing questions. In the first part of the paper, the author raises three questions concerning the technical elements of the crime of forced marriage. Namely, the author asks: whether forced marriage violates the principle, nullem crimen sine lege; whether forced marriage is an adequately specific and distinct crime to be prosecuted separately from previously enumerated crimes; and finally, whether the definition of forced marriage requires a nexus to armed conflict. The second part of the paper raises questions relating to the implications of defining this crime using the label, marriage. Specifically, the author asks whether this label invokes existing connotations in relation to culture, gender, sexual orientation, and age, and whether these connotations may affect the application of this crime to new contexts. The author concludes that, without addressing these continuing uncertainties in the definition of forced marriage, the force of the precedent provided by the AFRC case is potentially insufficient to prosecute future instances of forced marriages in contexts outside of Sierra Leone, thereby failing to provide justice for all victims of forced marriage worldwide. Details: Austin, TX: Bernard and Audre Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice, University of Texas at Austin School of Law, 2011. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series, 3/2011: Accessed March 15, 2011 at: http://blogs.utexas.edu/rapoportcenterwps/files/2010/12/3-2011-Del-Vecchio-ContinuingUncertainties.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Sierra Leone URL: http://blogs.utexas.edu/rapoportcenterwps/files/2010/12/3-2011-Del-Vecchio-ContinuingUncertainties.pdf Shelf Number: 121013 Keywords: Forced Marriage (Sierra Leone) Gender-Based Violence Human Rights Violence Against Women

Author: Velzeboer, Marijke Title: Violence Against Women: The Health Sector Responds Summary: Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread human rights abuses and public health problems in the world today, affecting as many as one out of every three women. It is also an extreme manifestation of gender inequity, targeting women and girls because of their subordinate social status in society. The consequences of GBV are often devastating and long-term, affecting women's and girls' physical health and mental well-being. At the same time, its ripple effects compromise the social development of other children in the household, the family as a unit, the communities where the individuals live, and society as a whole. Violence against Women: The Health Sector Responds provides a strategy for addressing this complex problem and concrete approaches for carrying it out, not only for those on the front lines attending to the women who live with violence, but also for decision-makers who may incorporate the lessons in the development of policies and resources. For those communities where support for women does not yet exist, the authors hope that this book will motivate health providers and leaders to more directly confront the issue of genderrelated violence and ensure support to affected women in resolving their situation. Details: Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization, 2003. 147p. Source: Internet Resource: Occasional Publication No. 12: Accessed March 18, 2011 at: http://www.paho.org/english/ad/ge/VAW-HealthSectorResponds.pdf Year: 2003 Country: International URL: http://www.paho.org/english/ad/ge/VAW-HealthSectorResponds.pdf Shelf Number: 121064 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Gender Victims of Family Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: Ajayi, Titilope Title: State Responses to Women’s Security Challenges: An Assessment of Ghana’s Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit – Lessons for Nigeria Summary: Violence against women (VAW) is violence that is committed against women because they are women. It affects an estimated 1 in every 3 women worldwide (United Nations, 2006), depriving them of ‘their ability to achieve their full potential by threatening their safety, freedom and autonomy’. VAW has important health, social, and economic consequences for survivors, their families, and the communities and countries where they live (World Health Organisation, 2009). In the face of high levels of VAW and sexual victimization in Nigeria, much of it perpetrated with impunity by security officials, the blatant dearth of state-sponsored support services has contributed to low levels of reporting and unequal access to justice. Civil society has advocated actively against this and provided support in the form of counselling, shelters, hotlines, training and other activities intended to enhance police capacity to handle VAW. The impact that has been made, such as the creation of a gender violence desk in the Ilupeju police station in Lagos, Nigeria, is limited due to a lack of resources and inadequate government support. For this reason, there is a need for more targeted and coordinated interventions within the framework of national level policy support that would be best provided by a national domestic violence (DV) bill that has been pending since 2003. Gender desks exist in some police stations in Nigeria. Yet uneven knowledge of their status and mandate, even among police personnel, calls into question their effectiveness and relevance. This disparity, juxtaposed with UNIFEM’s praise for the desks as a useful tool for addressing VAW, indicates that the issue needs to be revisited and leads this paper to recommend the reorientation and reintroduction, as appropriate, of VAW units within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and set out guidelines for this project. Women’s police stations and units created within police stations to handle VAW are relatively recent and increasingly popular international phenomena recommended by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) as appropriate and effective tools for combating VAW. In Africa, these units currently exist in Namibia (1993), South Africa (1995), Sierra Leone (2001), Lesotho (2003), Liberia (2005), and Tanzania (2008) with mandates to eradicate gender based violence (GBV), including against children, regardless of where it occurs. Established in 1998, the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) is one of a few in Africa set up exclusively to handle cases of VAW. Although it is not perfect and this approach is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all solution to the scourge of VAW, there are important lessons to be learned from DOVVSU’s experiences. In light of prevailing high rates of VAW in Nigeria, and as a complement to ongoing police reform efforts there, there is a strong case for establishing a similar unit within the NPF. This report distils these lessons in an effort to assist the NPF in tackling Nigerian women’s security challenges in a more coherent and lasting manner. Section two discusses some common ‘causes’ of VAW while section three outlines the general context of security in the countries under study. Sections four and five examine state and non-state responses to VAW in both countries with a focus on what has driven and sustained the DOVVSU in Ghana. A final section sets out guidelines for improving the NPF’s response to VAW based on lessons from Ghana. Details: Santiago de Chile: The Global Consortium on Security Transformation (GCST), 2011. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: New Voices Series, No. 11: Accessed April 4, 2011 at: http://www.securitytransformation.org/images/publicaciones/200_New_Voices_Series_11_-_State_Responses_to_Womens_Security_Challenges.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Africa URL: http://www.securitytransformation.org/images/publicaciones/200_New_Voices_Series_11_-_State_Responses_to_Womens_Security_Challenges.pdf Shelf Number: 121240 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Africa) Intimate Partner Violence Police and Domestic Violence Rape Sexual Assault Victims of Domestic Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: Halicki, Malgorzata Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Older Women: National Report Poland Summary: Up to now only little is known about older women as victims of intimate partner violence in Europe. The issue often gets lost between the topics intimate partner violence, domestic violence and elder abuse both in research and in service provision. Domestic violence services and research on the one hand generally do not have a special focus on older women and age-related issues, and elder (abuse) services and research with their focus on vulnerability and care issues on the other hand usually are not sensitive to gender-specific dimensions of violence in partnerships. An age specific approach and a gender specific approach to family violence seem to exclude each other for the most part. The Intimate Partner Violence against older Women study (IPVoW), a European research project conducted by 7 partners in 6 countries - started its research activities with the aim to bridge this gap and come to a comprehensive age- and gender-sensitive view on the issue.The project had a number of specific objectives. This study presents an analysis of the situation in Poland. Details: Bialystok, Poland: Institute of Sociology of Education & Institute of Andragogy and Gerontology, University of Bialystok, 2010. 248p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 14, 2011 at: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Poland_English_final.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Poland URL: http://www.ipvow.org/images/stories/ipvow/reports/IPVoW_Poland_English_final.pdf Shelf Number: 121345 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Poland) Elder Abuse Elderly Victims of Crime Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Dolev & Associates Title: No Boundaries: The Tayside Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse Project: Final Research Report Summary: In 2006, the Scottish Government (then Scottish Executive) established the Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative with the aim of improving public services for people with multiple and complex needs. One of the objectives of the initiative was to understand the processes by which people with multiple and complex needs engage with services to resolve their problems, and to determine how service providers might better facilitate this process. With this objective in mind the Social Inclusion Division (formerly Social Inclusion and Voluntary Issues) provided funding for a series of pilot / demonstration projects in specific sectors which would work to address multiple needs. A pilot / demonstration project was established in August 2006 in Tayside by a consortium of partners from the domestic abuse and substance misuse sectors. The project was set-up to target women experiencing domestic abuse who also have substance misuse issues, and their children (if any). The first phase of this project consisted of a six-month research programme which aimed to validate existing anecdotal knowledge and to identify priority areas for the development of services. The project was undertaken on a Tayside wide basis, covering the three local authority areas of Perth and Kinross, Dundee City and Angus. Partners in delivery included three Domestic Abuse Forums, three Drug and Alcohol Action Teams (DAATs), and various other organisations (including Voluntary Sector organisations, Tayside police, NHS Tayside and others). The aim of the research element of the project was to identify depositional and organisational / institutional factors that positively and negatively affect the progression of women who are affected by domestic abuse and their own substance misuse at each stage of their service use (from access to outcomes), with a view to establishing: • Evidence of a link between domestic abuse and substance misuse • Incentives/barriers to accessing services • Experiences of service provision in both sectors • Experiences of partnership working between the two sectors • Links to other needs (i.e. homelessness, mental health issues). This report presents the results of a secondary analysis of data collected for the Tayside Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse Project by a different research team. The secondary analysis was conducted by Dolev & Associates, with funding from the Scottish Government Multiple and Complex Needs Initiative. An attempt was made to identify the depositional and organisational factors which shape the experiences of women who are affected by domestic abuse and their own substance misuse at each stage of their service use from the existing data set. It is important to note, however, that this was not fully achievable due to some limitations of the data collected during the initial research project. The findings presented in this report include a review of the literature on the links between domestic abuse and substance misuse, and secondary analysis of (a) service users questionnaire; (b) Interviews with service users, and (c) Interviews with domestic abuse and substance misuse service providers. Details: Dundee, UK: Dundee City Council, 2008. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2011 at: http://lx.iriss.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Report%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://lx.iriss.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Report%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 117820 Keywords: Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence Substance Abuse Victims of Domestic Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

Author: U.S. National Institute of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics Title: A Dialogue Between the Bureau of Justice Statistics and Key Criminal Justice Data Users Summary: In 2008 the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) convened a multidisciplinary workshop for professionals who use justice statistics. BJS asked participants — representatives from academia, court systems, victim advocacy, and law enforcement communities — to provide feedback about how they use BJS statistical information and to recommend ways that BJS could optimize the value of the data it collects and publishes. Four senior level researchers presented papers at the workshop, including: Current Issues in Victimization Research and the NCVS’s Ability to Study Them, by Lynn A. Addington; The Need for a National Civil Justice Survey of Incidence and Claiming Behavior, by Theodore Eisenberg and Henry Allen Mark; Improving Police Effectiveness and Transparency National Information Needs on Law Enforcement, by Brian Forst; and Understanding Violence Against Women Using the NCVS: What We Know and Where We Need to Go, by Karen Heimer. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2008. 156p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2008 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/duw.cfm Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/duw.cfm Shelf Number: 121542 Keywords: Crime Statistics Criminal Courts Criminal Justice Statistics Police Performance Victimization Surveys Violence Against Women

Author: Gulik, Gauri van Title: “He Loves You, He Beats You”: Family Violence in Turkey and Access to Protection Summary: In Turkey, approximately 42 percent of all women, and 47 percent of women in rural areas, have experienced physical or sexual violence by a husband or partner at some stage in their lives. “He Loves You, He Beats You” documents the experiences of women in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Van, Trabzon, and Diyarbakır who endured violence and sought help from the state. Women we interviewed described brutal and long-lasting violence by husbands, in-laws, and other family members. Human Rights Watch documented women and girls as young as fourteen being raped, stabbed, kicked in the abdomen when pregnant, beaten with hammers, sticks, branches, and hoses to the point of broken bones and fractured skulls, locked up with dogs or other animals, starved, shot with a stun gun, injected with poison, pushed off a rooftop, and subjected to severe psychological violence. Despite some impressive law reforms to address violence against women in Turkey, including the availability of civil protection orders, there are gaps in law and even greater failings in implementation, making the protection system unpredictable at best. Domestic violence shelters in Turkey, far too few to meet the demand, exclude certain categories of women, and in some cases have poor conditions and inadequate security. The Turkish government should amend the family protection law to fill the gaps and should systematically and proactively improve its implementation. Failing to do so constitutes not just a violation of Turkish law, but also violations of international and regional human rights law. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2011. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2011 at: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/05/04/he-loves-you-he-beats-you-0 Year: 2011 Country: Turkey URL: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/05/04/he-loves-you-he-beats-you-0 Shelf Number: 121770 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence (Turkey) Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Haffejee, Sadiyya Title: Violence and Abuse in the Lives of Women and Girls Incarcerated at Three Gauteng Women's Prisons Summary: When battered women kill their abusive partners there is an obvious relationship between the violence inflicted upon them and their subsequent actions. Whether or not other prior experiences of violence or abuse also play a role in women’s unlawful acts has not, however, been investigated. Further, while a body of research is beginning to emerge in South Africa around violence in men’s prisons (Haysom, 1981; Gear and Ngubeni, 2002; Steinberg, 2004) no corresponding exploration of the situation in women’s prisons has been undertaken. This research brief presents findings from a study conducted in three women’s prisons in Gauteng exploring these two questions. It briefly describes the nature and extent of violence experienced by women and girls in conflict with the law, both prior to as well as during incarceration; and the relationship between such experiences of violence and the commission of unlawful acts. Both sets of questions are important for the prevention of women’s offending, as well as the informed sentencing and management of female offenders. Details: Braamfontein, South Africa: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, 2006. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: CSVR Gender Programme, Research Brief No. 03: Accessed July 8, 2011 at: http://www.csvr.org.za/wits/papers/paphvg1.pdf Year: 2006 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.csvr.org.za/wits/papers/paphvg1.pdf Shelf Number: 122010 Keywords: Battered Women Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners (South Africa) Violence Against Women

Author: Gill, Aisha K. Title: Exploring the Viability of Creating a Specific Offence for Forced Marriage in England and Wales: Report on Findings Summary: On 26 May 2011, the Forced Marriage Unit held a non-governmental organisation (NGO) round-table to discuss the Home Affairs Select Committee’s report of 17 May 2011 on whether to criminalise forced marriage. The report argued in favour of forced marriage being recognised as a specific criminal offence: therefore, it recommended that new criminal legislation be developed. As a result of the round-table meeting, a number of NGOs requested that the independent survey on the feasibility of criminalisation, conducted by Roehampton University, be extended so that they could respond as the HAC report did not reflect the views of those present and others involved in addressing forced marriage in England and Wales. This study represents detailed information about the views of NGOs and community groups working on forced marriage and related issues. The respondents generally agreed that legislation alone would have a limited impact and that more holistic support mechanisms, a sustained training programme aimed at relevant professionals, and an equally comprehensive awareness-raising campaign aimed at affected community and the wider population would be necessary to combat the problem of forced marriage. Details: London: University of Roehampton, 2011. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 22, 2011 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/68857/forced-marriage-legislation-survey_report-of-findings_gill_13july_final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/68857/forced-marriage-legislation-survey_report-of-findings_gill_13july_final.pdf Shelf Number: 122146 Keywords: Forced Marriage (U.K.) Gender-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Milleken, Jennifer: Gilgen, Elisabeth Title: Tackling Violence Against Women: From Knowledge to Practical Initiatives Summary: Although the number of women who are violently injured and killed each year worldwide is not known with any precision, available evidence, while unsystematic and incomplete, already indicates that violence against women (VAW) is ‘a universal problem of epidemic proportions’ (UNIFEM, 2007). VAW occurs in both conflict and non-conflict situations. It is often less evident in its occurrence and effects than the deaths and injuries of men as combatants in armed conflicts or as gang members in violence related to drug wars. Yet women and girls are often victimized or adversely affected in other ways in these and all other armed violence settings. Women and girls are also common targets of sexual violence in armed conflict and fragmented societies, and they suffer disproportionately from its indirect consequences. In non-conflict situations, women are the victims of intimate-partner (or ‘domestic’) and sexual violence, honour killings, and dowry-related violence (GD Secretariat, 2008b). The economic costs associated with armed violence are tremendous. It is estimated that the annual economic cost of armed violence in terms of lost productivity due to violent homicides is between USD 95 billion and USD 163 billion alone (GD Secretariat, 2008). Additional costs include medical costs associated with treating the injured or indirect costs such as loss of income from the victim’s inability to work. However, a focus on costs ignores the wider relationship among armed violence, livelihood perspectives, development, and the (indirect) impact on women and men. The gendered dynamic of these relationships is complex. As the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states: When husbands are killed, women frequently lose their access to farmlands and the right to live in their marital homes. The resulting survival choice for many affected women and children is prostitution, commercial labour or domestic servitude. This has consequences for ongoing exposure to violence and ill health from communicable diseases and poor working conditions, as well as future community exclusion (OECD, 2009). The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development (GD) is a diplomatic initiative built around the recognition that armed violence and development are closely linked. From its inception, the GD initiative has recognized the importance of the gendered aspect of armed violence. It promotes a comprehensive approach to armed violence reduction issues, recognizing the different situations, needs and resources of men and women, boys and girls, as reflected in the provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1612 (GD Secretariat, 2006). However, (armed) violence against women and its impact on development, while acknowledged since the inception of the GD, has so far been only partially addressed by the GD Secretariat. This Working Paper represents one of the actions by the GD Secretariat to support work on the elimination of (armed) VAW with a view to enhancing development. It is divided into two sections. The first section illustrates the context of the GD, (armed) VAW, and development. The second section sets out five possible initiatives to fill research gaps on VAW: 1. support international initiatives to track VAW globally; 2. promote field-based research on mapping VAW; 3. develop improved costing tools for estimating the effects of VAW on development; 4. extend the work on a contextual appraisal toolkit for implementing VAW interventions; and 5. support a comprehensive evaluation toolkit for VAW prevention and reduction programmes. The first three initiatives focus on filling gaps in mapping VAW; the last two present ways to support VAW reduction and prevention programming. The Working Paper concludes with the observation that further innovative research is needed to understand the scope and scale of VAW, such as its negative impact on development. Research initiatives need to acknowledge the complexity, and the sometimes - apparent paradox, of the phenomenon of VAW, as well as support the development and evaluation of programming efforts to prevent and reduce VAW. Details: Geneva: Geneva Declaration Secretariat, 2011. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/WP-TVAW/GD-WP-Tackling-VAW.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/WP-TVAW/GD-WP-Tackling-VAW.pdf Shelf Number: 122157 Keywords: Armed Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Palmer, Catherine Title: Violence Against Women and Sport: A Literature Review Summary: 2010 World Cup in South Africa drew attention to the connections between major sporting events and violence against women. The ‘Show Domestic Violence the Red Card’ campaign, supported by football clubs, police and local authorities sought to raise public awareness with regard to intimate partner violence fuelled by increased alcohol consumption, while the World Health Organisation underscored the importance of condom use with women who sell sex in a country where rates of HIV/AIDS are of pandemic proportions. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi placed issues of sex trafficking and the sale of sex on the international agenda, with the connections between the economic vulnerability of women and sexual exploitation made apparent. Elsewhere, allegations of sexual assault by players across various codes of football (rugby league, Australian Rules, American gridiron and soccer) paint a picture which suggests that sport facilitates, if not encourages, particular forms of violence against women. Although these examples provide a compelling backdrop to the argument that sport offers a context in which violence against women may be perpetrated, there remains a need for a systematic review of the literature so as to build an evidence base that can help inform policy and practice. This is particularly timely as the United Kingdom prepares to hold two sporting events of global significance in the next four years - the Olympic Games and Paralympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014. In December 2010, the Trust for London funded Dr Catherine Palmer from the School of Applied Social Sciences, Durham University to conduct a review of literature that could provide an evidence base for the connections between violence against women and sport. The objectives were to: · review national and international evidence into the connections between sport and violence against women that can inform policy development and debate, including literature that explores contemporary moves to initiate cultural change within sporting (and other) organisations; · review and evaluate the success of relevant initiatives adopted by sporting (and other) bodies that have aimed to change or establish environments that promote safety for women and girls in relation to sport and VAW. These broad objectives distinguish this review from others that have focussed specifically on issues of either human trafficking or prostitution in relation to sporting events. Details: London: End Violence Against Women, 2011. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2011 at: http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/evaw_violence_against_women_and_sport_dr_c_palmer_july_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/evaw_violence_against_women_and_sport_dr_c_palmer_july_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122295 Keywords: Sports and Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Cohen, Dara Kay Title: Causes of Sexual Violence During Civil War: Cross-National Evidence (1980-2009) Summary: Why do some armed groups commit wartime rape on a large scale, while others never turn to sexual violence? Although scholars and policymakers have made many claims about the rates, severity and locations of wartime sexual violence, there have been few systematic efforts to gather data on sexual violence during conflict. Using an original dataset, I examine the incidence of sexual violence by both insurgent groups and state actors during civil wars between 1980-2009. I first establish that there is substantial variation in the severity of wartime sexual violence, both across and within conflicts. I then use the data in a statistical analysis to test a series of competing hypotheses about the causes of wartime sexual violence. I find strong evidence that the choice of recruitment mechanism—namely, whether the armed group abducted or press-ganged its members—predicts the use of sexual violence. I maintain that this finding supports an argument about the use of rape as a method of combatant socialization, in which members of armed groups who are recruited by force use rape to create and to maintain unit cohesion. I also find that contraband funding and genocide predict sexual violence by insurgents. Notably, there is no support for several common explanations for wartime sexual violence, including ethnic war and gender inequality. Drawing on data from the Sierra Leone civil war, I examine the observable implications of the proposed mechanism on the micro level in a brief case study. The results undermine conventional wisdom on the causes of sexual violence and suggest that multiple mechanisms may be at work in understanding wartime sexual violence. Details: Minneapolis: Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota, 2011. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 9, 2011 at: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/gpa/globalnotes/Cohen%20MIRC%203-28-11.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/gpa/globalnotes/Cohen%20MIRC%203-28-11.pdf Shelf Number: 122329 Keywords: Civil War Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Offenhauer, Priscilla Title: Teen Dating Violence: A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Summary: This annotated bibliography and summary of research identify significant research carried out in the decade since 1999 on the issue of dating violence among high school and middle school youth. The survey provided by the bibliography and summary covers quantitative and qualitative literature on the definition and prevalence of, as well as risk factors for, adolescent dating violence, also called teen relationship abuse. Commonly researched risk factors, correlates, or predictors of teen dating violence include demographic and community-level factors, as well as more proximate family-level, individual-level, and situational risks. Particular note is taken of longitudinal work on such factors. The survey also encompasses research on the deleterious effects of dating violence both in the context of the current relationship and in future intimate partnerships. Finally, the bibliography and summary cover the literature on the effectiveness of prevention programs and on responses to the issue of dating violence in the law and legal systems. Details: Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Federal Research Division, 2011. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2011 at: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/LibraryOfCongress_TDV-AnnotateBibliography_4-2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/LibraryOfCongress_TDV-AnnotateBibliography_4-2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122367 Keywords: Adolescents Dating Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Blanchfield, Luisa Title: International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues Summary: In recent years, the international community has increasingly recognized international violence against women (VAW) as a significant human rights and global health issue. VAW, which can include both random acts of violence as well as sustained abuse over time, can be physical, psychological, or sexual in nature. Studies have found that VAW occurs in all geographic regions, countries, cultures, and economic classes, with some research showing that women in developing countries experience higher rates of violence than those in developed countries. Many experts view VAW as a symptom of the historically unequal power relationship between men and women, and argue that over time this imbalance has led to pervasive cultural stereotypes and attitudes that perpetuate a cycle of violence. U.S. policymakers have generally focused on specific types or circumstances of VAW rather than view it as a stand-alone issue. Congress has authorized and appropriated funds for international programs that address VAW, including human trafficking and female genital cutting. In addition, past and current Administrations have supported efforts to reduce international levels of VAW— though many of these activities are implemented as components of broader foreign aid initiatives. There is no U.S. government-wide coordination of anti-VAW efforts. Most agencies and departments do not track the cost or number of programs with VAW components. Therefore, it is unclear how much money the U.S. government, or individual agencies, spend annually on VAWrelated programs. Some experts have suggested that the U.S. government should re-examine, and perhaps enhance, current U.S. anti-VAW activities. They argue that VAW should not only be treated as a stand-alone human rights issue, but also be integrated into U.S. assistance and foreign policy mechanisms. Other observers are concerned with a perceived lack of coordination among U.S. government agencies and departments that address international violence against women. This report addresses causes, prevalence, and consequences of violence against women. It provides examples of completed and ongoing U.S. activities that address VAW directly or include anti-VAW components. It outlines possible policy issues for the 112th Congress, including • the scope and effectiveness of U.S. programs in addressing international VAW; • further integrating anti-VAW programs into U.S. assistance and foreign policy mechanisms; • U.S. funding for anti-VAW activities worldwide, particularly in light of the global financial crisis, economic recession, and subsequent calls to reduce the U.S. budget deficit; and • strengthening U.S. government coordination of anti-VAW activities. Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2011. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: RL34438: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34438_20110414.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34438_20110414.pdf Shelf Number: 122489 Keywords: Female Victims Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Milliken, Jennifer Title: Tackling Violence Against Women: From Knowledge to Practical Initiatives Summary: Although the number of women who are violently injured and killed each year worldwide is not known with any precision, available evidence, while unsystematic and incomplete, already indicates that violence against women (VAW) is ‘a universal problem of epidemic proportions’ (UNIFEM, 2007). VAW occurs in both conflict and non-conflict situations. It is often less evident in its occurrence and effects than the deaths and injuries of men as combatants in armed conflicts or as gang members in violence related to drug wars. Yet women and girls are often victimized or adversely affected in other ways in these and all other armed violence settings. Women and girls are also common targets of sexual violence in armed conflict and fragmented societies, and they suffer disproportionately from its indirect consequences. In non-conflict situations, women are the victims of intimate-partner (or ‘domestic’) and sexual violence, honour killings, and dowry-related violence (GD Secretariat, 2008b). The economic costs associated with armed violence are tremendous. It is estimated that the annual economic cost of armed violence in terms of lost productivity due to violent homicides is between USD 95 billion and USD 163 billion alone (GD Secretariat, 2008b, p. 89). Additional costs include medical costs associated with treating the injured or indirect costs such as loss of income from the victim’s inability to work. However, a focus on costs ignores the wider relationship among armed violence, livelihood perspectives, development, and the (indirect) impact on women and men. The gendered dynamic of these relationships is complex. As the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states: When husbands are killed, women frequently lose their access to farmlands and the right to live in their marital homes. The resulting survival choice for many affected women and children is prostitution, commercial labour or domestic servitude. This has consequences for ongoing exposure to violence and ill health from communicable diseases and poor working conditions, as well as future community exclusion (OECD, 2009, p. 32). The Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development (GD) is a diplomatic initiative built around the recognition that armed violence and development are closely linked. From its inception, the GD initiative has recognized the importance of the gendered aspect of armed violence. It promotes a comprehensive approach to armed violence reduction issues, recognizing the different situations, needs and resources of men and women, boys and girls, as reflected in the provisions of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1612 (GD Secretariat, 2006). However, (armed) violence against women and its impact on development, while acknowledged since the inception of the GD, has so far been only partially addressed by the GD Secretariat. This Working Paper represents one of the actions by the GD Secretariat to support work on the elimination of (armed) VAW with a view to enhancing development. It is divided into two sections. The first section illustrates the context of the GD, (armed) VAW, and development. The second section sets out five possible initiatives to fill research gaps on VAW: 1. support international initiatives to track VAW globally; 2. promote field-based research on mapping VAW; 3. develop improved costing tools for estimating the effects of VAW on development; 4. extend the work on a contextual appraisal toolkit for implementing VAW interventions; and 5. support a comprehensive evaluation toolkit for VAW prevention and reduction programmes. The first three initiatives focus on filling gaps in mapping VAW; the last two present ways to support VAW reduction and prevention programming. The Working Paper concludes with the observation that further innovative research is needed to understand the scope and scale of VAW, such as its negative impact on development. Research initiatives need to acknowledge the complexity, and the sometimes-apparent paradox, of the phenomenon of VAW, as well as support the development and evaluation of programming efforts to prevent and reduce VAW. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva Declaration Secretariat, 2011. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2011 at: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/WP-TVAW/GD-WP-Tackling-VAW.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.genevadeclaration.org/fileadmin/docs/WP-TVAW/GD-WP-Tackling-VAW.pdf Shelf Number: 122683 Keywords: Domestic Violence Guns and Violence Homicides Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Reeve, Richard Title: Human Security in the Mano River Union: Empowering Women to Counter Gender-Based Violence in Border Communities Summary: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has been one of the major legacies of the 14-year (1989-2003) regional conflict in the Mano River Union (MRU). In response, in 2008 International Alert and its partners designed an initiative targeting war-affected communities in nine border areas of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This Human Security in the MRU project has challenged knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning SGBV in order to reduce perpetration and the stigmatisation of survivors, and provided information, counselling and advocacy in order to guide men and women through prevention and redress actions. This report aims to capture the experiences of the project in the context of work in three interlinked but quite specific country contexts. It looks at the extent of SGBV and domestic violence as experienced in the target communities, details the challenges and best practices of project staff in their attempts to raise awareness and change attitudes and practices, and analyses the particular challenges of providing security and accessing justice (statutory or customary) in the various target communities. It concludes with a series of recommendations for the improved provision of security and justice for women, girls and other vulnerable groups within the MRU. Details: London: International Alert, 2010. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2011 at: http://www.international-alert.org/sites/default/files/publications/201005HumanSecurityManoRiverUnionEN.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Africa URL: http://www.international-alert.org/sites/default/files/publications/201005HumanSecurityManoRiverUnionEN.pdf Shelf Number: 122062 Keywords: Domestic Violence Sexual Violence (Africa) Violence Against Women

Author: Columbia, Richard H. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Student and Teacher Baseline Report on School-Related Gender-Based Violence in Machinga District, Malawa Summary: This report presents results from a baseline survey that was conducted among school children and teachers in the Machinga District in the Southern Region of Malawi in April 2006. The study was conducted at 40 schools participating in the Safe Schools Program. Selected from a random sample, 800 boys and girls enrolled in grades four to eight and 288 teachers were interviewed. Students and teachers were asked questions about: The type of violence, abuse and mistreatment that boys and girls experience at school; Who is responsible for this mistreatment; Where this mistreatment occurs; If there are other school practices or conditions that are inappropriate, place pupils at risk or potentially interfere with their schooling; and The effectiveness of reporting. In Malawi, gender-based violence is known to be a problem in primary schools, especially for girls. An initial participatory learning and action (PLA) exercise conducted by Safe Schools in 2005 mobilized communities and allowed the Safe Schools Program staff to hear the concerns and experiences of more than 2,000 teachers, parents, school children, community leaders and other stakeholders in the Machinga District. The results of the PLA were then used to design interventions including strengthening and disseminating the teachers' code of conduct, training teachers in non-violent classroom discipline approaches, providing opportunities for children to learn how to build healthy relationships, and training school staff to respond effectively to incidents of violence at school. The results from the PLA were also used to inform the development of the baseline study under discussion in this report. An endline survey will be conducted in 2008 and the results of the two surveys compared to measure project impact. Key findings are: Incidents of sexual, physical and psychological violence and abuse were found at every school. Violence and abuse occurs at schools (classroom and compound), on the way to and from school and in school dormitories. This violence is experienced by both girls and boys, although in most categories girls experience a higher rate of violence and abuse. The perpetrators are both school girls and boys and male and female teachers, although men and boys are most often identified as perpetrators in most categories of violence and abuse. These acts of violence and abuse are not often perceived as a violation of children's rights by school girls and boys, male and female teachers, parents and community members. Students awareness of and/or access to youth-friendly services within the school or community is limited when they experience violence or abuse. In the report that follows, the survey findings are presented and analyzed, followed by a brief discussion on each of the five research questions. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2007. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-student-teacher-baseline-report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Malawi URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-student-teacher-baseline-report.pdf Shelf Number: 122731 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Malawi) Violence Against Women

Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: Safe Schools Program Final Report Summary: The World Health Organization estimated 150 million girls and 73 million boys were victims of sexual violence in 2002, many of these acts occurring on the way to or at school. The Global School-based Health Survey found that between 20 and 65 percent of children aged 13-15 said that they had been verbally abused or bullied in the past 30 days. Only 50 percent of countries have policies banning corporal punishment in school and despite these policies, corporal punishment is still practiced in many school settings. The Safe Schools Program (Safe Schools) was a five-year initiative (2003-2008) funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of Women in Development and implemented by DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech). The goal of Safe Schools was to reduce school-related gender-based violence in selected schools in Ghana and Malawi to support the longer-term goal of improving educational outcomes and reducing negative health outcomes for schoolchildren. Changes in student and teacher knowledge, attitudes and practices toward school-related gender-based violence were used to measure progress toward reducing gender violence. Safe Schools was one of the first programs to systematically use a gender approach to identify the relationship between the traditional definition of gender roles and the types of abuse and violence that both girls and boys suffer from and perpetrate in schools. School-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) was defined as any form of violence or abuse in and around schools that is based on gender stereotypes or that targets students on the basis of their sex. It results in sexual, physical or psychological harm to girls and boys. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2008. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2011 at: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/pubs/Safe_Schools_Final_Report_9_24.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Africa URL: http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/wid/pubs/Safe_Schools_Final_Report_9_24.pdf Shelf Number: 122732 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Ghana and Malawi) Violence Against Women

Author: Wainer, Lisa Title: Understanding the Extent and Nature of Serious Sexual Violence in the London Borough of Hackney Summary: Recent increases in the levels of serious sexual violence (SSV) in the London Borough of Hackney prompted its Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to commission – with financial assistance from the Home Office – a research project to look at this crime problem in more detail. More specifically, we were tasked to find out more about the real extent and nature of these offences in the Borough, through the analysis of various data sources. The main concern was that, due to high levels of under-reporting, any information that could be gathered from police recorded data alone would be limited. This is why we combined the analysis of these data with information provided by various partner agencies, who not only gave us an insight into the type of scenarios they were dealing with (and how often these occurred – sometimes supplemented with their own recorded data) but also offered their views as to what the barriers to reporting may be. This document, the final report, summarises the findings from these analyses. First, a brief overview of the literature is provided, which aims to set the research in context and give an indication of what is already known about this crime problem and why it is often under-reported. We then describe the data sources employed in the research, within the Methodology section. After this, the findings from the analyses of, first, the police recorded crime data and, second, the interviews are presented. The last section of the report offers a set of summary and conclusions, which incorporate recommendations for policy and practice. Details: London: UCL Department of Security and Crime Science Jill Dando Institute, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2011 at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/scs/publications/downloads/hackney-march2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/scs/publications/downloads/hackney-march2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122745 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Prostitutes Prostitution Sexual Assaults Sexual Violence (London) Violence Against Women

Author: Centre for Educational Research and Trainingand DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: A Qualitative Study to Examine School-Related Gender-Based Violence in Malawi Summary: The Safe Schools Program (Safe Schools) is a five-year project under the U.S. Agency for International Development, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade, Office of Women in Development. The objective of Safe Schools is to create safe environments for both girls and boys that promote gender-equitable relationships and reduce school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) by working in partnership with children, youth, parents, teachers, schools and communities. This report summarizes the results of the participatory learning and action (PLA) research activity conducted in October and November 2005 to help raise awareness, involvement, and accountability at national, institutional, community and individual levels of SRGBV in the Machinga District in the Southern Region of Malawi. Altogether, 952 pupils participated in the PLA workshops. The focus group discussions included more than 2,000 participants. In addition, 370 key informants including traditional leaders, initiation counselors, members of school management committees and parent teacher associations, head teachers, government Primary Education Advisers, religious leaders, members of the school disciplinary committees (where these existed) and club patrons were interviewed. Details: Washington, DC: United STates Agency for International Development, 2008. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-malawi-qualitative-study.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Malawi URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-malawi-qualitative-study.pdf Shelf Number: 122761 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Malawi) Violence Against Women

Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Malawi Assessment Report October 25th – November 5th, 2004 Summary: From October 25 to November 5, 2004, a three-person team from the Washington, D.C.-based Safe Schools Program (SSP) traveled to Malawi to conduct a school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) assessment. The Safe Schools Team was comprised of two DevTech Systems, Inc. employees: SSP Team Leader Maryce Ramsey, Gender and Education Advisor Wendy Rimer, and one World Education employee - Qualitative Researcher Ji Sun Lee. Accompanying the SSP Team for part of the assessment was the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade/Office of Women in Development (EGAT/WID) Cognizant Technical Officer Julie Hanson Swanson. The overall objectives of this first exploratory trip were to: • Assess existing programs for their ability to address SRGBV; • Understand the nature of SRGBV in Malawi; and • Identify individuals and organizations from the key informant interviews to serve as local partners. Details: Arlington, VA: DevTech Systems, Inc., 2006.76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-malawi-assessment-report.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Malawi URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-malawi-assessment-report.pdf Shelf Number: 122761 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Malawi) Violence Against Women

Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Ethiopia Assessment Report: April 26 - May 7, 2004 Summary: From April 26th to May 7th, a four-person team from the Washington, D.C.-based Safe Schools Program (SSP) traveled to Ethiopia to conduct a school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) assessment. The overall objectives of this first exploratory trip were to: • Assess existing programs for their ability to address SRGBV; • Gain understanding of the nature of SRGBV in Ethiopia; and • Identify individuals and organizations from the key informant interviews to serve as local partners. Over the course of the visit, the Team collected data, reports, and materials, conducted openended interviews, and semi-structured focus groups with key stakeholders recommended by the USAID Mission and/or other informants. The Team examined programs/organizations and structures at multiple levels: national, institutional, community, and the individual, interviewing institutions/organizations such as the Ministry of Education (MOE), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) partners, other international donors and organizations, local Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), and community level organizations (e.g. Parent Teacher Associations [PTAs]) to identify: (a) Types of gender-based violence; (b) Issues and gaps; (c) Promising programs/organizations; and (d) Recommendations. The purpose of the SSP is to create gender safe environments for all girls and boys that promote gender-equitable relationships and reduce SRGBV resulting in improved educational outcomes and reduced negative health outcomes. Five key principles that guide the SSP’s programming: 1. Take a social mobilization approach working at multiple levels: national, institutional, community and individual; 2. Address the three areas of the SSP SRGBV activities: prevention, reporting and response; 3. Take a gendered approach working with men and boys not only as perpetrators but also as potential victims as well as partners; 4. Have at least minimal support services in place before encouraging victims to come forward; and 5. Build on existing programs. In Section IV. A, the Team provides a summarization of general issues and recommendations as reported by NGO staff, USAID partners such as World Learning and Save the Children, Ethiopian educational personnel, and local schoolteachers, parents and students. The Team augmented these issues and recommendations based on global literature on best practices. After analyzing the data and the general recommendations found in Section IV. A., the Team identified eight priority issues and recommendations that are proposed as the SSP’s pilot program in Ethiopia. Guided by the SSP’s key principles for programming as mentioned in Section I. C., the priority issues and recommendations were selected that address gaps at multiple levels: national, institutional, community and individual; and that address SRGBV in three areas of programming including prevention, reporting and response. In each of these three areas of programming, the Team also identified key organizations that could serve as potential partners. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2004. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-ethiopia-assessment-report.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Ethiopia URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-ethiopia-assessment-report.pdf Shelf Number: 122763 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Ethiopia) Violence Against Women

Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Ghana Assessment Report, January 6-16, 2004 Summary: From January 6 through 16, a five-person team from the Washington, D.C.-based Safe Schools Program (SSP) traveled to Ghana. The overall objectives of this first exploratory trip were to: • Inform the team of the extent of the problem of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV); • Understand how existing programs address SRGBV or could be used to address it; and • Identify individuals and local partners from the key informant interviews to participate in the Advocates Network. Over the course of the visit, the Safe Schools team collected reports, materials and data and conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from the Ministry, USAID and other donor agencies, NGOs, and community level organizations (e.g. Parent Teacher Associations [PTAs]) to identify: (a) Types of gender-based violence; (b) Issues, gaps and what works in existing programs; and (c) Recommendations. The initial recommendations contained herein reflect the complex nature of the issue and range from policy issues at the national level, to procedural and systems issues within the educational institutions, to educating and involving communities, to taking action at the individual girl and boy child level, by involving men and boys and nurturing the development of healthy gender equitable relationships based on respect, rights and responsibilities. The results of the data analysis from the interviews includes the following three overarching recommendations: 1) Plan for a complex response; 2) Put systems of support in place before you encourage victims1 to come forward; and 3) Work with men and boys. In addition, the SSP Team identified programmatic recommendations in seven areas that are detailed in Section V, including the gaps/issues, general recommendations, and identification of programs that work in Ghana. These seven gaps/issues identified for programmatic response include: 1) Lack of visibility of SRGBV on the national agenda; 2) Lack of systems and procedures for implementing code of conduct; 3) Gap in support services for victims of GBV; 4) Gaps in curricula and teaching regarding GBV; 5) Lack of awareness, involvement and accountability of the community; 6) Lack of awareness, involvement and accountability of the parents; and 7) Lack of opportunities and support for children to build healthy, equitable relationships. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2004. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-ghana-assessment-report.pdf Year: 2004 Country: Ghana URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-ghana-assessment-report.pdf Shelf Number: 122764 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence (Ghana) Violence Against Women

Author: DevTech Systems, Inc. Title: The Safe Schools Program: Jamaica Assessment Report, April 11-22, 2005 Summary: From April 11 – 22, 2005, a four-person team from the Washington, D.C.-based Safe Schools Program (DevTech SSP)1 traveled to Jamaica to conduct a school-related gender-based violence(SRGBV) assessment. Using the social mobilization model as its frame of reference, DevTech SSP collected SRGBV information at the national, institutional, community and individual levels, as well as types of SRGBV. Matrices were created to organize the information collected, which included a programmatic overview, information on NGO partners, and perceptions of SRGBV in Jamaica. DevTech SSP began by collecting information on current Mission programming, which provided a historical overview of USAID-funded and other programs within Jamaica by meeting with the USAID teams working in Education, Health, Economic Growth, and Democracy and Governance. Other data collection activities included a review of reports and other materials, and the administration of open-ended interviews and informal group discussions with government and non-governmental organizations and individuals. Key information collected included: • Types of school-related gender-based violence • Issues and gaps • Promising programs and/or organizations • Recommendations for further action After five days of interviews in Kingston, DevTech SSP divided into three groups: two teams traveled to the field and one team member remained in Kingston to continue interviews with government and NGO representatives. The teams outside Kingston met with a sample of New Horizon supported school representatives (e.g. principals, teachers, guidance counselors, PTA members, students) as well as other NGO and government organizations. These field visits afforded the team an opportunity to more closely examine the programs being implemented in schools, to discuss how SRGBV is defined in schools, and consider possible approaches to addressing SRGBV. Details: Washington, DC: United States Agency for International Development, 2005. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 19, 2011 at: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-jamaica-assessment-report.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Jamaica URL: http://www.devtechsys.com/assets/Uploads/docs/publications/safe-schools-jamaica-assessment-report.pdf Shelf Number: 122780 Keywords: Gender School Crime School Safety School Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Coy, Maddy Title: Boys Think Girls Are Toys?: An Evaluation of the NIA Project Prevention Programme on Sexual Exploitation. Final Report Summary: This report presents an evaluation of a prevention programme focussing on sexual exploitation for both young people and professionals. The programme was delivered across London by the nia project, in partnership with the Children's Society from September 2007 to December 2010, with three broad aims: - To increase the number of young people at risk of being abused through sexual exploitation accessing appropriate support; - To increase the number of professionals that are able to identify young people at risk of sexual exploitation and take appropriate action; - To increase the number of agencies aware of the issue and able to address it. Recommendations from the evaluation include: the integration of sexual exploitation prevention work in schools/youth settings, and training for a range of professionals, commissioned by Local Safeguarding Children Boards and delivered by specialised organisations. Details: London: Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, 2011. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.cwasu.org/ Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cwasu.org/ Shelf Number: 122791 Keywords: Date Rape Sex Offenses Sexual Exploitation (U.K.) Violence Against Women

Author: Carter, Rachel Title: Stella Project Evaluation: September 2006 Summary: Through innovative and positive approaches, the Stella Project works to promote, at practice and policy level, the development of inclusive, integrated service provision for survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence who experience problematic substance use. The Stella Project supports drug, alcohol and domestic violence agencies to effect sustained change in service delivery and outcomes. At a strategic level, the project works to influence and support policy development with the view of catalysing change on the ground. Underlying the project’s approach is the belief that where domestic violence and substance use overlap, interventions undertaken in partnership across the sectors will improve the safety of clients and prevent ineffective repeat interventions. This report summarises the findings of an evaluation of the effectiveness of the training and events which the Stella Project has delivered over the past four years. In addition, it provides recommendations for future directions for the work of the Stella Project. Section one introduces the history and achievements of the Stella Project. This is followed by a description of the aims, objectives and activities of the Project including a detailed outline of the different training programmes offered. Section two outlines the purpose of the evaluation and the methodology used which includes post training and conference evaluation forms, email questionnaires for past trainees and semi-structured telephone interviews. 704 post training evaluations, 73 post conference evaluations and 32 email questionnaires were returned. In addition 8 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Section three presents the findings of the evaluation. Overall, the findings reveal there is a high level of satisfaction with the range of services offered by the Stella Project. Details: London: The Stella Project, 2006. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/24057/stella%20evaluation%202006.pdf Year: 2006 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/24057/stella%20evaluation%202006.pdf Shelf Number: 122792 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence (U.K.) Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Brennan, Shannon Title: Violent Victimization of Aboriginal Women in the Canadian Provinces, 2009 Summary: In Canada, numerous programs and policies have been developed to address violence against women (Johnson and Dawson 2010; Status of Women Canada 2002). Despite these efforts, previous studies have shown that violence against women in Canada continues to be a persistent and ongoing problem, one that is compounded for Aboriginal women (Brzozowski 2006). Given these findings, it is important to differentiate between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women’s experiences of victimization, to better understand the extent of violence against Aboriginal women and the context in which it occurs. One source of information that can be used to measure violence against Aboriginal women in Canada is the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization. By asking respondents aged 15 years or older to recount their experiences of victimization, the GSS captures detailed information on criminal incidents that may or may not have been brought to the attention of police. Using GSS data from 2009, this article looks at the prevalence and nature of self-reported violence against Aboriginal women in the ten provinces. In addition, reporting of victimization to police, victims’ use of formal and informal support services, and the consequences of violent victimization are discussed. Finally, this report examines Aboriginal women’s perceptions of personal safety and their satisfaction with the criminal justice system. Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2011. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat Article: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11439-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 122794 Keywords: Aboriginals Crime Statistics Indigenous Peoples Victim Services Victimization Surveys Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Islands in the Stream: An Evaluation of Four London Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Schemes Summary: This report presents the results of an evaluation of four Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy (IDVA) schemes in London, which are based in different settings: in a police station; hospital A&E department; a community based domestic violence project; and a women-only violence against women (VAW) organisation. The evaluation was commissioned by the Trust for London (formerly known as City Parochial Foundation) and the Henry Smith Charity to run alongside their joint special initiative on IDVAs, under which grants totalling £900,000 over three years, increased to £1.6 million with statutory funding, were made to the four schemes with the aim of strengthening the impact of this recent innovation in service provision. The current national definition of IDVA devised by Co-ordinated Action Against Domestic Abuse (CAADA)[1] is: The main purpose of an IDVA is to address the safety of high risk domestic abuse victims and their children. Serving as a victim’s primary point of contact, IDVAs normally work with their clients from the point of crisis to assess the level of risk, discuss the range of suitable options and develop co-ordinated safety plans. IDVAs are pro-active in implementing the safety plans, which include practical steps to protect victims and their children, as well as longer-term solutions. These plans will include actions from the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) as well as sanctions and remedies available through the criminal and civil courts, housing options and services available through other organisations. IDVAs offer independent support and work over the short- to medium-term to put victims on the path to long-term safety (CAADA, n.d.) The practice principles for IDVAs combine practical and emotional support based on a ‘care pathway’ developed by CAADA (2006) and subsequent Westminster government guidance (Home Office, 2008) define the key elements of IDVA schemes as: independent, professional and trained;• aware of all safety options; • able to offer crisis intervention and risk assessment; • work in partnership; • delivery of measurable outcomes (e.g. reduced repeat victimisation, fewer withdrawals and • increased reporting of children at risk from harm). It is with these criteria in mind, that this evaluation of the four schemes – DVSS (Barnet), REACH (Lambeth/Southwark), and IDVA posts at the nia project (Hackney) and NAADV (Newham) was undertaken. Details: London: Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, 2011. 149p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.cwasu.org/ Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cwasu.org/ Shelf Number: 122799 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Dolev & Associates Title: No Boundaries: The Tayside Domestic Abuse and Substance Misuse Project: Final Research Report Summary: The aim of the research project was to identify depositional and organisational/institutional factors that positively and negatively affect the progression of women affected by domestic abuse and their own substance misuse at each stage of their service use (from access to outcomes), with a view to establishing: · Evidence of a link between domestic abuse and substance misuse · Incentives/barriers to accessing services · Experiences of service provision in both sectors · Experiences of partnership working between the two sectors · Links to other needs (i.e. homelessness, mental health issues). The remainder of the report is set out as follows: · Chapter 2 outlines the methods used both in the initial data collection stage (carried out by a different research team) and in the secondary analysis of data (carried out by the author of this report). · Chapter 3 provides a brief overview of the literature on domestic abuse and substance misuse. · Chapter 4 examines the link between domestic abuse and women’s own substance misuse. · Chapter 5 looks at the experiences of service provision at various stages: accessing, using and leaving. · Chapter 6 explores multi-agency work between domestic abuse and substance misuse services. · Chapter 7 examines the links to other needs, in particular housing, mental health and General Practitioners. · Finally, chapter 8 discusses the main themes and issues that have emerged from the information and evidence presented in this report. Details: Tayside, UK: Dolev & Associates, 2008. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 31, 2011 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/25320/tayside%20domestic%20violence%20and%20substance%20misuse%20research%20(2008).pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/25320/tayside%20domestic%20violence%20and%20substance%20misuse%20research%20(2008).pdf Shelf Number: 117820 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Substance Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Into the Foreground: An Evaluation of the Jacana Parenting Programme Summary: The Jacana Parenting Service was a pilot programme developed and delivered in partnership between the nia project and Domestic Violence Intervention Project (DVIP) to support parents affected by current and historic domestic violence (DV) in Hackney. The programme offered separate interventions for men as perpetrators and support to women as victim-survivors, using individual and group work, and was funded by the Parenting Fund. The programme emerged out of the relative neglect of the mother-child/father-child relationship within much existing direct work with victim-survivors and perpetrators, although these themes have been addressed in social research. Lessons from the pilot were to be integrated into specialised DV support and intervention, and hopefully extend into wide parenting programmes where DV is often not addressed explicitly. Specifically, the aims were to: · develop a model that synthesises international best practice to address parenting in the context of abusive relationships; · improve the parenting skills of women and men involved in abusive relationships; · enable parents to understand violence/abuse from the child’s perspective and to minimise its impacts; · work with mothers/carers and children to create safety plans; · risk assess abusive fathers to better enable practitioners to minimise and manage risks; · share best practice with practitioners. The programme for women victim-survivors was based on the twin pillars of safety and the impact of domestic violence on mothering. Work with men aimed to extend current models of perpetrator programmes to deepen the content on fathering, although the aim to change men’s abusive behaviours is not explicitly stated. Success criteria were articulated by both developers and deliverers as: increased safety of women and children; enhanced relationships between mothers and children and fathers and children; enhanced capacity to parent in a child-centred way. In short, addressing the relational legacies of domestic violence. This evaluation was commissioned by the nia project to explore both processes and outcomes of the pilot programme. While data for the latter is limited and outcomes in themselves not straight forward to establish, the experiences of women and men who participated in the programme are drawn on to illustrate how Jacana enabled change and new beginnings. A key part of the evaluation was assessing the process of implementing the programme, and what lessons can be gleaned about development, delivery, practice, and negotiating multi-agency responses. Details: London: Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, 2011. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2011 at: http://www.ccrm.org.uk/images/docs/10.2ainto%20the%20foreground%20-%20jacana%20evaluation%20report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ccrm.org.uk/images/docs/10.2ainto%20the%20foreground%20-%20jacana%20evaluation%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 123306 Keywords: Abusers, Male Domestic Violence Family Violence (U.K.) Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Wilkinson, Emma Title: Maribyrnong Respect and Equity: Preventing Violence Against Women Summary: Violence against women is widely recognised as a global problem and the most widespread violation of human rights. Violence against women takes many forms and affects all communities, irrespective of class, race or culture. Intimate partner violence is the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15–44 (VicHealth 2006). Locally and internationally there is growing momentum to respond to and prevent violence against women. Local governments are increasingly recognising the key role they have to play. The project is guided by the VicHealth Preventing Violence Against Women: A Framework For Action (VicHealth 2009). The framework recommends a range of mutually reinforcing strategies across societal, organisational and individual levels and in various community settings. Local government is recognised as having a profound ability to influence social and community change through leadership, coordination, service delivery, infrastructure, networks and partnerships and direct engagement with the community. The Victorian government ten year strategy to prevent violence against women also identifies the crucial role of local government and present the work of Maribyrnong City Council as a case study. Respect & equity project objectives  Consolidate and strengthen the activities undertaken within the Maribyrnong Preventing Violence Against Women (PVAW) Action Plan 2007-2008  Embed and drive cultural change by incorporating the determinants of gender violence into local government policy, planning, strategy, programs and action plan development  Increase awareness and understanding of violence against women issues across settings with the broader community  Document and disseminate the learning and challenges of the primary prevention activities implemented across a local government area. Preventing violence against women requires a coordinated, long-term approach, which recognises the gendered nature of violence, responds to and engages with the evidence and integrates a range of mutually reinforcing strategies across the Council and community. These strategies need to address the determinants of violence against women using an ecological approach to understanding and responding to violence. The key themes for action guide activities and provide the most potential for positive impact and change:  Support and promote equal and respectful relationships between women and men  Support and promote non-violent, gender equitable, inclusive norms within the organisation and community culture  Improve structural supports to uphold this culture, enhance social connection and encourage women's full participation in life. Details: Melbourne: VicHealth, 2011. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2011 at: www.vichealth.vic.gov.au Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 123363 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Women's Health Goulburn North East Title: BSAFE Pilot Project 2007-2010 Summary: Bsafe is a personal alarm system and risk management option primarily for people escaping family violence and sexualised assault perpetrated by intimate partners. Bsafe utilises VitalCall / Chubb Security who supply two types of products - a water-proof pendant that operates via the home telephone line that can be activated within the area of the victim‟s home and garden, and a „mobile unit‟ which is similar to a mobile phone. The mobile unit is used where there is mobile coverage and allows Bsafe clients increased autonomy and security when out in the community. When either device is activated an alarm is sent to the 24 hour VitalCall1 response centre that immediately alerts 000 for a police response while continuing to monitor and record the call and what is happening in the home. Such recordings can later be used as evidence for court proceedings. The option of a prepaid mobile phone is available to clients without a phone to assist referral agencies in maintaining contact with them. The Emergency Safety Kit, now known as Bsafe, was a Victoria Police initiative developed within the Benalla Family Violence Prevention Network. During a Rotary study exchange trip to Sweden in 2003, Victoria Police Sergeant Peter Milligan observed a model where safety kits were being utilised by family violence victims still at risk of further violence. Believing that the concept could effectively operate within the Victoria Police, in 2006 the Benalla Family Violence Prevention Network trialled the emergency safety kit in Benalla Rural City. Four women escaping intimate partner violence were involved in the trial with 23 accompanying children. The trial showed that the women and their children were able to remain in their own homes. The women reported that having the kit provided them with an extra sense of security; they felt reassured that their concerns for their safety were being taken seriously and that the response by police would be timely. Women also reported that their perceptions of safety significantly increased once they had access to the kit. 6 Following the success of the trial, in 2007 Women‟s Health Goulburn North East, in partnership with the Victoria Police, secured three year funding from the National Community Crime Prevention Programme for a Bsafe pilot in the Hume region. As the regional women‟s health service with clearly established relationships with the integrated family violence service system, Women‟s Health Goulburn North East was ideally placed to coordinate the project in partnership with the Victoria Police. Details: Wangaratta, VIC: Women's Health Goulburn North East, 2010. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2011 at: http://www.whealth.com.au/documents/work/Bsafe_final_report_2011.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.whealth.com.au/documents/work/Bsafe_final_report_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 123366 Keywords: Battered Women Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Assault Violence Against Women Wife Abuse

Author: Black, Michele C. Title: National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report Summary: Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are major public health problems in the United States. Many survivors of these forms of violence can experience physical injury, mental health consequences such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and suicide attempts, and other health consequences such as gastrointestinal disorders, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and gynecological or pregnancy complications. These consequences can lead to hospitalization, disability, or death. Our understanding of these forms of violence has grown substantially over the years. However, timely, ongoing, and comparable national and state-level data are lacking. Less is also known about how these forms of violence impact specific populations in the United States or the extent to which rape, stalking, or violence by a romantic or sexual partner are experienced in childhood and adolescence. CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control launched the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey in 2010 with the support of the National Institute of Justice and the Department of Defense to address these gaps. The primary objectives of the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey are to describe: • The prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence • Who is most likely to experience these forms of violence • The patterns and impact of the violence experienced by specific perpetrators • The health consequences of these forms of violence The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey is an ongoing, nationally representative random digit dial (RDD) telephone survey that collects information about experiences of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence among non-institutionalized English and/or Spanish-speaking women and men aged 18 or older in the United States. NISVS provides detailed information on the magnitude and characteristics of these forms of violence for the nation and for individual states. This report presents information related to several types of violence that have not previously been measured in a national population-based survey, including types of sexual violence other than rape; expressive psychological aggression and coercive control, and control of reproductive or sexual health. This report also provides the first ever simultaneous national and state-level prevalence estimates of violence for all states. The findings presented in this report are for 2010, the first year of data collection, and are based on complete interviews. Complete interviews were obtained from 16,507 adults (9,086 women and 7,421 men). The relative standard error (RSE), which is a measure of an estimate’s reliability, was calculated for all estimates in this report. If the RSE was greater than 30%, the estimate was deemed unreliable and is not reported. Consideration was also given to the case count. If the estimate was based on a numerator ≤20, the estimate is also not reported. Estimates for certain types of violence reported by subgroups of men such as rape victimization by racial/ethnic group are not shown because the number of men in these subgroups reporting rape was too small to calculate a reliable estimate. These tables are included in the report so that the reader can easily determine what was assessed and where gaps remain. Key Findings Sexual Violence by Any Perpetrator • Nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) in the United States have been raped at some time in their lives, including completed forced penetration, attempted forced penetration, or alcohol/drug facilitated completed penetration. • More than half (51.1%) of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance; for male victims, more than half (52.4%) reported being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger. • Approximately 1 in 21 men (4.8%) reported that they were made to penetrate someone else during their lifetime; most men who were made to penetrate someone else reported that the perpetrator was either an intimate partner (44.8%) or an acquaintance (44.7%). • An estimated 13% of women and 6% of men have experienced sexual coercion in their lifetime (i.e., unwanted sexual penetration after being pressured in a nonphysical way); and 27.2% of women and 11.7% of men have experienced unwanted sexual contact. • Most female victims of completed rape (79.6%) experienced their first rape before the age of 25; 42.2% experienced their first completed rape before the age of 18 years. • More than one-quarter of male victims of completed rape (27.8%) experienced their first rape when they were 10 years of age or younger. Stalking Victimization by Any Perpetrator • One in 6 women (16.2%) and 1 in 19 men (5.2%) in the United States have experienced stalking victimization at some point during their lifetime in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed. • Two-thirds (66.2%) of female victims of stalking were stalked by a current or former intimate partner; men were primarily stalked by an intimate partner or an acquaintance, 41.4% and 40.0%, respectively. • Repeatedly receiving unwanted telephone calls, voice, or text messages was the most commonly experienced stalking tactic for both female and male victims of stalking (78.8% for women and 75.9% for men). • More than half of female victims and more than one-third of male victims of stalking indicated that they were stalked before the age of 25; about 1 in 5 female victims and 1 in 14 male victims experienced stalking between the ages of 11 and 17. Violence by an Intimate Partner • More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and more than 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. • Among victims of intimate partner violence, more than 1 in 3 women experienced multiple forms of rape, stalking, or physical violence; 92.1% of male victims experienced physical violence alone, and 6.3% experienced physical violence and stalking. • Nearly 1 in 10 women in the United States (9.4%) has been raped by an intimate partner in her lifetime, and an estimated 16.9% of women and 8.0% of men have experienced sexual violence other than rape by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. • About 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) have experienced severe physical violence by an intimate partner (e.g., hit with a fist or something hard, beaten, slammed against something) at some point in their lifetime. • An estimated 10.7% of women and 2.1% of men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime. • Nearly half of all women and men in the United States have experienced psychological aggression by an intimate partner in their lifetime (48.4% and 48.8%, respectively). • Most female and male victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner (69% of female victims; 53% of male victims) experienced some form of intimate partner violence for the first time before 25 years of age. Impact of Violence by an Intimate Partner • Nearly 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men in the United States have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner and reported at least one impact related to experiencing these or other forms of violent behavior in the relationship (e.g., being fearful, concerned for safety, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, need for health care, injury, contacting a crisis hotline, need for housing services, need for victim’s advocate services, need for legal services, missed at least one day of work or school). Violence Experienced by Race/Ethnicity • Approximately 1 in 5 Black (22.0%) and White (18.8%) non-Hispanic women, and 1 in 7 Hispanic women (14.6%) in the United States have experienced rape at some point in their lives. More than one-quarter of women (26.9%) who identified as American Indian or as Alaska Native and 1 in 3 women (33.5%) who identified as multiracial non-Hispanic reported rape victimization in their lifetime. • One out of 59 White non-Hispanic men (1.7%) has experienced rape at some point in his life. Nearly one-third of multiracial non-Hispanic men (31.6%) and over one-quarter of Hispanic men (26.2%) reported sexual violence other than rape in their lifetimes. • Approximately 1 in 3 multiracial non-Hispanic women (30.6%) and 1 in 4 American Indian or Alaska Native women (22.7%) reported being stalked during their lifetimes. One in 5 Black non-Hispanic women (19.6%), 1 in 6 White non-Hispanic women (16.0%), and 1 in 7 Hispanic women (15.2%) experienced stalking in their lifetimes. • Approximately 1 in 17 Black non-Hispanic men (6.0%), and 1 in 20 White non-Hispanic men (5.1%) and Hispanic men (5.1%) in the United States experienced stalking in their lifetime. • Approximately 4 out of every 10 women of non-Hispanic Black or American Indian or Alaska Native race/ethnicity (43.7% and 46.0%, respectively), and 1 in 2 multiracial non-Hispanic women (53.8%) have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. • Nearly half (45.3%) of American Indian or Alaska Native men and almost 4 out of every 10 Black and multiracial men (38.6% and 39.3%, respectively) experienced rape, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Number and Sex of Perpetrators • Across all types of violence, the majority of both female and male victims reported experiencing violence from one perpetrator. • Across all types of violence, the majority of female victims reported that their perpetrators were male. • Male rape victims and male victims of non-contact unwanted sexual experiences reported predominantly male perpetrators. Nearly half of stalking victimizations against males were also perpetrated by males. Perpetrators of other forms of violence against males were mostly female. Violence in the 12 Months Prior to Taking the Survey • One percent, or approximately 1.3 million women, reported being raped by any perpetrator in the 12 months prior to taking the survey. • Approximately 1 in 20 women and men (5.6% and 5.3%, respectively) experienced sexual violence victimization other than rape by any perpetrator in the 12 months prior to taking the survey. • About 4% of women and 1.3% of men were stalked in the 12 months prior to taking the survey. • An estimated 1 in 17 women and 1 in 20 men (5.9% and 5.0%, respectively) experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in the 12 months prior to taking the survey. Health Consequences • Men and women who experienced rape or stalking by any perpetrator or physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime were more likely to report frequent headaches, chronic pain, difficulty with sleeping, activity limitations, poor physical health and poor mental health than men and women who did not experience these forms of violence. Women who had experienced these forms of violence were also more likely to report having asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes than women who did not experience these forms of violence. State-Level Estimates • Across all types of violence examined in this report, state-level estimates varied with lifetime estimates for women ranging from 11.4% to 29.2% for rape; 28.9% to 58% for sexual violence other than rape; and 25.3% to 49.1% for rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. • For men, lifetime estimates ranged from 10.8% to 33.7% for sexual violence other than rape; and 17.4% to 41.2% for rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. Details: Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_Report2010-a.pdf Shelf Number: 123595 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Stalking Victimization Survey Violence Against Women

Author: Taylor, Alice Title: Women and the City: Examining the Gender Impact of Violence and Urbanisation. A Comparative Study of Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Liberia and Nepal Summary: Utilising the participatory methodology of safety audits developed and tested by a range of organisations in the “safe cities movement”, the report looks into the lives of groups of women whose knowledge and views of their urban realities is central to creating safer cities. These include garment workers from urban factory areas in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, women attending universities in and around Monrovia in Liberia, and women informal vendors in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to name a few. The research explores the ways violence and insecurity limit poor urban women’s mobility and their participation in society. Urbanisation can bring new opportunities, particularly in relation to employment and participation in organised groups. However, it also brings many challenges. Across the world, women experience violence or the fear of violence on a daily basis, travelling to and from work, taking their children to schools and travelling to and from markets. Moreover, urban men and women experience violence differently. They also experience and perceive protection and safety differently. Analysing these differences is a central first step to guaranteeing women’s rights to freedom from violence or the threat of violence in urban areas. From an urban planning perspective, cities often struggle to maintain services and infrastructure that adequately meet the needs and are within reach of their growing populations. Specific barriers are experienced by the poor and particularly by poor women. In this research, the challenges faced by women often reflect the safety and health consequences that some migrants face in the process of rural to urban migration, such as lack of access to decent work opportunities, poor access to services and inadequate transportation. However, only too often, the challenges faced by women in cities are interpreted or excused as women’s fault, rather than the result of urban design that fails to take into account gendered impacts. For example, such violence may be excused on the basis of a woman’s choice of dress or her decision to travel alone, at night, unaccompanied by a male. Examining the gender impacts of urbanisation is central to informing programmes and policies that reflect women’s realities and promote women’s right to the city. Details: Johannesburg, South Africa: ActionAid, 2011. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2012 at: http://www.actionaid.org/publications/women-and-city-examining-gender-impact-violence-and-urbanisation Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.actionaid.org/publications/women-and-city-examining-gender-impact-violence-and-urbanisation Shelf Number: 123613 Keywords: Fear of Crime Female Victims Urban Crime Urban Design Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: McFerran, Ludo Title: Safe at Home, Safe at Work? National Domestic Violence and the Workplace Survey (2011) Summary: This report is product of a comprehensive national survey of over 3,600 employees, conducted by the Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse in conjunction with Micromex in accordance with University of New South Wales ethics approval. It provides clear evidence of the prevalence of domestic violence as it affects the Australian workforce and a focussed assessment of impacts of domestic violence on workers and workplaces. Details: Sydney: Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2011. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2012 at: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Domestic_violence_and_work_survey_report_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/Domestic_violence_and_work_survey_report_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 123641 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: McHale, Thomas Title: "Every Home Has Its Secrets": A Mixed-Methods Study of Intimate Partner Violence, Women's Empowerment and Justice on Idjwi Island, Democratic Republic of the Congo Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a little-studied but pervasive problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Through ethnographic, quantitative and legal analysis, this mixed methods study situates the problem of IPV on Idjwi Island, South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo as a symptom of systematic women’s disempowerment. The study began with a literature review of IPV and sexual violence against women. Perceptions of IPV were collected as part of a population-level survey that interviewed 2,100 women in households across Idjwi. Simultaneously, a rapid ethnographic assessment was conducted to understand barriers to health care access and self-identified health issues. In these interviews, women revealed IPV is a significant health concern. This study suggests that IPV is normalized in Idjwi through an interaction between legal and cultural factors. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Harvard University, 2011. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Student Working Paper Series: Accessed January 23, 2012 at: http://hhi.harvard.edu/images/resources/thomasmchale.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://hhi.harvard.edu/images/resources/thomasmchale.pdf Shelf Number: 123738 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (Democratic Republic of Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Walby, Sylvia Title: Physical and Legal Security and the Criminal Justice System: A Review of Inequalities Summary: The focus of this report is physical and legal security in relation to the Criminal Justice System. The main areas of physical security include: homicide; other violence against the person, including domestic or intimate partner violence, sexual violence and hate crime; and physical security in institutional settings. The main areas of legal security include the extent to which offences are brought to justice and equal treatment in and by the Criminal Justice System. Emphasis is placed on evidence and the analysis of objective outcomes as opposed to subjective attitudes and perceptions, primarily because of the robustness of the former in comparison to the latter, but also because the selection of outcomes corresponds to the prioritization recommended by the Equalities Review (2007). The report addresses all the protected equality strands, as well as other disproportionately affected groups wherever there is available and relevant evidence. Due to the current unevenness in data collection and availability across the strands, the majority of evidence presented relates to gender, disability and race/ethnicity. Data on other equalities groups is drawn upon where available (often from small scale studies rather than surveys). The report addresses data and research primarily at the level of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), reflecting the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s geographical remit. The report reviews the evidence of the extent to which there are inequalities in physical and legal security. The sources used include large surveys (e.g. the British Crime Survey) and administrative data (e.g. police recorded crime), as well as evidence from smaller scale research projects, including those carried out by academia, civil society organisations and governmental commissions and agencies. Details: United Kingdom: Equality and Human Rights Commission, 2010. 172p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 26, 2012 at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_cjs_review.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/triennial_review/triennial_review_cjs_review.pdf Shelf Number: 123774 Keywords: Bias Crime Conviction Rates Disproportionate Minority Contact Domestic Violence Hate Crime Homicide Race/Ethnicity Violence Against Women

Author: The Advocates for Human Rights Title: Implementation of the Bulgarian Law on Protection against Domestic Violence Summary: In the two years since the entry into force of the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence (LPADV), its overall implementation has been positive. While challenges remain for all sectors and legislative amendments are needed, the response to domestic violence since the law passed in Bulgaria is encouraging. Bulgaria’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been instrumental in this progress through their initiatives in training, victim support, and coordination among government sectors. While the adoption of the LPADV is a significant step toward combating domestic violence, its effective implementation is essential for the realization of victim safety and accountability for offenders in Bulgaria. Details: Minneapolis, MN: The Advocates for Human Rights, 2008. 71p. Source: Women's Human Rights Report Series, Bulgaria: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2012 at http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/final_report_2.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Bulgaria URL: http://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org/uploads/final_report_2.pdf Shelf Number: 123980 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Bulgaria) Legislation Violence Against Women

Author: Minerson, Todd Title: Issue Brief: Engaging Men and Boys to Reduce and Prevent Gender-Based Violence Summary: This Issue Brief has been commissioned by Status of Women Canada (SWC) in collaboration with The Public Health Agency of Canada to provide an overview of efforts to engage men of all ages in efforts to reduce and prevent gender-based violence. The paper will begin with a look at the historical efforts in Canada and the development of work with men and boys to end gender-based violence around the world. This overview will also chronicle the expression of this effort in various United Nations commitments since the Beijing 4th World Conference on Women in 1995. A brief review of Canadian statistics around violence against women, and a look at what little research exists on men’s attitudes towards genderbased violence in Canada and globally will follow. In order to address the roles men of all ages can play in preventing and reducing gender-based violence, the paper will then examine the root causes; the socialization of men, power and patriarchy, masculinities, gender inequality and the links to all forms of violence against women. Further detail will be provided for the complex issues and multiple dimensions around gender-based violence particularly as they relate to men, and a brief contextualization of the relevance to several communities of interest. Finally, the paper will illustrate the promising strategies, best practices, and effective frameworks for engaging men and boys in the effort to reduce and prevent gender-based violence. This section will also identify gaps, and note the considerations, limits and risks involved as well. Details: Ottawa: Status of Women Canada, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 6, 2012 at: http://whiteribbon.ca/issuebrief/pdf/wrc_swc_issuebrief.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://whiteribbon.ca/issuebrief/pdf/wrc_swc_issuebrief.pdf Shelf Number: 123998 Keywords: Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Males Masculinities Violence Against Women

Author: Blokhuis, Bregje Title: Violation of Women's Rights: A cause and consequence of trafficking in women Summary: The report reveals how gender discrimination and violence is linked to trafficking. It argues that effective prevention of trafficking in women or protection of women at risk of trafficking can only take place if women’s rights - in particular economic and social gender equality – are safeguarded and fulfilled. Gender equality and efforts to end violence against women must stand at the centre of any anti-trafficking policy or activity. Details: Amsterdam, Netherlands: La Strada International, 2008. 116p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2012 at http://www.humantrafficking.org/uploads/publications/lastrada_08_rights_0708.pdf Year: 2008 Country: International URL: http://www.humantrafficking.org/uploads/publications/lastrada_08_rights_0708.pdf Shelf Number: 112356 Keywords: Human Rights Human Trafficking Violence Against Women

Author: Vlachova, Marie Title: Women in an Insecure World: Violence against Women - Facts, Figures and Analysis Summary: According to estimates by the United Nations, up to 200 million women and girls are demographically ‘missing’. The euphemism hides one of the most shocking crimes against humanity. Given the biological norm of 100 new-born girls to every 103 new-born boys, millions more women should be living amongst us. If they are not, if they are ‘missing’, then they have been killed, or have died through neglect and mistreatment. Women live in a very insecure world indeed. Many fall victim to gender selective abortion and infanticide (boys being preferred to girls). Others do not receive the same amount of food and medical attention as their brothers, fathers and husbands. Others again fall prey to sexual offenders, to ‘honour killings’ and to acid attacks (most often for refusing a suitor). An estimated 5,000 women are burnt to death each year in ‘kitchen accidents’ because their dowry was seen as being too modest. Scores succumb to the special horrors and hardships that conflict, war and post-conflict situations reserve for girls and women. A shocking number of women are killed within their own walls through domestic violence. Rape and sexual exploitation remain, moreover, a reality for countless women; millions are trafficked; some sold like cattle. The full magnitude of the issue sinks in only if we put the figures into perspective: The number of the ‘missing’ women, killed for gender-related reasons, is of the same order of magnitude as the estimated 191 million human beings who have lost their lives directly or indirectly as a result of all the conflicts and wars of the 20th century – which was, with two world wars and numerous other murderous conflicts, the most violent period in human history so far. A sustained demographic ‘deficit’ of 100- 200 million women implies that each year 1.5 to 3 million girls and women are killed through gender related violence. In comparison: each year some 2.8 million people die of AIDS, 1.27 million of malaria. Or, put in the most horrible terms: violence against women causes every 2 to 4 years a mountain of corpses equal to the Jewish Holocaust. Globally, women aged between fifteen and forty-four are more likely to be injured or die as a result of male violence than through cancer, traffic accidents, malaria and war combined. Women in an Insecure World has, therefore, tried to bring together in one book – in probably the most comprehensive effort so far – the facts and figures. Often these figures are not more than best estimates – for violence against women goes all too often unreported. The recognition that – in face of a problem of such magnitude – we cannot even count on good statistics is in itself a shocking and unacceptable fact. Details: Geneva, Switzerland: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, 2005. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 17, 2012 at http://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/women_insecure_world.pdf Year: 2005 Country: International URL: http://www.unicef.org/emerg/files/women_insecure_world.pdf Shelf Number: 124162 Keywords: Domestic Violence Victimization Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Nowak, Matthias Title: Femicide: A Global Problem Summary: About 66,000 women and girls are violently killed every year, accounting for approximately 17 per cent of all victims of intentional homicides. While the data on which these conservative estimates are based is incomplete, it does reveal certain patterns with respect to the male v. female victim ratio in homicides, intimate partner violence, and the use of firearms in femicides— defined here as ‘the killing of a woman’. This Research Note examines lethal forms of violence against women. It relies on the disaggregated data on femicides produced for the Global Burden of Armed Violence 2011. Details: Geneva: Small Arms Survey, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 2012. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2012 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/H-Research_Notes/SAS-Research-Note-14.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/H-Research_Notes/SAS-Research-Note-14.pdf Shelf Number: 124337 Keywords: Femicide Homicides Violence Against Women

Author: APS Group Scotland Title: Responding to Forced Marriage: Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines Summary: These practice guidelines aim to inform frontline practitioners who are responsible for protecting children and adults from the abuse associated with forced marriage. They do not require significant changes in practice. You should use existing structures, policies and procedures designed to protect children, adults at risk and those experiencing domestic abuse. But, in doing so, you must be mindful of the specific risks and dangers associated with forced marriage. Risks to victims may be increased by all forms of family counselling, mediation, arbitration and conciliation; by failing to share or store information appropriately or safely; by involving families; and by breaches of confidentiality. Given the nature of forced marriage, no single agency can meet all the needs of someone affected by forced marriage. These practice guidelines, therefore, aim to encourage practitioners to work together safely to protect victims. This approach is also consistent with the Scottish Government's emphasis on a multi-agency response to tackling domestic abuse and responding to children and adults at risk of harm. There are multi-agency partnerships for violence against women in all local authorities. They are a good source of information and support for multi-agency working on these issues. Other relevant partnerships include Community Planning; Community Safety; Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences; Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements; Child Protection and Adult Protection Committees. Although forced marriage is primarily an issue of violence against women, the guidelines provide information relevant to practitioners assisting both male and female victims. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2011. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2012 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/12/22165750/0 Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/12/22165750/0 Shelf Number: 124342 Keywords: Child Marriage Child Protection Domestic Violence Forced Marriage (Scotland) Human Rights Violence Against Women

Author: Chaban, Stephanie Title: Palestinian Women and Security: Why Palestinian Women and Girls Do Not Feel Secure Summary: This report presents findings from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews conducted by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) with Palestinian women and girls between June and November 2009 in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. These interviews and discussions aimed to draw out the perspectives of women and girls on issues relating to their security and gather them in to a cohesive report. This report does not intend to provide specific recommendations, but rather to highlight some of the key security issues identified by Palestinian women and girls. DCAF hopes that the report’s findings will encourage relevant stakeholders to integrate the perspectives of women and girls into the national security debate within the Palestinian Territories. During individual interviews and group discussions, Palestinian women and girls were asked about their security concerns, their experiences of violence, their perceptions and use of services provided by local authorities and/ or the international community, and were also asked to offer recommendations for improving services and, thus, their own security. Women and girls revealed that their feelings of insecurity are related to the ongoing conflict, society’s tacit acceptance of violence against women, their own lack of awareness of service providers, and their distrust of the available services. They gave detailed descriptions of the security threats they face; whether in the public sphere, at work/school, or at home, violence permeates all aspects of their everyday lives. Despite this pervasiveness, women and girls explained that they were reluctant to resort to women’s organisations, human rights organisations, or security and justice providers, such as the police and courts, because of the strong social stigma attached to reporting abuse. They also admitted to being unaware or distrustful of the organisations in charge of protecting them, at times questioning the very existence of such organisations, especially shelters. Women and girls were also concerned that the personnel at these organisations lacked the necessary professional skills and ethics to adequately and confidentially respond to their needs. Finally, many women and girls believed the legal system to be discriminatory and unfair to them. Hence, the recommendations of women and girls include awareness-raising events for all components of society, including men and boys; training for members of social services, women’s and human rights organisations, hospital staff and the police; more coordination between the different service providers; legal reform; and increased female representation and participation in these organisations and in political life in general. Although many women and girls admitted to not using available services, DCAF believes that their recommendations should be carefully examined. Palestinian policy-makers and international actors should also take them into account when considering measures for responding to the security needs of women and girls. A democratic debate on adjusting security services to the security needs of the population should integrate the perspectives of all Palestinians, including those of women, both young and old. Moreover, if services are to be used by women and girls, their needs and willingness to use such services should be precisely assessed. This report only constitutes a first step in this direction. Details: Geneva: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), 2010. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 5, 2012 at: http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/Palest_Women_Security_ENG[1].pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/Palest_Women_Security_ENG[1].pdf Shelf Number: 124847 Keywords: Female Victims (Palestine) Violence Against Women

Author: Heise, Lori L. Title: What Works to Prevent Partner Violence? An Evidence Overview Summary: This document reviews the empirical evidence of what works in low- and middle-income countries to prevent violence against women by their husbands and other male partners. The purpose of the report is to help inform the future direction of DFID programming on violence against women with an eye towards maximizing its impact and ensuring the best use of scarce resources. Several key decisions are embedded in the decision to focus here on partner violence, which is only one of the many forms of violence and abuse that women and girls experience globally. First, partner violence is the most common form of violence. At the population level, it greatly exceeds the prevalence of all other forms of physical and sexual abuse in women’s lives. Second, more research is available on partner violence than on other forms of gender-based violence, making the topic more mature for review and synthesis. Third, partner violence is a strategic entry point for efforts to reduce violence more broadly – because the family, where the vast majority of violent acts occur, is also where habits and behaviours are formed for successive generations. Fourth, partner violence shares a range of determinants or contributing causes with other types of gender-based violence, especially at the level of norms and institutional responses. Focusing on partner violence also builds a strong and necessary foundation for preventing other forms of abuse. The review focuses on efforts to prevent partner violence, rather than evaluating services that are available for victims. In focusing on prevention rather than mitigation or response, the review concentrates on interventions designed to reduce the overall level of violence in the medium to long term, rather than on interventions to meet the immediate needs of victims. This shifts the focus of inquiry away from interventions designed to improve services towards programmes and policies designed to influence the underlying determinants of partner violence. Further discussion of the rationale for this decision is provided in body of the report. Finally, the review prioritizes programmes that have been evaluated using rigorous scientific designs, emphasizing formal impact evaluation. Practitioners and advocates have generated considerable insight into “what works” through decades of experience in the field piloting, refining, and studying particular programmes. These findings have been systematized in a number of “best practices” publications. Details: London: U.K. Department for International Development, 2011. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper (version 2.0): Accessed April 11, 2012 at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/R4D/PDF/Outputs/Gender/60887-Preventing_partner_violence_Jan_2012.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/R4D/PDF/Outputs/Gender/60887-Preventing_partner_violence_Jan_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 124926 Keywords: Domestic Violence, Prevention Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Morrison & Foerster, DLA Piper, Latham & Watkins and Reed Smith for MADRE Title: Achieving Justice for Victims of Rape and Advancing Women's Rights: A Comparative Study of Legal Reform Summary: The aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in January 2010 saw a dramatic increase in sexual violence and gave fresh impetus to long standing calls for rape law reform. International women's rights organisation MADRE requested this research to support the subsequent reform of rape legislation. The report reviews rape legislation and procedures in Brazil, Canada, France, South Africa, Sweden and the United States and supplies concrete examples of laws and policies that implement women's human rights. It includes models for statutes, protocols for victim services, and guides to police and prosecutorial procedures which respect the experiences of victims and advance gender justice. Morrison & Foerster led and coordinated this research, working with DLA Piper, Latham & Watkins and Reed Smith. Aside from the Haitian context, the research undertaken should be equally useful for the development of gender-based violence laws all over the world. Details: London: Thomson Reuters Foundation, 2011. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2012 at: http://www.trust.org/documents/connect/Madrev16-1final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.trust.org/documents/connect/Madrev16-1final.pdf Shelf Number: 125066 Keywords: Human Rights Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Jewell, Sarah E. Title: Conceptualising Violence Against Women in the Work of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Summary: Since the creation of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, its Causes and Consequences (SRVAW) in 1994, each of the three women who have held the position have sought to answer the question of what causes violence against women. The SRVAWs have drawn upon theoretical debates about violence against women and incorporated the ideas underpinning both a continuum of violence approach (that experiences of violence against women are connected through the gender of the victim-survivor and that violence against women is caused by patriarchal power structures) and the theory of intersectionality (that violence against women occurs because of the relationship between different types of oppression). Chapter One examines the relationship between a continuum of violence and intersectionality as approaches to violence against women. Chapter Two then examines how these approaches have been applied within the work of the SRVAW. I conclude that despite the significant progress, there is no easy way to articulate what causes violence against women that simultaneously captures the experiences of women as a class and where an individual is situated within multiple and intersecting power structures. This paper aims to show that the SRVAW’s analysis of the causes and consequences of violence against women would be enhanced by explicitly using the concepts of a continuum of violence and intersectionality in conjunction with one another to create a more holistic analysis. Details: Canberra: Australian National University, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: ANU College of Law Research Paper No. 12-15: Accessed April 27, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2038113 Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2038113 Shelf Number: 125077 Keywords: Cycle of Violence Gender-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Iowa. Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Title: Public Safety Advisory Board: The Effectiveness of Domestic Abuse Protective Orders & Court Practices in Sentencing Violators Summary: Deterring abuse is important to ensuring safety among domestic violence and assault victims. Protective orders are tools aimed at restricting contact between the victim and the abuser to prevent subsequent violence. While empirical research has indicated that protective orders are effective, the extent of the effectiveness is uncertain because violation rates have varied widely from study to study. In addition, little research exists to explain how violations of protective orders are handled, which factors are considered when giving penalties, and whether certain situations lead to a given type of penalty. Punishing protective order violators is important because, if abusers have violated the order once, it is likely that they will so again; without enforcement, the order is essentially a piece of paper that does not protect the victim from danger. Another important consideration is the nature of the punishment. Iowa law allows defendants accused of domestic abuse contact order violations to be charged with civil contempt or a criminal misdemeanor. These two penalties differ in severity and impact on the offender’s criminal record. The current study attempts to fill these gaps in the research. The purpose of the study is to 1) Examine practices for handling protective order violations and compare Iowa’s eight judicial districts to identify whether there are differences in court practices. 2) Determine the effectiveness of protective orders in Iowa by calculating protective order violation rates and subsequent occurrences of domestic violence. The first research question was addressed through the use of a survey of county attorneys and judges. The purpose of the survey was to identify variations among the districts in procedures pertaining to protective/no contact orders and differences in how violations of orders are treated (as civil contempt or criminal simple misdemeanor) as allowed under Iowa Code 664A.7. The survey also asked participants about their opinions on the effectiveness of Code 664A.7, their perspectives on certain aspects of the law, and their ideas for how it could be improved. The questionnaire, which was developed in collaboration with county attorneys and a judge, was reviewed by several other legal professionals to ensure that questions were appropriate and relevant. An email providing a link to the online questionnaire was sent to all 99 county attorneys and all 8 judicial district chief judges and administrators. Details: Iowa: Iowa Department of Human Rights, 2011. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2012 at http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/Domestic_Violence_Report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.humanrights.iowa.gov/cjjp/images/pdf/Domestic_Violence_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 125160 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Iowa) Intimate Partner Violence Protective Orders Restraining Orders Violence Against Women

Author: Burn, Jennifer Title: Hidden Exploitation: Women in Forced Labour, Marriage and Migration: An Evidence Review Summary: This report exposes gaps in knowledge and services relating to the labour of women in Australia. Along with an assessment of the needs, it provides suggestions for a way forward in terms of possible partnerships for developing knowledge, services and advocacy. The gaps considered include labour force, forced labour, forced migration and forced marriage. Labour Force and Forced Labour While women have over the long term been overrepresented in part-time or casual employment, the increased use of precarious forms of employment is leaving many women, especially those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds at risk. There is a need for more legal protection as well as culturally and linguistically appropriate resources for community education on rights and services. While it appears that exploitation of children through work is not happening on a significant scale in Australia, it is important that a means of keeping a national watch on this is found. There is a clear history of exploitation of Indigenous women by way of overwork or government control of work or earnings. The situation of disadvantage in work remains in place for many today. Indigenous women are overrepresented among the unemployed and discouraged workers. Through the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) many are in effect underpaid for highly skilled work and long hours. The status of CDEP participants needs to be established so that more equitable outcomes can be put in place. In Australia employment legislation and instituted monitoring and intervention via the Fair Work Act, Fair Work Australia and the Fair Work Ombudsman provide protection for workers. However, those in employment other than full time, permanent work are still relatively unprotected. Improvements are needed in relation to the relevant aspects of immigration law and anti-discrimination law and the anti-trafficking legislation needs a review. In addition, services (including language resources and education) are needed to improve access to protection and legal assistance for vulnerable workers, especially Indigenous women and women from Non-English Speaking Backgrounds or CALD backgrounds. The report outlines the definitions in international and Australian laws of “people trafficking”, “slavery” and “forced labour” and makes the case for criminalising forced labour. Forced migration Migrant women as a group tend to be vulnerable to varying degrees when it comes to work, because of factors including financial stress, language, lack of education or qualifications, social isolation or child care responsibilities. Among the most vulnerable are those people on temporary work or student visas who suffer from a lack of affordable housing and poor access to information about work rights. Being without a valid visa adds another dimension. Forced marriage For foreign partners of Australian citizens, family violence may mask forced or servile marriage, so education of community workers is needed for the full protection of the women concerned. All of these situations are complex legally and culturally, so community consultation is critical and the safety of each woman needs to have priority. The many opportunities for further work include research, community consultation, awareness raising, service provision and advocacy. Details: Abbotsford, VIC: Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2012 at: http://www.goodshepherd.com.au/sites/default/files/files/0556%20GOOD%20SHEPHERD%20HIDDEN%20EXPLOITATION%20EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY%20FINAL%20ONLINE%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.pdf (executive summary) Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.goodshepherd.com.au/sites/default/files/files/0556%20GOOD%20SHEPHERD%20HIDDEN%20EXPLOITATION%20EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY%20FINAL%20ONLINE%5B1%5D%5B2%5D.pdf (executive summary) Shelf Number: 125224 Keywords: Child Labor Forced Labor (Australia) Forced Marriage Forced Migration Human Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Violence Against Women

Author: DePrince, Anne P. Title: The Effectiveness of Coordinated Outreach in Intimate Partner Violence Cases: A Randomized, Longitudinal Design Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses an extremely costly problem to the individual, society, and criminal justice system. Effective responses to IPV require comprehensive, well-coordinated policies and protocols that maximize the legal sanctions and available community resources. Prosecution decisions and criminal justice outcomes are influenced by victim support for official action. The current study tested the prediction that early coordinated victim outreach would improve criminal justice outcomes as well as increase victim safety and empowerment. In collaboration with research, criminal justice, and community-based partners, this project employed a randomized control design to evaluate an innovative outreach program for racially and ethnically diverse IPV victims whose cases have come to the attention of the criminal justice system. Participants, who were randomly selected to receive outreach or treatment-as-usual, were interviewed at three time points: after an incident of IPV was reported to the police (T1), 6 months after T1, and 12 months after T1. The study addressed three primary goals. First, we evaluated the effectiveness of a coordinated, community-based outreach program in improving criminal justice and victim safety and empowerment outcomes for IPV victims using a longitudinal, randomized control design. Second, we identified victim and case characteristics that moderated outcomes. Third, we evaluated the influence of spatial characteristics on criminal justice outcomes. Between 5 December 2007 and 14 July 2008, 236 women in Denver City/County were enrolled into the study within a median of 26 days from an incident of IPV report to law enforcement. Victim-focused outreach had an impact on decreasing women’s reluctance to work with prosecutors and increasing women’s likelihood of being encouraged to take part in the prosecution of their abusers. These findings also indicated that outreach might be particularly important for IPV survivors marginalized by race/ethnicity, socio-economic status as well as for those survivors still living with their abusers after the target IPV incident (from which they were recruited for study participation). In addition, compared to the treatment-as-usual condition, women who received outreach reported decreased PTSD symptom severity, depression, and fear one year later. Although there were no effects of outreach on revictimization or social support levels, women randomly assigned to outreach reported greater readiness to leave the abuser than women assigned to treatment-as-usual. Further, the use of a geographic information system (GIS) revealed spatial patterns to key variables, such as aggression and posttraumatic responses. Women who anticipated problems going to court due to travel-related barriers (e.g., problems parking, taking the bus, etc.) were less likely to go to court when asked to go. Thus, this research highlights potential ways to think about and use spatial data in victim-focused research. Finally, research, policy, and practice implications of the study are discussed. Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2012. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 15, 2012 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238480.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/238480.pdf Shelf Number: 125270 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (U.S.) Victims of Domestic Violence, Services for Violence Against Women

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 Women Sexual Abuse Victims Sexual Violence (Central America) Violence Against Women

Author: Rabin, Nina Title: At the Border between Public and Private: U.S. Immigration Policy for Victims of Domestic Violence Summary: This paper is an examination of the treatment of women in flight from domestic violence at the U.S. Mexico border. It compares the robust state protections and institutional framework for women victims of domestic violence in the interior of the country with the hostile landscape women encounter at the border. The paper draws on three sources for information about the treatment at the border of domestic violence victims: an in-depth case study of one woman’s experience of domestic violence and flight, a small data set of women who fled domestic violence and were detained in Eloy Detention Center in Arizona during 2010 and 2011, and a detailed analysis of the policies and practices at play when a woman in flight from domestic violence comes to the U.S. border. The case study, data sample, and policy analysis paint a grim picture that may surprise many. Women fleeing violence whose lives entangle with the border confront a bureaucracy and a justice system that harkens back to the time, fifty years ago, when domestic violence was seen as a private matter about which there was little the government could or should do to respond. Most often, women are immediately turned around and sent back to the abuse without any opportunity to explain their terror. If they do voice their fear, they are often locked up in detention centers for months and sometimes years at a time. In the majority of cases, after this prolonged incarceration, they are deported back to the abuse from which they fled. The U.S. immigration policies and practices that lead to these results are not only failing to respond to these victims’ harms; they are actually exacerbating their trauma and isolation, often sending them back to a more dangerous situation than the one they originally fled. Building on this descriptive account, the paper analyzes whether there is sound justification for the differential treatment immigrant women victims of domestic violence receive at the border as compared to in the interior of the country. A closer look at the treatment of immigrant victims of domestic violence in the interior reveals that they receive state protection and assistance so long as they are conceived of solely in terms of their victimization. Inevitably, when their status as victims becomes intertwined with their status as undocumented immigrants, the state’s commitment to robust protection and assistance weakens. What is unique at the geographic border, however, is the ways in which these anxieties about admissions are cloaked in language about the “private” nature of the violence at issue for women in flight from domestic violence. This use of the public/private distinction to express underlying concerns about immigration admissions policies is disturbing on two counts: it fails to discuss transparently the considerations at issue and it minimizes the deep structural roots of domestic violence no matter where it occurs. Details: Tucson, AZ: James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Draft Paper: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2084363 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2084363 Shelf Number: 125457 Keywords: Asylum Domestic Violence Domestic Violence (U.S.) Immigrant Detention Immigrants Violence Against Women

Author: Freeman, Marilyn Title: University Responses to Forced Marriage and Violence Against Women in the UK: Report on a Pilot Study Summary: Violence against women (VAW) and forced marriage (FM) affect students in post-secondary education but little is known about how these issues present to staff working at colleges and universities and how the institutions respond. The purpose of this pilot study was to gather initial evidence about these matters and explore how institutional responses can be enhanced, considering both internal procedures and links with specialist services in the community. We use the term post-secondary education as an umbrella term for higher education universities and colleges, and further education colleges. The term higher education institutions (HEIs) is used mostly in reference to UK institutions that typically draw students 18 years and older and prepare them for professional or research-oriented jobs. Further education (FE) colleges refers to UK institutions that typically draw students 16 to 18 years old and prepare them for vocational and technical jobs. In addition, we use the terms universities and colleges interchangeably when referring to HEIs in the United States, which we do on occasion for comparative purposes. We use the different terms in order to acknowledge the variety of legal, social and cultural contexts post-secondary education institutions constitute. This report is informed by feedback gathered in 16 stakeholder interviews with staff at two HEIs in the southeast of England, local police officers, and local community-based specialist service providers1. Data collection was restricted to two HEIs, due to the exploratory nature of this research and the limited financial support and time-frame we had available for securing institutional participation. Note that students were not interviewed as our main focus in this pilot study was on staff and institutional perspectives. The pilot study used a small non-random sample, which may not necessarily be representative of HEIs in the UK. Nonetheless, we believe that the evidence gathered is useful and can inform university policy and future research in this area. This report presents aggregated findings across the two participating HEIs. We found that individual front line staff members see up to 15 cases per year of VAW students, mostly domestic violence but also sexual assault, and cases in which family members other than an intimate partner abuse the student. Cases of FM appear to be almost invisible to university staff but specialist service providers in the community stated that they worked with victims of FM who were students. The ‘institutional response’ appeared to be a matter of individual staff member expertise and commitment. Systematic institutional policies or response protocols dedicated to the issues were lacking. Managerial support for front line staff varied considerably; acquiring specialised training depended on individual staff motivation and the supportiveness of individual line managers. Referrals within the HEIs were not formalised but appeared to work well within the immediate peer context of front line staff; referrals to community-based services were not formalised and depended on how well individual staff knew the local community and relevant national services and resources. Staff members expressed interest in more specific training on VAW/FM and on cultural sensitivity. Details: London: London Metropolitan University, Child & Woman Abuse Studies Unit, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 5, 2012 at: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/fms/MRSite/acad/lgri/CFLP/2168_LMU_Forced_Marriage_WEB.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/fms/MRSite/acad/lgri/CFLP/2168_LMU_Forced_Marriage_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 125476 Keywords: Forced Marriage (U.K.) Universities and Colleges Violence Against Women

Author: Kishor, Sunita Title: Women’s and Men’s Experience of Spousal Violence in Two African Countries: Does Gender Matter? Summary: A large body of global research documents the high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women across the world and the resulting socioeconomic costs and reproductive and other health consequences for societies, women, and their children (United Nations 2006; Watts and Zimmerman 2002; Campbell 2002). In this literature, IPV is accepted as gender-based, directed disproportionately at women because of their gender. A contrary body of predominantly US-based research argues that IPV is not necessarily gender-based, and that women are as aggressive as men, or even more aggressive, in committing violence against their partners (Archer 2000, 2002; Straus 1990, 1993; Gelles and Straus 1988; White et al. 2000). The debate about gender symmetry challenges us to document the prevalence of IPV experienced by men in developing country settings and to examine how men’s experience of IPV compares and contrasts with IPV experienced by women in its extent, severity, frequency, and health consequences. To better understand the role of gender in IPV outside the developed world, this report compares the experiences of married men and married women with spousal violence, the most common form of IPV, using data from two sub-Saharan African countries, Ghana and Uganda. In these two countries, the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) asked nationally representative samples of women and men about their experience and perpetration of spousal violence using similar questions. Specifically, this paper addresses the following questions: 1. Are the extent, patterns, and severity of the experience of spousal violence similar between men and women? 2. Does the relationship between the experience of and the perpetration of spousal violence differ between men and women? Are women and men equally likely to be victims as well as aggressors of violence? 3. Do the correlates of the experience and perpetration of violence differ between men and women? When these identified correlates are held constant, is gender still a significant predictor of experience and/or perpetration of violence? 4. Is the association between experience and/or perpetration of spousal violence and selected health outcomes similar for men and women? The analysis finds that spousal violence is relatively common among both women and men in the two countries studied, but finds no evidence of gender symmetry: In Uganda, almost half of married women have experienced spousal physical violence compared with almost one-fifth of married men; and in Ghana, 19 percent of married women have experienced such violence compared with 10 percent of married men. Although women are clearly not the only victims of spousal violence, they are consistently and significantly more likely than men to experience all forms—physical, sexual, and emotional—of such violence. Further, the violence that women experience at the hands of their husbands is more common, more severe, and more likely to result in injuries than the violence that men experience from their wives. Men are significantly more likely than women to report that they have perpetrated violence against their spouse. Few women in both countries report perpetrating violence (6to 7 percent), and well-over half of these women who report perpetrating spousal violence also report experiencing it, suggesting that they are in mutually violent marriages. For men, the pattern is much different: More than 40 percent of men in Uganda and 16 percent in Ghana report perpetrating violence against their wives, and among these men who perpetrate violence about one-third in both countries also report experiencing spousal violence. These results demonstrate that, in these two countries, men are significantly more likely to be the aggressors, and women the victims, of spousal physical violence, and that the spousal violence experienced by women is much more syndromic in nature than the violence experienced by men. The study finds that the most consistent correlates of experience and perpetration of spousal violence were whether the respondent’s father beat his/her mother and whether the respondent’s spouse drinks alcohol and gets drunk. After controlling for other characteristics, both parental IPV and spousal alcohol use were associated with increased odds of perpetrating violence for both sexes and in both countries. These same factors were also associated with higher odds of experiencing spousal violence for both women and men in Uganda and for women in Ghana. Due to sample-size constraints, results were not statistically significant for men in Ghana. In a model pooling data for women and men, controlling for all other factors including parental IPV and partner alcohol consumption, women still had significantly higher odds of experiencing violence and lower odds of perpetrating violence compared with men. In examining associations between spousal physical violence and poor health and behavioral outcomes, controlling for background characteristics and associated factors, the report finds that in both countries, women who experienced spousal violence had significantly higher odds of having a self-reported sexually transmitted infection (STI) or STI symptom and of having experienced pregnancy loss (miscarriage or abortion) compared with women who did not experience spousal violence. In Ghana, experience of violence was also associated with higher odds of having a child who died and having a child who is stunted. Ugandan women who perpetrated violence had higher odds of self-reported STIs and Ghanaian women who perpetrated violence had higher odds of pregnancy loss; finally, women in Ghana had a higher number of children ever born and a higher lifetime number of sexual partners, on average, if they had both experienced and perpetrated violence compared with women who had done neither. Men in both countries who had both perpetrated and experienced spousal violence had higher odds of reporting STIs or STI symptoms; additionally, Ugandan men who perpetrated spousal violence, whether or not they had also experienced spousal violence, had higher odds of having had a non-spousal partner in the past 12 months and having paid for sex, and a higher number of children ever born. Ugandan men who only perpetrated spousal violence had a higher lifetime number of sexual partners, as well as higher odds of having had a child who had died, than men who had not perpetrated violence. Ghanaian men who perpetrated violence had higher odds of having had a child who is stunted and lower odds of having used a condom at last sexual intercourse with their most recent sexual partner. (Note: For men information related to children is based on their wives’ reports). In sum, experiencing violence for women is associated with several poor health outcomes for themselves and their children; whereas for men, perpetrating spousal violence is particularly associated with higherrisk sexual behaviors and some poor health outcomes for their children. The findings of this report are unambiguous in demonstrating that the level, intensity, and severity of spousal violence against women are much greater than they are against men; that women are much more likely to be the victims and men the aggressors, even after controlling for other relevant factors; that when men do experience violence it is much more likely to be in a mutually violent relationship, while women are much more likely to be only the victims of violence; and that women and the children of women who experience violence are more likely to experience poor health outcomes than men or the children of men who experience violence. Nonetheless, it is important to note that when women are perpetrators of violence, their male partners do suffer at least some of the same health consequences as suffered by women victims. Based on the findings of this report, it is recommended that elimination of violence against women should remain the highest priority. Nonetheless, programs that are working to reduce violence and its negative health consequences should also take into consideration the fact that not all men are only perpetrators of spousal violence; some are also victims. Details: Calverton, MD: ICF International, 2012. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: DHS Analytical Studies No. 27: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/AS27/AS27.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Africa URL: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/AS27/AS27.pdf Shelf Number: 125675 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Gender Intimate Partner Violence Spouse Abuse (Ghana, Uganda, Africa) Violence Against Women

Author: Arney, Fiona Title: Men's Places: Literature Review Summary: This report provides detail from a review of the literature regarding the prevention of and response to family violence with a focus on engaging Aboriginal men in remote communities. The literature review has been derived at the request of Department of Children and Families in the Northern Territory Australia to inform efforts in violence protection and response with a focus on men. A search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature was conducted to report on the practice and programs related to (i) community-focused activity for men aimed at reducing family violence before it occurs and (ii), community focused activity aimed at providing effective responses to men involved in family violence. The literature review focuses on activity that has been successful in (i) remote Australian communities and (ii), activity that has been successful in remote indigenous communities of other countries. The literature review highlights the need to work with Aboriginal men for their own healing as people that experience violence and for the benefit of family and community where men perpetrate violence. In Aboriginal communities, it is more than likely that abusive men will remain in the lives of their partners for a range of reasons. The review also highlights the limitations of mainstream law and order approaches to reducing family violence in Aboriginal communities, but also describes the lack of a solid evidence base for community based approaches to preventing and responding to violence. The review describes approaches for engaging men in service delivery, and the need to incorporate models which accurately represent men’s attitudes to violence, health, service delivery and behaviour change. Details: Darwin, NT, Australia: The Centre for Child Development and Education, Menzies School of Health Research, 2012. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 7, 2012 at: http://ccde.menzies.edu.au/sites/default/files/Arney%20Westby%202012%20Mens%20Places.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://ccde.menzies.edu.au/sites/default/files/Arney%20Westby%202012%20Mens%20Places.pdf Shelf Number: 125899 Keywords: Aboriginals Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence (Australia) Violence Against Women

Author: Informal Sector Service Centre Title: A Study on Violence due to Witchcraft Allegation and Sexual Violence Summary: Nepal, as a member state of the United Nation, has ratified various International human rights treaties and convention related to the rights of women which explicitly shows Nepal’s commitment towards protecting and promoting the rights of women. However, the situation of women doesn’t seem satisfactory. More than 50 per cent of Nepal’s population is women but their status is still very poor. They have a lower status than men in each aspect of the Human Development Index. Illiteracy, patriarchal society and the economic dependency of women on man create grounds for male domination over woman. Accusations of the so-called practice of witchcraft, rape and incidents of sexual violence are some of the examples of violence against women which occur in Nepalese society. Women are able to gain 33% seats in the Constituent Assembly, but their voices are still suppressed and issues of women have not been sufficiently raised in the Constituent Assembly. The lack of effective laws, the poor implementation of existing laws and the unaccountability of the government authorities also contributed to the occurrence of violence against women. However, the pro-active role of the court and progressive decisions in some cases concerning women rights present a cause for hope. Still, so many improvements are required to prevent violence against women. In the year 2011, it was recorded that many women and girls were abused after being blamed of practicing witchcraft. Similarly, many more were made victims of rape and sexual abuse. The incidents of rape, sexual violence and accusations of the practice of witchcraft can be reduced by the combined efforts of multiple stakeholders. The role of civil society and human rights organizations remain crucial in this regard. A Study on Violence due to Witchcraft Allegation and Sexual Violence; 3 INSEC has presented the overall description and details of incidents of rape and sexual violence, and accusations of the practice of witchcraft practices in this report in the context of 102nd International Women's Day which I felt could be important means by which to assess the situation of women in Nepal and the respective authorities in addressing these problems in society. Details: Kathmandu, Nepal: INSEC, 2012. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2012 at: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/INSEC_AStudyOnViolenceDueToWitchcraftAllegationAndSexualViolence.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/INSEC_AStudyOnViolenceDueToWitchcraftAllegationAndSexualViolence.pdf Shelf Number: 125983 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Witchcraft (Negal)

Author: Cripps, Kyllie Title: Communities Working to Reduce Indigenous Family Violence Summary: This brief describes some of the promising efforts to reduce Indigenous family violence in Australia and overseas, including both government and community initiatives, as well as support mechanisms and measures for victims. Some of Memmott et al.’s (2001) nine categories of violence program types are adopted as headings: support programs; behavioural reform programs; community policing and monitoring programs; justice programs; mediation programs; education and awareness programs; and composite programs. Evaluations of alcohol restrictions are also considered. Details: Canberra: Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse, 2012. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Brief 12: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/briefs/brief012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.indigenousjustice.gov.au/briefs/brief012.pdf Shelf Number: 125997 Keywords: Aboriginals Family Violence (Australia) Indigenous Peoples Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: United States Agency for International Development Title: United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally Summary: Under the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Clinton, the United States has put gender equality and the advancement of women and girls at the forefront of the three pillars of U.S. foreign policy–diplomacy, development, and defense. This is embodied in the President’s National Security Strategy, the Presidential Policy Directive on Global Development, and the 2010 U.S. Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). Evidence demonstrates that women’s empowerment is critical to building stable, democratic societies; to supporting open and accountable governance; to furthering international peace and security; to growing vibrant market economies; and to addressing pressing health and education challenges. Preventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the Administration’s commitment to advancing gender equality. Such violence significantly hinders the ability of individuals to fully participate in and contribute to their families and communities–economically, politically, and socially. Vice President Biden, who authored the Violence Against Women Act while in the Senate, has been a leader in efforts to end violence against women and girls for two decades. Secretary of State Clinton and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah also have been tireless advocates for ending gender-based violence, and have elevated this issue as a foreign policy priority. To further advance its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Obama Administration has developed this new strategy to prevent and respond more effectively to genderbased violence globally. The purpose of the strategy is to establish a government-wide approach that identifies, coordinates, integrates, and leverages current efforts and resources. The strategy provides Federal agencies with a set of concrete goals and actions to be implemented and monitored over the course of the next three years with an evaluation of progress midway through this period. At the end of the three-year timeframe, the agencies will evaluate the progress made and chart a course forward. To ensure a government-wide perspective in developing this strategy, the White House, at the request of the U.S. Department of State and USAID, convened representatives from the U.S. Departments of State, the Treasury, Defense, Justice, Labor, Health and Human Services (including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. National Institutes of Health), and Homeland Security, as well as from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, USAID, the Peace Corps, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. These included representatives working on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Health Initiative (GHI), and the Office of the United States Government Special Advisor and Senior Coordinator for Children in Adversity. Additionally, the White House, the Department of State, and USAID held multiple consultations with civil society organizations to ensure that their perspectives informed the development of the strategy. Details: Washington, DC: USAID, 2012. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 17, 2012 at: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196468.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/196468.pdf Shelf Number: 126057 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Girls Violence Against Women

Author: Light, Linda Title: Police-reported Spousal Violence Incidents in B.C. in which Both Partners are Suspects/Accused Summary: The purpose of this study was threefold: • To enhance our understanding of the police practice of identifying both partners in a relationship as suspects in incidents of spousal violence, the implications of this practice, and what has been done to inform that practice • To determine whether or not a problem exists with respect to dual suspects in police-reported incidents of spousal violence, and if so, the nature and extent of this problem • To develop recommendations to address this situation, based on analysis of statistical data on dual suspects/accuseds in spousal violence cases in BC police jurisdictions and on discussions with key informants. Published police-reported crime data show that provincial proportions of dual suspects in spousal violence in BC remained relatively constant from 1995 to 2005 (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Police Services Division, 2006). One possible explanation for community concern in the face of this relative stability of provincial proportions of dual suspect incidents is that variation from jurisdiction to jurisdiction may exist within the context of a relatively stable provincial proportion that masks high proportions in some jurisdictions. The results of the study confirmed that there is a wide variation from jurisdiction to jurisdiction across BC in terms of both proportions of police-reported spousal violence incidents involving dual suspects and proportions of these cases recommended for charge. The total provincial figures from 2000 to 2005 for dual suspects as a percentage of total spousal violence incidents in these cases ranged from a low of 7.7% to a high of 10.2%. During this same period, proportions of dual suspects in spousal violence cases in individual BC policing jurisdictions in at least one of these years ranged from 0% to 22.9%. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of these figures as, when numbers are small, small changes in volume can result in large variations in percentages. Details: British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety, 2009. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 17, 2012 at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/publications/docs/police-reported-spousal-violence.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Canada URL: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/victimservices/publications/docs/police-reported-spousal-violence.pdf Shelf Number: 126059 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Canada) Family Violence Police Reporting Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Farley, Melissa Title: Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota Summary: Since Native women are at exceptionally high risk for poverty, homelessness, and sexual violence which are elements in the trafficking of women, and because the needs of Native women are generally not being met, and because prostituted women are at extremely high risk for violence and emotional trauma, our goal was to assess the life circumstances of Native women in prostitution in Minnesota, a group of women not previously studied in research such as this. We assessed their needs and the extent to which those needs are or are not being met. We interviewed 105 Native women in prostitution for approximately 1.5 hours each, administering 4 questionnaires that asked about family history, sexual and physical violence throughout their lifetimes, homelessness, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and dissociation, use of available services such as domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, rape crisis centers, and substance abuse treatment. We asked the women about the extent to which they connected with their cultures, and if that helped them or not. We asked about racism and colonialism. The questionnaires were both quantitative and qualitative. About half of the women met a conservative legal definition of sex trafficking which involves third-party control over the prostituting person by pimps or traffickers. Yet most (86%) interviewees felt that no women really know what they're getting into when they begin prostituting, and that there is deception and trickery involved. • 79% of the women we interviewed had been sexually abused as children by an average of 4 perpetrators. • More than two-thirds of the 105 women had family members who had attended boarding schools. • 92% had been raped. • 48% had been used by more than 200 sex buyers during their lifetimes. 16% had been used by at least 900 sex buyers. • 84% had been physically assaulted in prostitution. • 72% suffered traumatic brain injuries in prostitution • 98% were currently or previously homeless. • Racism was an emotionally damaging element in these women's lives and a source of ongoing stress. • 62% saw a connection between prostitution and colonization, and explained that the devaluation of women in prostitution was identical to the colonizing devaluation of Native people. • 33% spoke of Native cultural or spiritual practices as an important part of who they were. • 52% had PTSD at the time of the interview, a rate that is in the range of PTSD among combat veterans. 71% had symptoms of dissociation. • 80% had used outpatient substance abuse services. Many felt that they would have been helped even more by inpatient treatment. 77% had used homeless shelters. 65% had used domestic violence services. 33% had used sexual assault services. • 92% wanted to escape prostitution • Their most frequently stated needs were for individual counseling (75%) and peer support (73%), reflecting a need for their unique experiences as Native women in prostitution to be heard and seen by people who care about them. Two thirds needed housing and vocational counseling. • Many of the women felt they owed their survival to Native cultural practices. Most wanted access to Native healing approaches integrated with a range of mainstream services. Prostitution is a sexually exploitive, often violent economic option most often entered into by those with a lengthy history of sexual, racial and economic victimization. Prostitution is only now beginning to be understood as violence against women and children. It has rarely been included in discussions of sexual violence against Native women. It is crucial to understand the sexual exploitation of Native women in prostitution today in its historical context of colonial violence against nations. In order for a woman to have the real choice to exit prostitution, a range of services must be offered yet there are currently few or no available services especially designed for Native women in prostitution. We recommend increased state and federal funding for transitional and long term housing for Native women and others seeking to escape prostitution. We recommend increased funding for Native women's programs, including advocacy, physical and mental health care, job training and placement, legal services, and research on these topics. We urge state, local, and tribal officials to review and reconsider their policies toward victims of prostitution and We recommend increased state and federal funding for transitional and long term housing for Native women and others seeking to escape prostitution. We recommend increased funding for Native women's programs, including advocacy, physical and mental health care, job training and placement, legal services, and research on these topics. We urge state, local, and tribal officials to review and reconsider their policies toward victims of prostitution and trafficking, including this new research about Native women. The arrest and prosecution of victims is counter-productive and exacerbates their problems. As a Native woman interviewed for this research study said, "We need people with hearts." Arresting sex buyers, not their victims, is a more appropriate policy. Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Indian Women's Sexual Assault Coalition; San Francisco, CA: Prostitution Research & Education, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/pdfs/Garden_of_Truth_Final_Project_WEB.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/pdfs/Garden_of_Truth_Final_Project_WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 126355 Keywords: Human Trafficking Native American Women (Minnesota) Prostitution Sexual Abuse Sexual Exploitation Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Bileski, Matthew Title: The Reporting of Sexual Assault in Arizona, CY 2001-2010 Summary: Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) §41-2406, which became law in July 2005, requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) to maintain information obtained from disposition reporting forms submitted to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) on sexual assault (A.R.S. §13-1406) and the false reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse (A.R.S. §13-2907.03). Utilizing DPS disposition data, ACJC is mandated to provide an annual report briefing the governor, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house, the secretary of state, and the director of the Arizona state library, archives, and public records on sexual assault in Arizona. According to statute, the report is to contain the total number of police reports filed, the number of charges filed, the number of convictions, and the sentences assigned for sexual assault, sexual assault involving a spouse, and false reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse separately. All data for sexual assault involving a spouse must include whether or not the victim and the victim’s spouse were estranged at the time of the assault. The disposition data come from an extract of the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) record system provided by DPS to ACJC in January 2012. By statute, the ACCH repository is populated with arrest and disposition reporting form information for all felony, sex offense, driving under the influence, and domestic violence-related charges submitted to DPS by local law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, and the courts. This report focuses on data from calendar years (CY) 2001 to 2010 and updates data reported in The Reporting of Sexual Assault in Arizona, CY2008-2009 report. Details: Tuczon: Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Statistical Analysis Center, 2012. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 18, 2012 at: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2012%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report_Final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.azcjc.gov/ACJC.Web/Pubs/Home/2012%20ARS%2041-2406%20Report_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 126374 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault (Arizona) Sexual Violence Spouse Abue Violence Against Women

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 Women Administration of Justice Education Health Sexual Abuse Victims Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: George, Thomas P. Title: Domestic Violence Sentencing Conditions and Recidivism Summary: This study examined the types of sentence conditions imposed on domestic violence offenders, the combination of conditions that formed offenders’ sentences, and the relationship between the type of sentence received and recidivism. A total of 66,759 individuals charged with a domestic violence offense from 2004 through 2006 in Washington State courts were included in the study, 41% of whom had conditions imposed at sentencing. Over 100 different types of conditions were used during the study period, which were then reduced to 14 condition categories. Offenders received, on average, over six different conditions. Proscriptions, fines, jail, and probation were the most common conditions imposed, each included in over half of all sentences. The combinations of conditions within sentences were then examined, and ten types of sentences were selected for analysis. Logistic regression was used to predict both domestic violence recidivism and any type of subsequent offense, controlling for a number of offender and case characteristics. Results indicated that, when compared to offenders who received sentences involving only fines and/or proscriptions, those who also complied with either probation, victim-oriented treatment, or probation and treatment had lower odds of committing another domestic violence offense during the five-year follow-up period. Any sentence that included a jail term along with fines and/or proscriptions was associated with higher odds of domestic violence recidivism. Results were similar when examining recidivism in general with one exception; sentences that included anger management interventions were also associated with lower odds of recidivating. Offenders who completed state-certified domestic violence treatment, on the other hand, did not have significantly lower or higher odds of recidivating when compared to offenders who received only fines and/or proscriptions. Results suggest a need to re-examine how domestic violence offenders are sentenced as well as whether current models of domestic violence treatment are effective in preventing further violence. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2012 at: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/DV_sentencing_conditions_recidivism.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/DV_sentencing_conditions_recidivism.pdf Shelf Number: 126477 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Offenders (Washington, State) Family Violence Punishment Recidivism Sentencing Violence Against Women

Author: Firmin, Carlene Title: Female Voice in Violence: Introductory Report: Phase 1: A Cross-Regional Study on the Impact of Gangs and Serious Youth Violence on Women and Girls Summary: Since 2008, the social policy think-tank Race on the Agenda (ROTA) has conducted research on the impact of serious youth and gang violence on women and girls. Their Female Voice in Violence project assesses the impact of serious youth violence, gangs and serious group offending on women and girls. In particular it addresses the policy context of violence against women and girls, and serious youth violence, at a national, regional and local level; and assesses the capacity of the third and statutory sector to respond to the needs of gang affected women and girls. This project has so far been London focused, but from 2010-2011 ROTA will develop cross regional research in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham. In preparation for this fieldwork ROTA has produced this introductory report to introduce the National Research Programme. It details the introductory report research strategy, outlines the current gaps in policy and practice, and describes the current approaches taken across regions to address both serious youth violence and sexual violence. Details: London: Race on the Agenda, 2010. 50p., bibliography Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 126482 Keywords: Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Youth Gangs (U.K.) Youth Violence

Author: Humphreys, Cathy Title: Prevention not Prediction? A preliminary evaluation of the Metropolitan Police Domestic Violence Risk Assessment Model (SPECSS+) Summary: The implementation of The Metropolitan Police Domestic Violence SPECSS+ Risk, Identification, Assessment and Management model (SPECSS+ model) is at an early stage. The emphasis of this report has been on a process evaluation which can shed light on how the implementation of the SPECSS+ risk assessment model is proceeding; what lessons can be learnt to inform future phases of implementation; and whether and under what circumstances it could be recommended to other forces. The evaluation team was asked to address the following questions in relation to the SPECSS+ risk assessment model: • Does it comply with the ACPO guidelines on risk assessment? • Does it address victims’ needs in terms of risk? • Does it complement safety planning? • Can the model be managed within force limitations? • Can it be applied irrespective of geography, community or policing variables? The SPECSS+ risk assessment model was developed through a series of consultations between the Met and multi-agency partners based on the evidence from the London multi-agency murder reviews and serious sexual and physical assaults (Richards, 2004; Richards, 2003). It is a three-stage model which involves an initial response, an assessment of risk and intervention to manage the risks identified. The assessment of risk is based on six prominent risk factors outlined in SPECSS+ (Separation (child contact), Pregnancy (new birth), Escalation, Culture (community isolation and barriers to reporting), Stalking and Sexual Assault). A further six additional factors are also included as prompts for front-line (FL) officers to consider (abuse of children, abuse of pets, access to weapons, either victim or perpetrator being suicidal, drug and alcohol problems, jealous and controlling behaviour, threats to kill, and mental health problems). To support the implementation of the risk assessment model the 124D form was developed for use in London, the VIVID data collection system for use in West Yorkshire, and the MPS Domestic Violence Policy and Standard Operating Procedures written. Risk assessment and risk management processes also need to comply with the ACPO Guidance on Investigating Domestic Violence (2004), which provides operational, tactical and strategic advice – the priorities of the police service in responding to domestic violence. Evaluation design To meet the evaluation brief a multi-methodological design was adopted by the evaluation team. Research was conducted in both The Met and West Yorkshire police forces. In each area, two police divisions were chosen as the evaluation sites. The following process was then undertaken: • Semi-structured interviews with 10 ‘key informants’ who were either currently or recently involved with the development of the risk assessment model. • 71 structured interviews with FL officers. • 20 face-to-face interviews with senior and specialist officers. • 7 interviews with partner agencies. • 4 interviews with victims. • Analysis of 120 case files drawn from the 4 different research sites. • Aggregate data analysis provided by West Yorkshire and the two London sites on specified variables such as: total number of incidents; total number of arrests; number of cases at each risk assessment level. • Documentary analysis of the ACPO risk assessment guidance was undertaken to assess the extent of harmony or contradiction between the guidance and the implementation of the SPECSS+ model. Details: Coventry, UK: Centre for the Study of Safety and Wellbeing, University of Warwick and Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, 2005. 88 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2012 at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/shss/swell/research/acpo_final_report.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/shss/swell/research/acpo_final_report.pdf Shelf Number: 103422 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Famiily Violence Risk Assessment Violence Against Women Violence Risk Assessment Model

Author: Amnesty International Title: Colombia: Hidden from Justice. Impunity for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, A Follow-Up Report Summary: Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls in Colombia has long been a largely hidden human rights tragedy. Members of all parties to the conflict – paramilitaries, the security forces and guerrilla groups – have been responsible for these crimes, and almost all have evaded justice. This was the picture painted in Amnesty International’s September 2011 report, “This is what we demand. Justice!”: Impunity for sexual violence against women in Colombia’s armed conflict. Following publication of that report, the authorities in Colombia made a number of commitments to comply with their national and international legal obligations to end all forms of sexual violence, including those committed in the context of the conflict, and to bring those responsible for such crimes to justice. This report details what progress has been made over the past year and what still remains to be done. It ends by calling on the government to intensify its efforts to ensure the rights of women and girls in Colombia to freedom from violence and to justice. amnesty.org Details: London: Amnesty International, 2012. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2012 at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR23/031/2012/en/8779cba6-f18f-4f06-9007-4cb337fcd1bd/amr230312012en.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Colombia URL: https://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR23/031/2012/en/8779cba6-f18f-4f06-9007-4cb337fcd1bd/amr230312012en.pdf Shelf Number: 126565 Keywords: Armed Conflict Human Rights Rape Sexual Violence (Colombia) Violence Against Women

Author: Debbonaire, Thangam Title: The Pilot of the Respect/Relate/CAFCASS Domestic Violence Risk Identification Tool: Evaluation Report Summary: Domestic violence risk identification, assessment and management are all developing in various ways and for various purposes in different organisations in the US, Australia, UK and elsewhere. Police, probation, social work and specialist domestic violence services are using various forms of risk assessment and identification tools and systems to guide their work with perpetrators and victims of domestic violence and their children. These tools and systems have developed over the years, gradually bringing more specific factors identified as affecting risk to the attention of professionals working with either perpetrators or victims or both in order to assist them to carry out various different activities. In 2006/07 staff from Respect, CAFCASS and Relate came together to consider a risk assessment tool that: 1. Can be used within practitioners’ current workload; 2. Can convey information from a range of sources – even and especially where the alleged perpetrator may be one source of information and where there may be huge contradictions in versions of events; 3. Takes into account the key risk factors – assuming information not only from criminal justice sources or about recent incidents; 4. Does not simply add to the dizzying range of different assessment tools already out there. The CAADA risk checklist was developed in Cardiff to support multiagency information sharing around 2000. It has since become the checklist used by Independent Domestic Violence Advisors and within MARACs (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) which are spreading rapidly across the UK. MARACs aim to pool available information on victims who have been identified by key agencies as at medium or high risk, to plan interventions and monitoring in order to reduce the risk of continued domestic violence. Evaluations of MARACS identify the benefits for victims of this approach to protection, which include most significantly reductions in rates of recidivism. There is an implication here that this form of risk management may also be contributing to the prevention of serious injury and death – future research will be in a better position to explore this. During 2007, specialist staff in all three agencies worked together to produce an amended version of the tool, with support from CAADA. Relate, CAFCASS and Respect organisations all piloted the tool. Details: London: Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), 2008. 28p Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 11, 2012 at: http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/PDF/7195_Review%20of%20the%20risk%20id%20tool%20pilot%2018th%20August%2008%20FOR%20PUBLICATION.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/PDF/7195_Review%20of%20the%20risk%20id%20tool%20pilot%2018th%20August%2008%20FOR%20PUBLICATION.pdf Shelf Number: 126669 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Risk Assessment Violence Against Women

Author: Tuiketei, Timaima Title: Violence against Women - A Public Health Perspective: Project Report Fiji 2010 Summary: WHO launched the Global Report on "Violence and Health" in 2002. The recommendations include a call on member countries to: create, implement and monitor a national action plan for violence prevention; enhance capacity for collecting data on violence; define priorities and support research on prevention of violence; promote primary prevention responses; strengthen responses for victims of violence; integrate violence prevention into social and educational policies, and thereby promote gender and social equality; and increase collaboration and exchange of information on violence prevention. The regional profile presents data collated from published sources in the Asia-Pacific region according to the five areas: HIV prevalence and epidemiological status; Vulnerability and HIV knowledge; Risk behaviours; Socio-economic impact of the epidemic; and National response. The data sources include Epidemiological fact sheets, Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BSS), United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) Report, AIDS Indicator Surveys (AIS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) and others. Details: Manilla: World Health Organization, Western Pacific Region, 2010. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 11, 2012 at: http://aidsdatahub.org/dmdocuments/Fiji_VAW_Project_report_Final_Jan_2011_24.1.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Asia URL: http://aidsdatahub.org/dmdocuments/Fiji_VAW_Project_report_Final_Jan_2011_24.1.pdf Shelf Number: 126671 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Asia, Pacific Region) Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Cussen, Tracy Title: ACT Family Violence Intervention Program Review Summary: This Technical and Background Paper reports on an AIC review of the Australian Capital Territory’s Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP). The FVIP provides an interagency response to family violence matters that have come to the attention of police and then proceeded to prosecution. The scope of the review was to analyse the program’s activities and outcomes using 2007–08 data provided by participating agencies, supported by in-depth interviews with key stakeholders including victims whose matters had been finalised in court. After the completion of this report, additional data from 2008–09 and 2009–10 was made available by some FVIP participating agencies. Although not within the scope of this evaluation, these data pointed to some preliminary improvements in the FVIP. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 166p. Source: Internet Resource: Technical and Background Paper 52: Accessed October 24, 2012 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp052.aspx Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tbp/41-60/tbp052.aspx Shelf Number: 126795 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence (Australia) Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: “The Law Was Against Me”: Migrant Women’s Access to Protection for Family Violence in Belgium Summary: In spite of recent immigration law reform, family migrants in Belgium face continuing obstacles to protection. Income and evidence requirements make it hard for women whose immigration status is dependent on abusive partners to retain their residence permits if they leave the family home. Women who fail to inform the immigration authorities in time risk loss of residence permits and expulsion. The law excludes women who have applied but not yet received a residence permit and those whose partner has left Belgium. In some parts of Belgium the capacity of shelters for victims of domestic violence fails to meet demand. Undocumented migrant women experience particular difficulties in seeking protection. Unlike legal family migrants, they are not covered by the protection clause recently added to the immigration legislation. While undocumented women can apply for regularization on humanitarian grounds, domestic violence in Belgium is not an established criterion. Fear of deportation makes them reluctant to report violence to the police or otherwise seek help. Shelters in some parts of Belgium refuse to accept women without papers, citing limited resources. “The Law Was Against Me” calls on the Belgian government to build on the system already in place to ensure that it offers protection from violence for all migrant women, regardless or circumstances or legal status. It makes concrete recommendations to the authorities on improving residence permits, encouraging migrant women to report violence to the police and improving access to services. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 9, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/belgium1112webwcover.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Belgium URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/belgium1112webwcover.pdf Shelf Number: 126906 Keywords: Abused Wives Battered Women Family Violence Human Rights (Belgium) Migrants Violence Against Women

Author: Holly, Jennifer Title: Promising Practices: Mental Health Trust Responses to Domestic Violence Summary: The links between experiences of trauma and psychological distress are well understood, with much research having been undertaken to explore the mental health sequelae to experiencing abuse in childhood, being the victim of sexual assault and rape, or witnessing violence in conflict settings (Golding, 1999; Harold and Howarth, 2004; Rees et al, 2011: Tanielian and Jaycox, 2008). In terms of domestic violence, the last decade has seen a significant growth in the understanding of survivors’ mental health problems being a “symptom of abuse” (Humphreys and Thiara, 2003). Female survivors of domestic violence experience markedly higher levels of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harming and suicidal ideation than the general female population (Campbell, 2002; Dutton et al, 2005; Howard et al, 2010a). Unsurprisingly, reported rates of lifetime experiences of domestic violence among psychiatric patients is higher than the general population. Despite the high prevalence of domestic violence in the lives of the people who use mental health services, experiences of abuse are not routinely enquired about (Howard et al, 2010b). Furthermore, practice-based evidence collated through the Stella Project Mental Health Initiative, a three-year project funded by the Department of Health to look at models of supporting survivors who have mental health and/or substance use problems, suggests that neither the links between experiences of abuse and service users’ current mental health problems nor the risk of further abuse are routinely assessed within mental health services in England. This research was completed to ascertain what Mental Health Trusts in England are currently doing to address domestic violence and to identify areas of good practice. Details: London: AVA ( Against Violence and Abuse), 2012. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2012 at http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/106656/promising%20practices%20-%20mental%20health%20trust%20responses%20to%20domestic%20violence.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/106656/promising%20practices%20-%20mental%20health%20trust%20responses%20to%20domestic%20violence.pdf Shelf Number: 126915 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Mental Health Services (U.K.) Victim Services (U.K.) Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Geddie, Eve Title: Strategies to End Double Violence Against Undocumented Women - Protecting Rights and Ensuring Justice Summary: Undocumented women are those residing in Europe without a valid residence or work permit. In an absence of rights and justice, violence can be a reason for their migration, the cause of their irregularity, and consequence of this unprotected status. Gender vulnerabilities increase the likelihood of migrant women to become undocumented, a status under which they are greatly exposed to systematic violence, abuse and discrimination. The majority of undocumented women arrive to Europe with a regular, but often highly dependent migration status and become undocumented for reasons outside of their own control. While many women leave their home countries in a bid to achieve justice and equality, the discriminatory and disempowering policies which govern the migration process can often disempower them. The lack of an independent legal status is a very common challenge for migrant women and means that those subject to violence, exploitation or misinformation can easily find themselves in an undocumented situation with no possibility to re-regularise their status. Migrant women may also become undocumented following an unsuccessful claim for asylum; those seeking protection are highly disadvantaged in the asylum system as claims on grounds of gender-based violence have a disproportionately high refusal rate in many of states.1 Finally, irregular entry is another route in which migrant women can become undocumented and one in which they are at particular risk of human rights abuses.2 As workers, migrants, and carers, undocumented migrant women are frequently the main wage earner and often negotiate on behalf of their families and communities with the social, educational and health systems. The tendency to detect irregular migrants through these systems therefore places undocumented women at additional risk of being detained and deported. Paradoxically, it is the active agency of migrant women, in addition to their urgent needs regarding housing, working conditions and protection from violence which enables disproportionate discrimination. While European governments recognise health and education as fundamental standards to improve the situation of vulnerable women abroad, they implement policies which effectively strip these same women of their innate rights and entitlements should they become undocumented within EU borders. The barriers facing undocumented women to access basic social rights, social support systems or redress for abuses increases their experience of violence. Details: Brussels, Belgium: PICUM, 2012. 128p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 24, 2012 at: http://picum.org/picum.org/uploads/publication/Double%20Violence%20Against%20Undocumented%20Women%20-%20Protecting%20Rights%20and%20Ensuring%20Justice.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Europe URL: http://picum.org/picum.org/uploads/publication/Double%20Violence%20Against%20Undocumented%20Women%20-%20Protecting%20Rights%20and%20Ensuring%20Justice.pdf Shelf Number: 126996 Keywords: Illegal Immigrants Immigrants Migrant Women Undocumented Women (Europe) Violence Against Women

Author: Catalano, Shannan Title: Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2010 Summary: This report presents data on nonfatal intimate partner violence among U.S. households from 1993 to 2010. Intimate partner violence includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault by a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. This report presents trends in intimate partner violence by sex, and examines intimate partner violence against women by the victim’s age, race and Hispanic origin, marital status, and household composition. Data are from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which collects information on nonfatal crimes reported and not reported to the police from a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. Highlights: From 1994 to 2010, the overall rate of intimate partner violence in the United States declined by 64%, from 9.8 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older to 3.6 per 1,000. Intimate partner violence declined by more than 60% for both males and females from 1994 to 2010. From 1994 to 2010, about 4 in 5 victims of intimate partner violence were female. Females ages 18 to 24 and 25 to 34 generally experienced the highest rates of intimate partner violence. Compared to every other age group, a smaller percentage of female victims ages 12 to 17 were previously victimized by the same offender. The rate of intimate partner violence for Hispanic females declined 78%, from 18.8 victimizations per 1,000 in 1994 to 4.1 per 1,000 in 2010. Females living in households comprised of one female adult with children experienced intimate partner violence at a rate more than 10 times higher than households with married adults with children and 6 times higher than households with one female only. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2012. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2012 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4536 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4536 Shelf Number: 127013 Keywords: Abused Wives Abusive Men Crime Statistics Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (U.S.) Victimization Surveys Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Johnson, Wendi L. Title: The Influence of Intimate Partner Violence on Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms from Adolescence to Young Adulthood Summary: Using longitudinal survey data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS), and growth curve analyses, we assessed the influence of intimate partner violence on trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to early adulthood (N = 1, 286) while controlling for time stable (age, gender, race/ethnicity) and time-varying correlates associated with both IPV and depressive symptoms. Results show that IPV exerts a positive effect on depressive symptoms over time after controlling for potential confounding factors. While prior work has theorized that certain populations may be at increased psychological vulnerability from IPV, our results indicate that the influence of IPV on depressive symptoms is similar irrespective of age, gender or minority status. While prior studies have documented that adolescent girls, and women are at increased risk of physical injury due to IPV, our study highlights that with respect to one aspect of psychological well-being (depressive symptoms), IPV exerts similar effects across gender. Details: Bowling Green State University The Center for Family and Demographic Research, 2012. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: 2012 Working Paper Series: Accessed November 28, 2012 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-BGSU-2012-040/PWP-BGSU-2012-040.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-BGSU-2012-040/PWP-BGSU-2012-040.pdf Shelf Number: 127026 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (U.S.) Mental Depression Mental Health Violence Against Women

Author: Levine, Marlene Title: Case Studies of Community Initiatives Addressing Family Violence in Refugee and Migrant Communities Summary: This research describes the kinds of initiatives that were perceived by community members and service providers as working well in refugee and migrant communities and the conditions that encourage them to flourish. The report presents two case studies of community initiatives addressing family violence in refugee and migrant communities. Six other initiatives are described more briefly. These were chosen from a dozen recommended in the course of interviews with key informants from central, regional and local government, and from community organisations. The research was not intended to evaluate these initiatives and there was no analysis of client outcomes. The purpose was to learn from those involved in addressing family violence in refugee and migrant communities, and to get the voice of communities heard. It is hoped that these case studies will inspire community groups, service providers and government agencies, to initiate community-based programmes that address family violence. This research also aims to help fill the identified gap in New Zealand research on community-based programmes and family violence in refugee and migrant communities. The two case study initiatives are: • Umma Trust, which provides services and support aimed at empowering women, overcoming isolation and preventing family violence • Second Chance, which provides post-refuge education and training aimed at independence for survivors of intimate partner violence. Details: Wellington, NZ: Minsitry of Social Development and Ministry of Women's Affairs, 2011. 42p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 1, 2012 at: www.msd.govt.nz Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 127050 Keywords: Domestic Violence (New Zealand) Family Violence Immigrant Communities Intimate Partner Violence Refugee Communities Violence Against Women

Author: Natale, Katrina Title: “I Could Feel My Soul Flying Away From My Body”: A Study on Gender-Based Violence During Democratic Kampuchea in Battambang and Svay Rieng Provinces Summary: More than thirty years have passed since the fall of the Khmer Rouge state, Democratic Kampchea. In this time, the world has become aware of the many atrocities that the population suffered at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, including forced transfer and evacuation, extrajudicial killing, forced labor, starvation, illness and death. In contrast to the widespread scholarship and public acknowledgment that these issues have received, reports of gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge have benefitted from relatively little study and attention. This small-scale study was undertaken to build on the few other research studies which have been conducted on the topic of GBV in Democratic Kampuchea. The main objective of the study was to shed more light on the nature and characteristics of GBV under the Khmer Rouge by gathering data on: 1) the types of GBV perpetrated during Democratic Kampuchea; 2) the victims and perpetrators of this violence; 3) the location and circumstances under which it occurred; and 4) how this data compares to that collected through previous studies. Interviews for this survey were conducted in September and October 2010 with 104 respondents aged between 42 and 84 years old residing in Battambang and Svay Rieng provinces. Respondents were interviewed confidentially about their knowledge and experiences of GBV while living in Democratic Kampuchea using a semi-structured survey questionnaire which included both open and closed questions. As the second case before the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) moves forward and other transitional justice and peace-building initiatives are developed, this report aims to raise awareness of the issue of GBV under the Khmer Rouge, bring acknowledgment to the victims, situate the findings of this study within the context of international law and scholarship on GBV, refocus attention on accountability mechanisms targeting GBV and encourage the integration of this knowledge into all initiatives which address the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge. Details: Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Cambodian Defenders Project, 2011. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 4, 2012 at: http://www.svri.org/SoulFlying.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Cambodia URL: http://www.svri.org/SoulFlying.pdf Shelf Number: 127120 Keywords: Forced Marriage Gender-Based Violence (Cambodia) Rape Sexual Mutilation Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Greiff, Shaina Title: No Justice in Justifications: Violence against Women in the Name of Culture, Religion, and Tradition Summary: This briefing presents a survey of culturally justified violence against women, including how violence against women is justified by 'culture', the different forms this violence can take, and recommendations for change. The SKSW Campaign is undertaking projects on 'culture', women and violence, with partners in Senegal, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, and Sudan. This briefing paper will therefore give a general overview of discourses on culture, tradition, and/or religion that are used to justify, and therefore perpetuate, specic manifestations of VAW in these focal countries, as well as local methods to counter such arguments. While recognising that culture and religion can be empowering for, and central to, both individual and collective identities, this article will look at the misuse of these discourses for the purpose of sanctioning impunity for perpetrators and silencing dissenters. This discussion concludes with recommendations for activists, scholars, and policy makers. Details: Violence is Not Our Culture, 2010. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2012 at http://www.violenceisnotourculture.org/sites/default/files/No%20Justice%20in%20Justifications%20-Violence%20against%20Women%20in%20the%20Name%20of%20Culture%2C%20Religion%20and%20Tradition%20%28Greiff%29.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.violenceisnotourculture.org/sites/default/files/No%20Justice%20in%20Justifications%20-Violence%20against%20Women%20in%20the%20Name%20of%20Culture%2C%20Religion%20and%20Tradition%20%28Greiff%29.pdf Shelf Number: 127236 Keywords: Crime Prevention Religion, Culture Violence Against Women

Author: Violence Policy Center Title: When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2010 Homicide Data - Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents Summary: The annual VPC report details national and state-by-state information on female homicides involving one female murder victim and one male offender. The study uses the most recent data available from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s unpublished Supplementary Homicide Report and is released each year to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. Nationwide, 1,800 females were murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents in 2010. Where weapon use could be determined, firearms were the most common weapon used by males to murder females (849 of 1,622 homicides or 52 percent). Of these, 70 percent (597 of 849) were committed with handguns. In cases where the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 94 percent of female victims (1,571 out of 1,669) were murdered by someone they knew. Of these, 65 percent (1,017 out of 1,571) were wives or intimate acquaintances of their killers. Sixteen times as many females were murdered by a male they knew than were killed by male strangers. In 88 percent of all incidents where the circumstances could be determined, the homicides were not related to the commission of any other felony, such as rape or robbery. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 22, 2012 at http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2012.pdf Shelf Number: 127258 Keywords: Crime Rates Crime Statistics Homicide Murder Violence Against Women

Author: Keesbury, Jill, Onyango-Ouma, W. Title: A Review and Evaluation of Multi-Sectoral Response Services (One-Stop Centers) for Gender-Based Violence in Kenya and Zambia Summary: While data are very limited on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Africa, estimates suggest that SGBV is a major health, human rights, and development issue in the region, as it is globally. Approximately half of the women aged 15-49 (48%) in Zambia have experienced physical violence, and one in five women have experienced sexual violence (Zambia DHS, 2007). In Kenya, 39% of women aged 15-49 have ever experienced physical violence since the age of 15, and one in five (21%) reported sexual violence. Given complicated stigma and reporting issues, it is likely that these national Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) underestimate the true prevalence and incidence of violence. Children are not immune to this epidemic. A global school-based survey found that 31% of girls and 30% of boys aged 13-15 in Zambia had been forced to have sex (Brown et al., 2009). Results of the study based on responses from males and females aged 18 to 24 indicate that lifetime exposure to childhood violence is exceedingly and unacceptably high in Kenya. Nearly one in three females and one in five males experience at least one episode of sexual violence before reaching age 18 – an experience that can shape their futures in terms of their attitudes towards violence, their adoption of risky behaviors and their emotional health. The figures for physical violence were even more startling, with two in three females and three in four males suffering at least one episode of physical violence. This was defined as slapping, pushing, punching, kicking, whipping, or being beaten with an object (UNICEF et al., 2012). An increasingly popular strategy for addressing SGBV is through the establishment of 'one-stop centers‘ (OSCs), which provide integrated, multi-disciplinary services in a single physical location. The basic services of the OSC model in low resource settings in East and Southern Africa comprise health care (including psychosocial support), police and justice sector responses, and ongoing social support (Population Council, 2008; Keesbury & Askew, 2010). These are often provided within the context of a health facility due to the highly medicalized nature of the initial response services. Although a number of variations exist, at the core of this approach is a system of integrated medico-legal and counseling services. This system can either be physically co-located or can consist of a referral network that links the sectors. The goals of this assessment were two-fold: First, to assess the effectiveness of different OSC models in terms of health and legal outcomes for survivors, and the cost-effectiveness of these models; and second, to identify lessons learned in OSC implementation with recommendations for both start-up and scale-up. The assessment was conducted in three sites in Zambia and two in Kenya using a comparative case study approach to address the objectives. Three distinct OSC models were examined to determine the core strengths and weaknesses of each. Each OSC was considered as a "case" and multiple data sources were triangulated to assess their individual effectiveness, as well as the comparative effectiveness across sites. Fieldwork took place in Zambia from July-August 2011 and in Kenya from September-December 2011. Data were collected through: facility inventories (including cost data); client record reviews; court transcript reviews; and key informant interviews with survivors and local stakeholders. Details: Nairobi, Kenya: Population Council, 2012. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2013 at: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2012RH_SGBV_OSCRevEval.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Africa URL: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/2012RH_SGBV_OSCRevEval.pdf Shelf Number: 127461 Keywords: Child Sexual Abuse Gender-Based Violence (Kenya and Zambia) Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Mc Evoy, Claire Title: Battering, Rape, and Lethal Violence A Baseline of Information on Physical Threats against Women in Nairobi Summary: The starting point for this research is the knowledge that gender-based physical and sexual violence targeting women is commonplace in Kenya—and that few cases are reported to the police. Almost half (45 per cent) of Kenyan women aged 15–49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, including ‘forced sexual initiation’, according to the 2008–09 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), which surveyed 6,318 female respondents (KNBS and ICF Macro, 2010, p. 251). Reports of gender-based physical violence targeting women and girls ‘abound’ in the major national daily newspapers, on television, and on the radio (NCGD, 2010b, p. 2). A number of factors contribute to the widely tolerated levels of violence. These include the low status of women in society, patriarchal values and power structures focused on male dominance, discriminatory institutions and implementation of laws, the absence of a legal framework on intimate partner violence (IPV), and a criminal justice system that is largely inaccessible. Crucially, the low socio-economic status of most women—and the low status of poor people in general—perpetuates the status quo. Exacerbating matters, the violence meted out to women is rarely recognized; in a recent poll, for example, 72 per cent of respondents (240 in total, both male and female) from four districts in Kenya said that acts of gender-based physical violence—including rape, defilement, and battering—were not serious crimes (NCGD, 2010b, p. 30). A recent government report notes: ‘This finding on perception is significant in the sense that it brings out the fact that Kenya as a country tolerates a culture of violence against women, and that the country values and positions women much lower than men’. Most of the violence occurs within the domestic sphere, perpetrated by spouses or intimate partners as the women go about their daily routines (AI, 2009). It takes place as part of ‘normal’ life, as opposed to during conflict—although it peaks during times of political strife or tensions. During post-election violence in 2007–08 there was a spike of rapes targeting mostly poor women in their homes; the perpetrators were state security agents— from the Administration Police, Kenya Police, and General Service Unit — organized gangs, neighbours, relatives, and ‘friends’ (CIPEV, 2008, pp. 251–52). Police officers reportedly committed more than one-quarter (26 per cent) of the recorded rapes (HRW, 2011, p. 22). During this period, the Gender Violence Recovery Centre (GVRC) at Nairobi Women’s Hospital saw 524 cases of rape and defilement, of which almost 60 per cent occurred in Nairobi6 and 89 per cent targeted women and girls (GVRC, 2008b, pp. 7–9, 15). Perpetrators— who attacked in gangs of up to 11—reportedly chanted support for political parties (p. 14). It is unclear whether they were ordered to do so in support of those parties. As of August 2012, no post-election sexual violence cases had been prosecuted in Nairobi. It is important to understand this violence against a backdrop of consistently high levels of violence targeting both men and women—a recognized risk factor for violence against women anywhere in the world. A study in The Lancet, for example, notes that the risk of IPV ‘is greatest in societies where the use of violence in many situations is a socially accepted norm’ (Jewkes, 2002, p. 1423). Cross-cultural studies suggest that IPV is much more frequent in societies where violence is ‘usual in conflict situations and political struggles’ (p. 1428). Kenya’s history is littered with the use of state-sanctioned violence, including widespread, systematic, and grave human rights abuses committed during colonial times and by Kenyan administrations since (Elkins, 2005; KHRC, 2011a, p. 8).10 Ordinary citizens also frequently resort to violence as a dispute resolution mechanism; inter-communal clashes and killings, forced evictions and displacements, mob lynchings, school arson by students, and inter-familial revenge killings and suicides are all regularly reported by the media. Electionrelated violence often occurs in the run-up to, during, and after voting. Physical abuse of children,12 under the guise of ‘disciplinary’ measures, is also commonly reported. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Small Arms Survey, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper 13: Accessed February 4, 2013 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP13-VAW-Nairobi.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Kenya URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/F-Working-papers/SAS-WP13-VAW-Nairobi.pdf Shelf Number: 127468 Keywords: Battered Women (Kenya) Intimate Partner Violence Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Cohen, Dara Kay Title: Wartime Sexual Violence: Misconceptions, Implications, and Ways Forward Summary: Wartime rape is neither ubiquitous nor inevitable. The level of sexual violence differs significantly across countries, conflicts, and particularly armed groups. Some armed groups can and do prohibit sexual violence. Such variation suggests that policy interventions should also be focused on armed groups, and that commanders in effective control of their troops are legally liable for patterns of sexual violence they fail or refuse to prevent. Wartime rape is also not specific to certain types of conflicts or to geographic regions. It occurs in ethnic and non-ethnic wars, in Africa and elsewhere. State forces are more likely to be reported as perpetrators of sexual violence than rebels. States may also be more susceptible than rebels to naming and shaming campaigns around sexual violence. Perpetrators and victims may not be who we expect them to be. During many conflicts, those who perpetrate sexual violence are often not armed actors but civilians. Perpetrators also are not exclusively male, nor are victims exclusively female. Policymakers should not neglect nonstereotypical perpetrators and victims. Wartime rape need not be ordered to occur on a massive scale. Wartime rape is often not an intentional strategy of war: it is more frequently tolerated than ordered. Nonetheless, as noted, commanders in effective control of their troops are legally liable for sexual violence perpetrated by those troops. Much remains unknown about the patterns and causes of wartime sexual violence. In particular, existing data cannot determine conclusively whether wartime sexual violence on a global level is increasing, decreasing, or holding steady. Policymakers should instead focus on variation at lower levels of aggregation, and especially across armed groups. Details: Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2013 at: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/SR323.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.usip.org/files/resources/SR323.pdf Shelf Number: 127641 Keywords: Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Wartime Sexual Violence

Author: Perera, Jennifer: Gunawardane, Nalika Title: Review of Research Evidence on Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Sri Lanka. Second Edition Summary: This document summarises the literature published between 1982 and 2011 on violence (GBV) in Sri Lanka. In our attempt to collate the scientific information on GBV in Sri Lanka, the selection of research was based on pre-determined criteria, viz. to include research and exclude case studies that describe individual experiences. A great majority of the research was on GBV on women. The evidence were classified based on its focus and was included under different themes i.e., Research on GBV at different stages of life of a woman, GBV in different environment settings, clinical manifestation of affected groups and response of organizations towards GBV. The literature review showed that there was a paucity of research evidence on locally relevant interventions to minimize GBV. The impact of domestic violence on members of the household, morbidity and mortality patterns of affected families, long term psychological and physical development of affected children and the long term effects on the victims were other notable areas where no evidence was found. Despite certain limitations the committee was able to collate a considerable amount of data that will convince any reader that GBV is indeed a significant social and public health problem of considerable magnitude in Sri Lanka. While GBV includes violence against men and women, in the majority of cases the victims are women. The pattern of GBV in Sri Lanka encompasses physical, sexual, psychological and emotional violence and parallels current worldwide trends. The cumulative impact of violence experienced by girls and women is immense, especially in terms of its impact on their physical and mental health and its consequences, both immediate and long term. It is evident that GBV is currently not addressed adequately by the health care and other relevant sectors in Sri Lanka. Details: Colombo: Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2011. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2013 at: http://whosrilanka.healthrepository.org/bitstream/123456789/434/1/GBV.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Sri Lanka URL: http://whosrilanka.healthrepository.org/bitstream/123456789/434/1/GBV.pdf Shelf Number: 127643 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Sri Lanka) Family Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Weber, Robin Title: An Analysis of Domestic Violence and Arrest Patterns in Vermont Using NIBRS Data Summary: This project for the first time enumerates domestic violence incidents in Vermont by both county and town. This analysis will be of significant benefit to domestic violence staff in terms of identifying locations where domestic violence education and prevention programs should be focused. The analysis of domestic violence incidents undertaken in this report utilized the National Incident‐Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data from the Vermont Criminal Information Center’s Vermont Crime On‐Line (VCON) site. The project demonstrates the utility of VCON for both policy and service-related research. The project provides a statewide look at domestic violence incidents using a variety of NIBRS data points including victim, offender, and crime circumstance data. The analysis indicates that the most common domestic violence incidents in Vermont involve a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, where the body is used as a weapon in the act of violence. The report also undertakes an analysis of police response to domestic violence incidents. Statewide results suggest that approximately 80% of all domestic violence incidents were cleared by arrest. Analysis indicated that in some counties, 20% of cases did not end in arrest because the victim refused to cooperate with law enforcement. Cases handled by the Vermont State Police are more likely to encounter victim refusals than cases handled by municipal police or sheriffs. Approximately 60% of cases that ended in arrest ended in a custodial arrest of the defendant versus a citation to appear. In an attempt to understand what factors were related to custodial arrest the researcher conducted logistic regression analysis. Findings suggest that key factors related to custodial arrest are the agency type, the gender of the offender, whether the offender was using alcohol, and the nature of the offense. Details: Northfield Falls, VT: Vermont Center for Justice Research, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2013 at: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/dvarrestsnibrs_files/VTJRSA%2011-30-12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vcjr.org/reports/reportscrimjust/reports/dvarrestsnibrs_files/VTJRSA%2011-30-12.pdf Shelf Number: 127710 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence (Vermont, U.S.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: ActionAid Title: Women and the City II: Combating Violence Against Women and Girls in Urban Public Spaces - The Role of Public Services Summary: It is now well recognized that women and girls around the world face violence, sexual harassment and abuse in many of the spaces that they inhabit – their homes, workplaces, educational institutes, on streets and on public transport. Women’s fear of violence restricts their movement, limiting their use of public spaces, their movement from their homes and as a result, their full enjoyment of a range of human rights. ActionAid is working in different countries to make cities safe for women and girls through its Safe Cities Initiative.This initiative is founded on the concept of right to the city. The right to the city is the right of all city inhabitants, especially poor people, to have equitable access to all that a city has to offer and also to have the right to change their city in ways that they see fit. It entails: Freedom from violence and harassment, • including the fear of violence on the streets; Safe public spaces where women and girls • can move freely, without fear of assault; Access to water and sanitation, electricity, • transportation and other public amenities at residences and in public locations to reduce the risks of violence; Freedom from sexual harassment and abuse • in the workplace; Gender sensitive policing mechanisms for • reporting violence and obtaining redress, such as anti-violence centres/shelters; and Systems and structures for women and girls • to enjoy social, economic, cultural and political participation. This study, entitled Women and the city II: combating violence against women and girls in urban public spaces- the role of public services, was initiated to deepen our understanding about the links between violence against women and urban public services, to build evidence, to get communities as well as duty bearers to engage in the process and to strengthen our ability to work with women in these communities to seek change. Conducted in Brazil, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia and Nepal, this study comes at a time of significant global change. In 2008, the world reached a momentous milestone: for the first time in history, more than half of its human population – 3.3 billion people – lived in urban areas. By 2010, the global urban population outnumbered the rural population with 3.56 billion (51.5% of the global population) living in urban areas. This report is envisaged as a knowledge building and advocacy tool. Our expected audience includes local municipalities and community leaders, law enforcement, urban planners, non-governmental organisations, feminist movements, the safe cities movement in particular, policymakers and donors at the national and international levels. The report is divided into five sections, namely, an introduction that provides an overview of the right to the city and the global history of safe cities work; an outline of the methodology adopted for this study; country contexts for each of the six countries; key findings; and finally, recommendations. Details: Johannesburg, South Africa: ActionAid, 2013. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 1, 2013 at: http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/women_and_the_city_ii_1.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.actionaid.org/sites/files/actionaid/women_and_the_city_ii_1.pdf Shelf Number: 127741 Keywords: Fear of Crime Female Victims Public Space Urban Crime Urban Design Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Northcott, Melissa Title: Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment Tools: A Review Summary: Intimate partner violence touches the lives of thousands of Canadians. The criminal justice system is faced with the task of protecting victims of intimate partner violence, while at the same time ensuring that the rights of the accused are not violated. This tension is evident at different stages in the criminal justice system process such as at bail, sentencing and parole. One approach that has been adopted to manage the above noted issues is assessing the risk that offenders pose for re-offending and how to best manage these offenders (Hoyle 2008; Roehl et al. 2005). Specialized risk assessment tools have been created for these purposes and are being used in many jurisdictions across Canada (Millar 2009). The purpose of this report is to provide an understanding of intimate partner violence risk assessment tools and of the issues that assessors should consider when choosing an assessment instrument. This report begins with a discussion of the general use of risk assessment tools, their use in the criminal justice system in general and in cases of intimate partner violence specifically. The different approaches of risk assessment are then discussed, as are factors to consider when choosing a tool. The strengths and limitations of the various approaches and of risk assessment tools in general are also explored. This report was created to contribute to a better understanding of the range of risk assessment tools that are used by the various professionals working in the area of intimate partner violence. Details: Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada, 2008. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2012/rr12_8/rr12_8.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2012/rr12_8/rr12_8.pdf Shelf Number: 127968 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (Canada) Risk Assessment Violence Against Women

Author: Wendt, Sarah Title: Evaluation of the Sturt Street Family Violence Partnership Program Summary: The Sturt Street Supported Tenancy Accommodation Project (referred to hereafter as the Sturt Street Project) was set up to provide transitional accommodation (3-6 months) for Aboriginal women and children (up to 6 women/family groups at a time) experiencing family violence and/or homelessness, offering an intensive support service on-site, with an extended outreach service post-transition (up to 12 months). One of the conditions of funding was that the Project be evaluated within its funded lifespan, which has been extended to 30 June 2010. The Aims of the Evaluation: Examine client profile and service activity to determine numbers assisted and characteristics of the client group; Investigate service outcomes for women and families post-transition from the program; Explore perceptions of service from the clients' perspectives; Determine both facilitators and barriers to success of the project; Explore service effectiveness perceived by other stakeholders; and Recommend opportunities for improvement if needed. Details: Adelaide: University of South Australia, Flinders University, 2010. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/pub/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=qTN2eK-DgqI%3D&tabid=607 Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/pub/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=qTN2eK-DgqI%3D&tabid=607 Shelf Number: 128004 Keywords: Aboriginal Women Abused Wives Battered Women Domestic Violence Family Violence (Australia) Indigenous Women Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Zhang, Ting Title: An Estimation of the Economic Impact of Spousal Violence in Canada, 2009 Summary: This report provides an estimate of the economic impact of spousal violence that occurred in Canada in 2009. Spousal violence is a widespread and unfortunate social reality that has an effect on all Canadians. Victims of spousal violence are susceptible to sustaining costly and long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Children who are exposed to spousal violence suffer in many ways and are at increased risk of developing negative social behaviours or disorders as a result (Dauvergne and Johnson 2001). The victims’ family, friends, and employers are also affected to varying degrees. Every member of society eventually feels the impact of spousal violence through the additional financial strain imposed on publicly funded systems and services. The more Canadians understand about the costly and serious impact of spousal violence, the better prepared we are to continue efforts to prevent it and where it does occur, to protect and assist victims, to hold perpetrators accountable, and to take measures to break the cycle of violence. Estimating the economic impact of a social phenomenon such as spousal violence, a process known as costing, is a way to measure both the tangible and intangible impacts of that phenomenon. By placing a dollar value on the impact, a common unit of measurement is provided. The dollar value for the economic impact of spousal violence can then be compared to the corresponding estimates of other social phenomena. Proponents of costing contend that the understanding of economic impacts and the comparison of different social issues in the same units are important to policymakers, activists, social workers, and the public by assisting in the proper allocation of resources, and in evaluating the effectiveness of programs. Two complementary data sources reflect the incidents of spousal violence in Canada: the policebased Uniform Crime Reporting Survey 2 (UCR2) and the self-reported 2009 General Social Survey (GSS, cycle 23, Victimization). While the UCR2 captures detailed information on all Criminal Code violations reported to police services, the GSS interviews Canadians aged 15 and older regarding their experience of physical or sexual victimization regardless of whether or not the incident was reported to police. The UCR2 Survey reports that 46,918 spousal violence incidents were brought to the attention of police in 2009, 81% involving female victims and 19% involving male victims. More victims were victimized by current spouses (71%) than by former spouses (29%). According to the 2009 GSS, 335,697 Canadians were victims of 942,000 spousal violence incidents in 2009; 54% of the victims were female, and 46% of the victims were male. More victims were victimized by current spouses (69%) than by ex-spouses (31%). It is important to note that police-based surveys (such as the UCR2) and self-reported surveys (such as the GSS) normally report different proportions of female and male victims of spousal violence. Specifically, police-based survey data show a significantly higher proportion of female victims of spousal violence while GSS data depict gender parity in experiences of spousal violence. Many studies offer some reasons for this discrepancy. For instance, Allen (2011) states that this inconsistency can be explained by the fact the two types of surveys may actually capture different types of spousal violence; police-based surveys capture the more serious intimate terrorism (IT), which involves the use of severe violence to gain domination and control over a spouse, whereas self-reported surveys capture the generally more minor common couple violence (CCV), which involves poor resolution of typical conflict issues without the appearance of one party trying to completely dominate or control the other. Kevan and Archer (2003) find that perpetration rates for CCV are fairly even between genders (45% perpetrated by men), but that the large majority of IT is perpetrated by men (87% perpetrated by men). These findings may help to explain the disparity in the results of the GSS and the UCR2. Details: Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada, 2012. 162p. Source: Internet Resource: rr12-07-e: Accessed March 20, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2012/rr12_7/rr12_7.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2012/rr12_7/rr12_7.pdf Shelf Number: 128049 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Economics of Crime Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Spouse Abuse (Canada) Violence Against Women

Author: McCleary-Sills, Jennifer Title: Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for Survivors of Gender-based Violence in Tanzania - Results from a Study in Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, and Iringa Regions Summary: Over the last few decades, gender-based violence has gained international recognition as a grave social and human rights concern. In Tanzania, gender-based violence is widespread; the most recent Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey found that 44% of ever-married women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. ICRW and the University of Dar es Salaam's Department of Sociology and Anthropology, in partnership with EngenderHealth, conducted a qualitative study in three target regions of the country: Dar es Salaam, Iringa, and Mbeya. This report documents community perceptions and attitudes about gender-based violence, identifies the range of informal and formal services currently available to survivors, highlights gaps in service provision, and provides recommendations for improving existing services. The findings are based on 104 key informant interviews conducted with a wide array of stakeholders, service providers, and duty bearers at the national, district, and ward levels, as well as participatory focus group discussions with 96 male and female community members. The research and recommendations currently are informing the overall design of a multi-sectoral intervention to scale up the response to gender-based violence in Tanzania under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS (PEPFAR). Details: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: EngenderHealth/CHAMPION, 2013. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2013 at: http://reliefweb.int/report/united-republic-tanzania/help-seeking-pathways-and-barriers-survivors-gender-based-violence Year: 2013 Country: Tanzania URL: http://reliefweb.int/report/united-republic-tanzania/help-seeking-pathways-and-barriers-survivors-gender-based-violence Shelf Number: 128128 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Gender-Based Violence (Tanzania) Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Sonke Gender Justice Network Title: Gender Relations, Sexual Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Preliminary Results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Summary: In June 2012, Sonke Gender Justice Network, Promundo-US and the Institute for Mental Health of Goma implemented the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) in Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)1. A total of 708 men and 754 women between the ages of 18-59 were interviewed in: (1) rural areas outside Goma; (2) Goma proper; (3) an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp; and (4) a military base near Goma (with officers, enlisted men and wives of military personnel). Qualitative research consisted of eight focus group discussions (four with men and four with women totaling 40 men and 51 women) and 24 in-depth individual interviews (10 with men, 14 with women, respectively). This report presents preliminary findings from the study. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: Sonke Gender Justice Network, 2013?. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 3, 2013 at: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/resources/reports.html?view=docman Year: 2013 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/resources/reports.html?view=docman Shelf Number: 128197 Keywords: Rape Sex Crimes Sexual Violence (South Africa) Violence Against Women

Author: Abrahams, Naeemah Title: Every Eight Hours: Intimate Femicide in South Africa 10 Years later! Summary: The killing of a woman by her partner is the most extreme consequence of intimate partner violence. Monitoring such violence provides insights on the impact of laws, policies and programs for gender-based violence prevention. In this research brief we compare the results of two South African national studies that described prevalence and patterns of female homicide and intimate femicide in 1999 and 2009. The study showed a decrease of female homicides overall as well as for intimate femicides but the decrease for intimates was at a lower rate. A significant difference in suspected rape homicide was found with more rapes perpetrated by non-intimate in 2009 compared to 1999. A significant overall reduction of gun murders was also found between the two years. Convictions of perpetrators decreased and was most significant among non-intimate femicides. The study show that homicide in South Africa is declining, but genderbased homicides are disproportionately resistant to the change while rape homicides have proportionately increased. We need to increase our prevention efforts and it is also essential for health, police and justice departments to prioritise such cases so that those who kill women are held accountable and punished. Details: Cape Town: South African Medical Research Council, 2012. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.mrc.ac.za/policybriefs/everyeighthours.pdf Year: 2012 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.mrc.ac.za/policybriefs/everyeighthours.pdf Shelf Number: 128213 Keywords: Female Homicide Femicide (South Africa) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Muthegheki, Saad Baluku Title: An Exploratory Study of Bride Price and Domestic Violence in Bundibugyo District, Uganda Summary: This report presents findings of an exploratory research study on the links between the practice of bride price and gender based violence in Bundibugyo, Western Uganda, the first of its kind in this part of the country. It was designed as a response to the growing interest in bride price and to provide information to assist in the mitigation of the negative impacts of this traditional practice. Bride price is used to validate customary marriages and is very common in many African countries. Typically, bride price consist of a contract between families where material items (often cattle or other animals) or money are paid by the groom to the bride’s family in exchange for the bride and invariably her labor and her capacity to produce children. Although much anecdotal evidence exists about the traditional practice of bride price as practiced in most Ugandan communities, there has been very little research to provide details on how this practice impacts on people’s lives. Such data would be valuable in informing the public, government, policy makers, duty bearers and other institutions that are working on the issue both in Uganda and Africa as a whole. The study was part of a gender based violence research development initiative across East and Central Africa. Centre for Human Rights Advancement (CEHURA) a community based organization (CBO) and human rights agency working on sexual and gender based violence conducted the study, with technical support from the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), Liverpool VCT Care and Treatment in Kenya and the Gender and Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council. The exploratory study focused on gaining insights into the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to bride price as well as its relationship with domestic violence in Bundibugyo district in Western Uganda. The research team conducted 12 focus group discussions (145 participants), 12 key informant interviews with community leaders and 9 semi-structured in-depth interviews with men and women in the communities. The study found bride price is a very strongly rooted cultural practice with all participants largely supportive of its existence. However commercialization has changed the practice over time and its essential meaning has been eroded creating obstacles in current times. The study showed the struggle many young men have in trying to meet the demands of this practice- particularly poor young men who could not pay bride price and tried to find alternative ways to meet societal demands. Although some participants viewed bride price as a form of protection for women within marriages by providing them respect, status and acknowledgement within society, the process and payment also prescribed their roles in the marriages and ensured women’s subordination to husbands which invariable condoned the abuse of wives. On the other hand men could lose status and respect if they were not able to pay bride price. The study has pointed to the need to engage with communities and the state on how to mitigate the negative impacts of bride price on these communities. Details: Bundibugyo: Centre for Humjan Rights Advancement; Cape Town, South Africa: South African Medical Research Council, Gender and Health Research Unit, 2012. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/Bridepricedomesticviolence.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Uganda URL: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/Bridepricedomesticviolence.pdf Shelf Number: 128215 Keywords: Bride Price (Uganda) Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Rennison, Claire Title: Evaluation of Safer Relationships Activity (SRA) Summary: The Safer Relationships Activity is a domestic abuse course that was introduced in West Yorkshire in August 2010. It was originally aimed at 18-30 year olds who were low to medium risk of harm and who were early in their offending careers. The aim was to address their behaviours and attitudes before this became entrenched. The criteria for domestic abuse programmes was changed in January 2011 so that only those of high risk of serious harm or complex cases where there were child concerns were eligible for IDAP. This has meant that the majority of cases have been given SRA since this change was introduced. It was originally intended for seven groups to run between September 2010 and April 2011 with a target of 80 completions for the year. Due to the low number of completed questionnaires and course completions the evaluation period was extended till the end of August 2011, with 15 groups completing. At the end of this period, all groups which had completed (n=17) were included in the evaluation. Since the Safer Relationship Activity started 501 individuals have been sentenced to it as part of their Order/Licence. Out of these, 188 individuals had started a SRA group of whom 53% (n=100) had successfully completed. The number of participants who started groups ranged between 11 and 18, with an average of 12 participants. The number of participants who successfully completed ranged between four and ten, with an average of six participants finishing a group. The total and average number of starts increased with each cohort. This increase did not have an effect on the numbers who completed which remained steady regardless of the number of people who started. The average number of participants who attended each session decreased, with a drop in numbers at session 2 and again at session 10. This again seems to support anecdotal evidence from tutors that if you have people engaged by the half way stage, then the majority will go on to successfully complete SRA. The percentage of absences recorded as being acceptable increased, with Cohort 3 having over a quarter (26%, n=10) and Cohort 4 having just under a quarter (24%, n=6) of the absences being classed as acceptable by Offender Managers. This appears to support anecdotal evidence from tutors who felt that in the latter groups more absences were being classed as acceptable. The number of sessions run for groups ranged between 14 to 16. The majority of groups appeared to be run for 15 sessions made up of the orientation session followed by 14 sessions. This was despite the guidance describing SRA as 16 sessions. The groups that ran for only 14 sessions including the orientation had appeared to combine sessions together due to the groups being held on a Monday and being disrupted by the Bank Holidays in April 2011. The majority of groups were run on an evening. Further investigation would be needed and more groups would need to run at alternative times in order to see if the time of the group had an impact on the numbers that completed. The number of starts after the criteria was opened up increased (n=92 starts before the change in criteria versus n=107 after the change in criteria). However a smaller proportion of people went on to successfully complete. After the change the percentage completion rate fell from 57% (n=52/92) to 45% (48/107). Details: West Yorkshire Probation Trust, 2012. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Report Number 5 2011/12: Accessed April 5, 2013 at: www.westyorksprobation.org.uk Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 128265 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Rwanda Women’s Network Title: Exploring Community Perceptions and Women’s Experiences of Violence against Women and Use of Services in Bugesera District, Eastern Province, Rwanda Summary: Most studies on gender based violence (GBV) in Rwanda have focused on the sexual violence that happened during the genocide. Research that does exist on violence in intimate relationships after the genocide has shown that the levels are high but good data on how women are assisted and supported is absent. This report presents findings from a study done as part of the Strengthening GBV Research Capacity in Africa project. The main objective of the study was to assist the Rwanda Women’s Network (RWN) and other service providers in developing effective services for abused women. The study was done in the District of Bugesera, an area most affected by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Qualitative methods consisting of semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used. Participants included women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), community members, service providers (police, health, community leaders, local authorities, GVB committees, NGOs, and mediators (abunzi)). The data was analyzed using content analysis. Women experienced the full spectrum of IPV, including physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence. Being abandoned by a partner and struggling to survive was a common theme. Seeking help was not always an option although many women’s first call of help was to local leaders. The study revealed that many women were not able to get the assistance they needed and both the financial dependence on husbands and the Rwandan culture of keeping family affairs private were key barriers in seeking assistance. Barriers to providing assistance as described by service providers include: lack of resources such as transport to take victims to the hospital; wide distances between villages and lack of health personnel to attend to survivors. Family support was also limited because of the effect of the genocide. However encouraging was the assistance provided by other community women as well as NGOs and this was of value in providing emotional and financial assistance to women and their children. The study not only generated more in-depth information about knowledge, attitudes and perceptions on VAW, but it also built RWN research capacity and provided data for use in programmatic and advocacy work among women in Rwanda. Details: Kigali, Rwanda: Rwanda Women's Network, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2013 at: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/ExploringCommunityPerceptions.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Rwanda URL: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/ExploringCommunityPerceptions.pdf Shelf Number: 128310 Keywords: Family Violence Gender-Based Violence (Rwanda) Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Tuladhar, Sabita Title: Women's Empowerment and Spousal Violence in Relation to Health Outcomes in Nepal Further Analysis of the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey Summary: Empowering women and addressing gender-based discrimination are key elements of the development agenda of the Nepal government and integral to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Spousal violence is one of the forms of gender-based violence prevalent in Nepal. The objective of this study is to understand women’s empowerment and spousal violence in relation to health outcomes of women and their children. The study analyzed data on 3,084 currently married women age 15-49 from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A composite Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) was developed that included five variables: i) household decision-making, ii) ownership of land or house, iii) membership in community group, iv) proportion earning cash, and v) women’s education. The WEI classified women into three empowerment levels, whereby 17, 48, and 35 percent of married women were in high, moderate, and low empowerment levels, respectively. Variations in women’s empowerment were distinct by age, caste/ethnicity, and wealth quintile. The WEI is used to analyze spousal violence separately and jointly in relation to health outcomes. Twenty eight percent of women reported having experienced spousal physical and/or sexual violence at least once during their lifetime. In the bivariate analysis, women’s empowerment was inversely associated with greater odds of having experienced spousal violence. After controlling for age, wealth, caste/ethnicity, and ecological zone, however, women's empowerment was not significantly related to the odds of spousal violence. This finding may suggest the extent to which violence is a multi-faceted problem affected by a wide variety of contextual and situational factors. Utilization of four or more antenatal care visits, the recommended international standard, was significantly greater for highly empowered women, even after controlling for spousal violence and socio-demographic characteristics. Less empowered women and women who had experienced spousal violence were also more likely to have anemic children. Children of women who had experienced spousal violence had lower odds of being immunized, even after adjusting for related factors. These findings suggest that women’s empowerment and spousal violence appear to have important implications for the health of women and their children. It is recommended that a holistic approach to improving the health of women and children in Nepal incorporate multi-sectoral programming to promote women’s empowerment and reduce gender-based violence. Details: Calverton, Maryland, USA: Nepal Ministry of Health and Population, New ERA, and ICF International, 2013. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2013 at: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FA77/FA77.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Nepal URL: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/FA77/FA77.pdf Shelf Number: 128350 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Spouse Abuse (Nepal) Violence Against Women Women's Health

Author: Kaili, Christina Title: REACT to Domestic Violence: Building a Support System for Victims of Domestic Violence. Cyprus Mapping Study: Implementation of the Domestic Violence Legislation, Policies and the Existing Victim Support System Summary: This report is the result of a research project conducted by the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) within the framework of the project REACT to Domestic Violence: Building a Support System for Victims of Domestic Violence, funded by the European Commission Daphne III Programme, and coordinated by the Legal Informational Centre for NGOs Slovenia (PIC). The project’s main aim was to raise awareness, knowledge and sensitivity among legal practitioners, judges and prosecutors involved in domestic violence as well as to increase the capacity of the NGO support system to effectively respond to victim’s needs. This mapping study aims to gain and share knowledge and understanding on domestic violence in Cyprus, as well as to assess all aspects of implementation of the relevant legislation and policies on domestic violence, with a particular focus on the victim support system. The research was conducted from a gender perspective. The qualitative analysis is based on eight semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted with policy makers and government officials from all relevant ministries and government departments, as well as with front line services providers including the police, the social welfare services and non-governmental organisations. The themes addressed in this report include the examination of existing and planned policies to combat domestic violence; challenges relating to the implementation of relevant legislation and policy measures; views and attitudes regarding the situation of domestic violence in Cyprus; as well as recommendations for the improvement of the existing victim support system. Information was also gathered through the existing National Action Plan on Prevention and Combating Violence in the Family (2010-2015) that was recently adopted by the Council of Ministers. Additionally, police criminal statistics, statistics from the Association for the Prevention and Handling of Family Violence, and other studies, such as those conducted by the Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies (MIGS) and other research centres, were also used for the purposes of this report. Details: Nicosia, Cyprus: Mediterranean Institute of Gender Studies, 2011. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2013 at: http://www.medinstgenderstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/REACT_ENG.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Cyprus URL: http://www.medinstgenderstudies.org/wp-content/uploads/REACT_ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 128389 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Cyprus) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Tacoli, Cecilia Title: Urbanization, Gender and Urban Poverty: Paid Work and Unpaid Carework in the City Summary: The majority of the world’s population now live in urban centres, which will also absorb virtually all population growth in the next century. Urbanisation involves major shifts in the ways people work and live, and offers unprecedented opportunities for improved standards of living, higher life expectancy and higher literacy levels, as well as better environmental sustainability and a more efficient use of increasingly scarce natural resources. For women, urbanisation is associated with greater access to employment opportunities, lower fertility levels and increased independence. However, urbanisation does not necessarily result in a more equitable distribution of wealth and wellbeing. In many low and middle income nations, urban poverty is growing compared to rural poverty. Specific aspects differentiate urban poverty from rural poverty. While urban residents are more dependent on cash incomes to meet their essential needs, income poverty is compounded by inadequate and expensive accommodation, limited access to basic infrastructure and services, exposure to environmental hazards and high rates of crime and violence. This gives urban poverty a distinctive gendered dimension as it puts a disproportionate burden on those members of communities and households who are responsible for unpaid carework such as cleaning, cooking and looking after children, the sick and the elderly. At the same time, cashbased urban economies mean that poor women are compelled, often from a very young age, to also engage in paid activities. In many instances this involves work in the lowest-paid formal and informal sector activities which, at times of economic crises, require increasingly long hours for the same income. Combined with cuts in the public provision of services, higher costs for food, water and transport, efforts to balance paid work and unpaid carework take a growing toll on women. A gendered perspective of urban poverty reveals the significance of non-income dimensions such as time poverty. It also highlights fundamental issues of equality and social justice by showing how women’s unequal position in the urban labour market, their limited ability to secure assets independently from male relatives and their greater exposure to violence. Section 1 of this paper summarises current understandings of urban poverty and their gender implications. Section 2 then examines the demographic consequences of urbanization on fertility, rural–urban migration and sex ratios and how this affects the form and organisation of households. Section 3 describes the context and consequences of women’s’ growing participation in urban labour markets, with special attention to the sectors where women concentrate: the urban informal sector and domestic service. Section 4 on shelter and services shows how gendered disadvantage exacerbates the already difficult living conditions of the urban poor. This is further explored in Section 5 on gender-based violence and its links with urbanization and urban life. The conclusion draws on current debates on the ‘feminisation of poverty’ and time poverty to examine their contribution to the broader understanding of both gendered disadvantage and urban poverty. Details: London: Human Settlements Group, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED); New York: Population and Development Branch, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Urbanization and Emerging Population Issues Working Paper 7: Accessed Year: 2012 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 128598 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Poverty Urban Areas Violence Against Women

Author: DrugScope Title: Making the Connection: Developing integrated approaches to domestic violence and substance misuse Summary: LDAN/DrugScope’s Domestic Violence project, funded by London Councils, took place over a four-year period, and focused on the development of a cross-sectoral network bringing together domestic violence and drug and alcohol services. As statistics set out in this briefing indicate, there are clear – though complex – links between domestic violence and substance misuse. However, services have not always worked effectively to address these links. The project aimed to tackle this gap, and to improve the quality of service provision for those affected by domestic violence and substance misuse, by bringing the two sectors together to discuss issues of common interest, provide practical information and support, and facilitate collaboration and partnership. At the heart of the project was an overall objective of supporting organisations to achieve a reduction in the impact and occurrence of domestic violence, abuse and repeat victimisation. Details: London: DrugScope, 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Resources/Drugscope/Documents/PDF/Policy/DVReport.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Resources/Drugscope/Documents/PDF/Policy/DVReport.pdf Shelf Number: 128895 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Drug Abuse and Crime Substance Abuse Treatment Violence Against Women

Author: Clark, Richard L. Title: Male Attitudes Regarding Domestic and Sexual Violence: Survey Data Report Summary: Domestic and sexual violence is a prevalent and pernicious reality in our society. Occurrences of domestic and sexual violence can be found in all demographics and regions throughout America, and Vermont is by no means less susceptible to this social ill. While perpetrators and victims of domestic and sexual violence can be either gender, the majority of cases have a male perpetrator and a female victim. With that in mind, the Male Attitudes Survey was proposed to address the attitudes of men about domestic and sexual violence, mostly as it victimizes women. This survey and report was initiated by the Vermont Governor’s Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force (GPDSVTF) and supported by the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Vermont Department of Health with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rape Prevention and Education cooperative agreement. The goals of this project (as stated in the Request for Proposals) are as follows: 1. “To provide guidance for service providers to develop future training and education programs; 2. To provide a benchmark to measure improvements/declines over time in male attitudes in Vermont towards the prevention of domestic and sexual violence against women; 3. To provide a tool for local and state-wide non-profits for fundraising, grant-writing and other purposes.” (GPDSVTF RFP, May23, 2012). To this end, the Castleton Polling Institute surveyed 341 adult males in Vermont by telephone. The households were selected through random digit dialing, using a sample frame that only included landlines. Once a sampled household was reached, the respondents were selected by asking for the youngest adult (over 17 years of age) male in the household. The average length of the survey was about 19 minutes. The results of this study create a better understanding of the independent variables associated with various attitudes. Details: Castleton, VT: Castleton Polling Institute, 2012. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 1, 2013 at: http://www.vtnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Male-Attitudes-Survey-FINAL-REPORT-Color2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vtnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Male-Attitudes-Survey-FINAL-REPORT-Color2012.pdf Shelf Number: 128898 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Vermont, U.S.) Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: WAVES Trust Title: Changes Impacting Referrals to Man Alive Stopping Violence Programmes between January 2009 and June 2012 Summary: This study has been undertaken as a result of concerns raised by Man Alive with the Waitakere Taskforce on Family Violence that the numbers of referrals received to stopping violence programmes (SVPs) had dropped substantially over the last two years. It is recognised that some of the decline to Man Alive programmes is the result of referrals to other providers such as Te Whanau o Waipareira Trust. However, the decline was evident well before Waipareira began receiving referrals from the Courts suggesting that there are other contributing factors. The following report focuses on men’s access to Man Alive SVPs through the pathway initiated by police FV callouts and mandated by the Waitakere Family Violence (FV) Court. We explore evidence of the impact of two changes in police policies occurring in 2010: the introduction of a new arrest policy from 1 January 2010 and the introduction of Police Safety Orders (PSOs) from 1 July 2010. Key Findings: 1. Since implementation of the new arrest policy: a. The arrest rate to June 2012 (number of arrests as a percentage of all callouts) has declined by 42% of 2009 levels and has yet to plateau. b. After adjusting for delays in court processing, the average number of cases heard by Waitakere FV Court has declined by 34% from 2008/9 averages and by 38% in 2012. c. Referrals received by Man Alive prior to the introduction of a new provider have averaged 48% of arrests. Up to the end of 2011 referrals received from the FV Court had declined by 30%. 2. Within the FV Court: a. The quantity of cases finalised has declined by 38% to end June 2012. b. But the proportion of successful cases (73%) and unsuccessful cases (27%) has not changed. c. The lack of change in the proportions of successful and unsuccessful cases means that for the reduction in every one unsuccessful case there has been a corresponding loss of three successful cases that may have referred to an SVP. 3. Further investigation is needed to determine whether: a. The new arrest policy has the same impact across all criminal jurisdictions of the District Court as the Waitakere FV Court. b. To what extend the FV Court protocols and delays may be undoing the policy’s influence. c. The influence of other social factors on increased reporting and declining arrests rates. 4. In relation to concerns about the impact of PSOs on arrest rates, we could not find evidence to substantiate these concerns but PSOs may have had an unintended consequence of preventing offences occurring. It is important to note that there is a lack of information available to assess these concerns. We recommend better monitoring by police and the family violence sector going forward. Details: Henderson, NZ: WAVES, 2012. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: www.waves.org.nz Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 128975 Keywords: Domestic Assault Arrest Policies Family Violence (New Zealand) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Braaf, Rochelle Title: The Gender Debate in Domestic Violence: The Role of Data Summary: Key points • The gender debate is one of the enduring controversies in domestic violence research. On the one hand, feminist researchers have long identified ‘gender asymmetry’ in domestic violence, arguing that women are the primary targets of abuse and that men comprise the large majority of perpetrators. On the other hand, family conflict researchers typically find ‘gender symmetry’, arguing that women and men experience and perpetrate violence at similar rates. • Within the gender debate, two of the most contentious issues concern researchers’ definitions of domestic violence and their methods of data collection. • Feminist and family conflict researchers differ in how they conceptualise violence in relationships. Feminist researchers emphasise the wider dynamics of domestic violence: why it occurs, how it manifests and victim outcomes. Family conflict researchers define violence more narrowly, being primarily concerned with measuring incidents of violence between partners. • Feminist and family conflict researchers also differ in their data collection methods. Feminist researchers tend to favour qualitative approaches commonly used in clinical studies, as well as quantitative information collected via officially reported data and community sample surveys. Family conflict researchers tend to favour quantitative approaches, relying predominantly on acts-based surveys (such as the Conflict Tactics Scale). • These differences in turn influence feminist and family conflict researchers’ findings about men’s and women’s experiences and perpetration of violence. In particular, their findings conflict in relation to perpetrator motivation for violence, forms and levels of abuse, severity of abuse, repetition of violence and impacts on victims. • Certainly, all violence in intimate relationships is unacceptable. However, an accurate analysis of the relationship between gender and domestic violence is essential to develop effective prevention and responses. • No single type of data collection method provides a complete picture of domestic violence. Furthermore, individual studies or data sets vary considerably in depth and quality of information. Researchers and practitioners, therefore, need to be mindful of the strengths and weaknesses of a chosen approach when drawing conclusions and making recommendations. • From the real life examples presented in this paper and in many other studies canvassed, practitioners and advocates should have confidence in claims of gender asymmetry in domestic violence. Details: Sydney: Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, The University of New South Wales, 2013. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 25: Accessed June 7, 2013 at: http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/IssuesPaper_25.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.adfvc.unsw.edu.au/PDF%20files/IssuesPaper_25.pdf Shelf Number: 129003 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Ehrhardt, Penny Title: Report on the Effectiveness of Services Delivered by DOVE Hawkes Bay Inc. Summary: New Zealand has made international commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women to secure equality for women, including addressing the high prevalence of violence against women (Fenrich & Contesse, 2009). Nationally, it is estimated that one in three women has been the victim of family violence (Fenrich & Contesse, 2009). Family violence also negatively impacts children and men. The Eastern Police District (which included Hawke’s Bay) has higher than average rates for call-outs to offences relating to family violence (New Zealand Police, 2011). The World Health Organisation’s framework for developing policies and programmes to address family violence acknowledges that the harm caused by family violence can last a lifetime and span generations. To address this, data-driven and evidence based primary prevention programmes are recommended (Garcia-Moreno & Mikton, 2010). Yet despite New Zealand’s, generally sound legislative framework for dealing with family violence, there has been a lack of evaluation of the effectiveness of programmes and services (Fenrich & Contesse, 2009). The DOVE Research Project came about after discussions between DOVE Hawkes Bay (DOVE) and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). Given the high levels of family violence in Hawke’s Bay, DOVE and EIT believed it was important to undertake research into the efficacy of DOVE’s family violence intervention services. In particular, we were interested in whether DOVE’s services were resulting in long-lasting positive changes for individuals, families and whānau. The project was funded by a New Zealand Lotteries Commission Research Grant. Collection of research data focused particularly on the six months 1 July – 31 December 2011. Details: Napier, N.Z.: Eastern Institute of Technology, 2013. 180p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2013 at: http://www.eit.ac.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Report-on-the-effectiveness-of-services-delivered-by-DOVE-Hawkes-Bay-Inc-May-13-Web.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.eit.ac.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Report-on-the-effectiveness-of-services-delivered-by-DOVE-Hawkes-Bay-Inc-May-13-Web.pdf Shelf Number: 129038 Keywords: Domestic Violence (New Zealand) Family Violence Intervention Violence Against Women

Author: World Health Organization Title: Global and Regional Estimates of Violence Against Women: Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence Summary: This report, developed by the World Health Organization, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the South African Medical Research Council presents the first global systematic review and synthesis of the body of scientific data on the prevalence of two forms of violence against women — violence by an intimate partner (intimate partner violence) and sexual violence by someone other than a partner (nonpartner sexual violence). It shows, for the first time, aggregated global and regional prevalence estimates of these two forms of violence, generated using population data from all over the world that have been compiled in a systematic way. The report also details the effects of violence on women’s physical, sexual and reproductive, and mental health. The findings are striking: • overall, 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. While there are many other forms of violence that women may be exposed to, this already represents a large proportion of the world’s women; 1. Secretary-General says violence against women never acceptable, never excusable, never tolerable, as he launches global campaign on issue. New York, United Nations Department of Public Information, News and Media Division, 2008 (SG/ SM/11437 WOM/1665). • most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (30%) of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. In some regions, 38% of women have experienced intimate partner violence; • globally, as many as 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners; • women who have been physically or sexually abused by their partners report higher rates of a number of important health problems. For example, they are 16% more likely to have a low-birth-weight baby. They are more than twice as likely to have an abortion, almost twice as likely to experience depression, and, in some regions, are 1.5 times more likely to acquire HIV, as compared to women who have not experienced partner violence; • globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner. There are fewer data available on the health effects of non-partner sexual violence. However, the evidence that does exist reveals that women who have experienced this form of violence are 2.3 times more likely to have alcohol use disorders and 2.6 times more likely to experience depression or anxiety. There is a clear need to scale up efforts across a range of sectors, both to prevent violence from happening in the first place and to provide necessary services for women experiencing violence. The variation in the prevalence of violence seen within and between communities, countries and regions, highlights that violence is not inevitable, and that it can be prevented. Promising prevention programmes exist, and need to be tested and scaled up.2 There is growing evidence about what factors explain the global variation documented. This evidence highlights the need to address the economic and sociocultural factors that foster a culture of violence against women. This also includes the importance of challenging social norms that support male authority and control over women and sanction or condone violence against women; reducing levels of childhood exposures to violence; reforming discriminatory family law; strengthening women’s economic and legal rights; and eliminating gender inequalities in access to formal wage employment and secondary education. Services also need to be provided for those who have experienced violence. The health sector must play a greater role in responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women. WHO’s new clinical and policy guidelines on the health-sector response to violence against women emphasize the urgent need to integrate issues related to violence into clinical training. It is important that all health-care providers understand the relationship between exposure to violence and women’s ill health, and are able to respond appropriately. One key aspect is to identify opportunities to provide support and link women with other services they need – for example, when women seek sexual and reproductive health services (e.g. antenatal care, family planning, post-abortion care) or HIV testing, mental health 2. Preventing intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women. Taking action and generating evidence. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2010. and emergency services. Comprehensive postrape care services need to be made available and accessible at a much larger scale than is currently provided. The report shows that violence against women is pervasive globally. The findings send a powerful message that violence against women is not a small problem that only occurs in some pockets of society, but rather is a global public health problem of epidemic proportions, requiring urgent action. It is time for the world to take action: a life free of violence is a basic human right, one that every woman, man and child deserves. Details: Geneva, SWIT: World Health Organization, 2013. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2013 at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85239/1/9789241564625_eng.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85239/1/9789241564625_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 129189 Keywords: Battered Women Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Sinha, Maire Title: Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2011 Summary: Family violence accounted for 26% of all police-reported violent crime in 2011, a proportion similar to 2010. About half (49%) of the nearly 95,000 victims of family violence were in a current or previous spousal relationship with the accused, including both common-law and legally married partnerships. An additional 18% of victims were children of the accused, 13% were extended family members, 11% were siblings and 9% were parents, often in their senior years. Similar to overall police-reported crime trends, police-reported violence against family members appears to be declining, with decreases seen in both homicides and assaults. In 2011, the rate of family homicides per million was 47% lower than in 1981. More recently, rates of physical assault against family members have fallen by 6% since 2009 and sexual assault by 5%. The most frequent type of family violence offence reported to police in 2011 remained common assault, which includes pushing, slapping and punching, without serious physical injury. The next most frequently reported offence was major assault, which involves a weapon or results in bodily harm, followed by the offence of uttering threats. As in previous years, the majority of victims of family violence were females. They represented 80% of spousal victims, 63% of parents victimized, 58% of extended family members victimized, 57% of child victims and 57% of sibling victims. Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2013. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat Article: Accessed July 3, 2013 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/article/11805-eng.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/article/11805-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 129254 Keywords: Crime Statistics Domestic Violence Family Violence (Canada) Sexual Assault Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Gulliver, Pauline Title: Measurement of Family Violence at a Population Level: What might be needed to develop reliable and valid family violence indicators? Summary: This Issues Paper reviews some of the available sources of data on family violence, assesses strengths and limitations of these data sources for measuring trends in family violence, and seeks to assist the reader to develop an understanding of the issues associated with family violence data collections. Government agencies, non-government organisations and researchers all require reliable measures of family violence to understand the magnitude of the problem, to appropriately target resources, and to identify strategies that are effective in reducing and ultimately eliminating family violence. In this paper we: • Draw attention to the data that is currently available in New Zealand; • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of this data in relation to monitoring trends in family violence at the population level; • Highlight opportunities for further development of existing datasets, drawing on the experiences of other developed countries; • Consider some of the implications for reporting family violence data at the national level; and • Suggest some future courses of action which could support the development of reliable and valid family violence indicators. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2012. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 2: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/Measurement-of-family-violence-at-a-population-level-June-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/Measurement-of-family-violence-at-a-population-level-June-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 129345 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Family Violence (New Zealand) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Australia. Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) Title: The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010 – 2022 (the National Plan) Summary: While living safe and free from violence is everyone’s right, reducing violence is everyone’s responsibility. Around one-in-three Australian women have experienced physical violence and almost one-in-five have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. For certain groups, this statistic may be much higher. The National Plan brings together the efforts of governments across the nation to make a real and sustained reduction in the levels of violence against women. This plan shows Australia’s commitment to upholding the human rights of Australian women and it is the first plan to coordinate action across jurisdictions. The National Plan is unprecedented in the way it focuses on preventing violence by raising awareness and building respectful relationships in the next generation. The aim is to bring attitudinal and behavioural change at the cultural, institutional and individual levels, with a particular focus on young people. The National Plan has been built from an evidence base of new research and extensive consultation with experts and the community. The National Plan sets out a framework for action over the next 12 years. By working together and challenging the attitudes and behaviours that allow violence to occur, all Australian governments are saying a very loud ‘no’ to violence. Details: Canberra: FahCSIA, 2013. 133p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2013 at: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2012/national_plan.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/05_2012/national_plan.pdf Shelf Number: 129363 Keywords: Family Violence (Australia) Violence Against Children Violence Against Women

Author: Watson, Susan Dee Title: Relationship of Vulnerability to Coercive Control and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Latinas Summary: IPV is the most common cause of violence-related injury to women in the United States and greater than one-third of all female homicide victims in the U.S. were killed by the victims’ husband or partner. Nationally, intimate partner violence (IPV) has been identified as a public health issue, and internationally gender inequality is the number one human rights issue. In addition to risk factors identified among multicultural samples, characteristics that increase Latina vulnerability to IPV may relate to the specific cultural scripts between partners that are expected and supported within Latino culture. Latinas in the United States are affected by a confluence of risk factors for IPV including power imbalances associated with traditional gender roles (machismo, the stereotypical male role, and marianismo, the traditional female role), acculturation, socioeconomic status and education level. Vulnerability to coercive control behaviors resulting in IPV from a partner may be increased if the woman has a previous history of child sexual abuse (CSA). A secondary analysis of selected data from a three year parent study, SEPA II (Salud, Educacion, Prevencion y Autocuidado; Health, Education, Prevention and Self- Care), was undertaken to explore the relationships between CSA, machismo, marianismo, acculturation, socioeconomic status and education on the severity and occurrence of IPV among 548 adult Latinas between the ages of 18 and 50. Selected data elements were analyzed from the Short Form of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2S), the Violence Assessment Questionnaire (VAQ), the M-Measure (machismo), the Attitudes toward Women Scale (marianismo), the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS) and baseline demographic measures collected on the El Centro Intake Form. Correlations were done to examine the relationships among IPV, CSA, machismo, marianismo, acculturation, SES and education. Logistic regression was used to determine if women who report IPV are more likely to also report a history of CSA, more traditional gender role beliefs, higher levels of acculturation, lower SES and higher education. CTS2S (severity of violence) was significantly correlated with CSA, and the non- Hispanic domain of the BAS. The VAQ measure of violence (occurrence of physical violence > 18 years) also was significantly correlated with CSA, negatively correlated with the Hispanic domain, positively correlated with the Non-Hispanic domain of the BAS, and negatively correlated with monthly income. CSA was negatively associated with the Hispanic domain, positively correlated with the non-Hispanic domain and negatively correlated with years of education. Traditional gender roles did not influence the occurrence or severity of violence in this study. CSA was a significant predictor of IPV among Latinas. Hispanic domain (acculturation) and higher monthly income were protective against IPV among Latinas. Childhood sexual abuse, identification with non-Hispanic culture and decreased SES were found to increase vulnerability to IPV among Latinas. There is a need to design and test interventions and support systems for women that are contextually structured to acknowledge the family and community values as well as the individual needs of Latinas. Interpreting responses to violence for Latinas within the larger context of equality for women becomes part of an international focus aimed at ending gender based violence. Details: Coral Gables, FL: University of Miami, 2010. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 22, 2013 at: http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1502&context=oa_dissertations Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1502&context=oa_dissertations Shelf Number: 129477 Keywords: Family Violence Gender Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence (U.S.) Latinos Violence Against Women

Author: Galvez, Gino Title: Work-related Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Acculturation Among Employed Latinos in Batterer Intervention Programs Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV), typically considered in the domestic context, has been shown to have considerable effects on women’s employment and health. While the literature has recently grown in this area, very few studies have examined the prevalence of work-related IPV among men. Furthermore, the extant literature on work-related IPV has largely ignored the experience of ethnic minorities, specifically Latinos. Many factors suggest that rates and forms of IPV might be different among other racial and ethnic groups. Some studies that examine IPV among Latinos have sought to understand the role of acculturation and socioeconomic contexts. The purpose of this study was to examine work-related IPV among a sample of men enrolled in batterer intervention programs. In addition, we sought to examine the relationship between acculturation, socioeconomic contexts, and reports of workrelated IPV among a subset of male Latinos. Overall, the findings confirm the upper ranges of previous estimates across studies (36% to 75%) of employed victims of IPV and their harassment by abusive partners while at work (Swanberg, Logan, & Macke, 2005; Taylor & Barusch, 2004). Specifically, we found that 60% of the entire sample reported work-related IPV that involved threatening behaviors and physical violence at their partner’s job. The findings among Latinos suggest that a positive relationship exists between acculturation and work-related IPV. Specifically, proxy variables of acculturation (e.g., country of birth, language of survey, number of years in the U.S.) were hypothesized to be positively associated with higher levels of acculturation. Consistent with the hypotheses, we found significant relationships in the direction proposed. Lastly, socioeconomic status (e.g., income, education, employment status) was hypothesized to play a moderating role between acculturation and work-related IPV. However, results generally suggest that socioeconomic status (i.e., income, education) did not moderate the relationship between acculturation and work-related IPV. This study makes important contributions to the literature and has implications for employers. The significant rates of work-related IPV found in this study highlight the need to address this problem among employed males as an important step in preventing work-related IPV. Among Latinos, the level of acculturation and factors such as income, employment, and education are important contextual factors that provide a better understanding of IPV in Latino communities (Gryywacz, Rao, Gentry, Marin, & Arcury, 2009). Details: Portland, OR: Portland State University, 2011. 169p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed July 22, 2013 at: http://dr.archives.pdx.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/psu/6993/Galvez_psu_0180D_10295.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://dr.archives.pdx.edu/xmlui/bitstream/handle/psu/6993/Galvez_psu_0180D_10295.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 129478 Keywords: Bettered Women (U.S.) Family Violence Gender Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Latinos Socioeconomic Status Violence Against Women

Author: Rossiter, Katherine R. Title: Domestic Violence Prevention and Reduction in British Columbia (2000-2010) Summary: This report reviews domestic violence prevention and reduction initiatives in British Columbia (BC), from 2000-2010, and more recently. The review was undertaken to support the work of the Violence Reduction Circle, a collaborative group of researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and service providers, hosted by the Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Violence at the Justice Institute of BC. The review begins with a description of the process, which involved a comprehensive scan of online sources and key informant interviews with academic and community-based researchers, policy makers, service providers, and advocates. The author then outlines the various terms used to describe domestic violence against women, and justifies the use of this term to reflect the language adopted in provincial policy without losing the gendered language of feminist scholars. The report goes on to present the latest statistical data on rates of domestic violence in Canada and British Columbia, before summarizing the health, social, and economic costs of domestic violence against women, and the effects on children who witness. The review defines three levels of prevention strategies (primary, secondary, and tertiary), which are conceived of as interdependent and mutually reinforcing strategies to prevent and reduce violence against women and to increase the safety of women and children. The body of the report reviews domestic violence prevention and reduction initiatives in BC over the past decade, including relevant legislation and policy, training initiatives for service providers across systems, and efforts to strengthen the community response to domestic violence, including public awareness campaigns. The author makes the point that key decisions pertaining to domestic violence legislation, policy, funding, and services are closely linked to changes in government and high-profile cases of domestic violence and domestic homicide that serve to open policy windows. A brief overview of government-, police-, and community-based victim services and programs for domestic violence perpetrators follows. The review then focuses on services and prevention initiatives designed to meet the needs of specific populations of victims, namely: Aboriginal women and girls; immigrant, refugee, and non-status women; women in rural and remote communities; persons within the LGBTTS community; and children and youth. Relevant national and international domestic violence prevention programs and initiatives are identified, and the case is made for primary prevention strategies that address the root causes of crime and promote strategic investments in children and families. Details: New Westminster, BC: The Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Violence Office of Applied Research Justice Institute of British Columbia, 2011. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 22, 2013 at: http://www.jibc.ca/sites/default/files/research/pdf/Domestic-violence-prevention-reduction_REPORT.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.jibc.ca/sites/default/files/research/pdf/Domestic-violence-prevention-reduction_REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 129486 Keywords: Battered Women Domestic Violence Family Violence (Canada) Violence Against Women

Author: Heib, Sandra N. Title: Police Officers as Perpetrators of Crimes Against Women and Children Summary: Crimes committed by police officers are a national problem. When an officer commits a crime, either on- or off-duty, it negatively impacts the public trust and legitimacy of the police. Police work has primarily been a male-dominated profession and has had its own distinct culture; both of which are conducive to violent behavior against women and children. There is little literature regarding misconduct and violence perpetrated by police officers; the police culture encourages behavior problems to be dealt with internally and away from the public eye. A sixty day review of the Cato Institute’s Police Misconduct Newsfeed was conducted and all crimes against women and children were extracted and reviewed. There were a total of ninety-one crimes against women and children; ninety committed by men and one committed by a woman. There were twenty-eight cases of domestic violence, sixty cases of sex related crimes, and ten cases of child abuse; some cases involved a combination of crimes. The results of the sixty day review raise serious concerns regarding what is not being reported by the police department and calls for further research regarding police misconduct and departmental policies regarding misconduct. Details: Dominguez Hills, A: California State University, Dominguez Hills, 2013? 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://justicewomen.com/wjc-project-final.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://justicewomen.com/wjc-project-final.pdf Shelf Number: 129513 Keywords: Child Abuse Domestic Violence Police Misconduct (U.S.) Rape Sex Crimes Violence Against Women

Author: Gerome, Rebecca Title: Women, Gender and Gun Violence in the Middle East Summary: This report presents the main findings of an assessment conducted in Lebanon, Jordan and Occupied Palestinian Territory from January to May 2011 by providing a situation overview, challenges and entry points for action in each country and presenting recommendations for future interventions. Although the impact of gun violence on women in the region has remained largely invisible, the proliferation of small arms has prevented women from exercising some of their most basic rights. Direct and indirect impacts of small arms on women in the Middle East include armed domestic violence and “crimes committed in the name of honour”, as well as long term social, economic and psychological effects of revenge killings between male family members, tribal vendettas and celebratory shootings resulting in death and serious injury. Women who have been injured are considered an added burden on the family, and in some cases they are marginalised and rejected by their family. When a woman loses her husband to gun violence, she must struggle to provide for family members. Women’s groups have already been working hard on violence against women, but what challenges have prevented women’s groups from engaging with the issue of small arms? Small arms control and disarmament is a sensitive, sometimes taboo, issue that is difficult to address without seeming to take sides politically. Currently there is no consolidated data on either firearm use or violence against women, making the problem hard to assess. Varying notions of crime and punishment throughout the region complicate the issue. Private justice is often considered legitimate, especially where institutions are weak, and such incidents are not always officially reported. Laws to protect women’s rights are either not sufficiently developed or not sufficiently implemented. Laws still exist to pardon and give reduced penalties for “crimes committed in the name of honour”. Women’s groups have expressed readiness to work on small arms control and disarmament, and have identified opportunities for action. These differ in each the three countries examined. For women’s rights and civil society organisations in Lebanon, the best way to tackle the problem is to present small arms control as a protection issue rather than a political one. This means looking at it from the angle of protecting women rather than disarming one group over another. In Jordan, where authorities are desperate to control civilian gun possession, women identified UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) as a starting point for action. In Occupied Palestinian Territory, women can work with the Palestinian Authority to improve law enforcement in the West Bank and raise awareness among youth to break the links between masculinity, guns and violence. Details: London: International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Women's Network, 2011. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.iansa-women.org/sites/default/files/newsviews/iansa_wn_mena_paper_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Asia URL: http://www.iansa-women.org/sites/default/files/newsviews/iansa_wn_mena_paper_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 129515 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Related Violence Gun Violence (Middle East) Honor-Related Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Security Council Report Title: Women, Peace and Security: Sexual Violence in Conflict and Sanctions Summary: Security Council Report’s third Cross-Cutting Report on Women, Peace and Security analyses statistical information on women, peace and security in country-specific decisions of the Security Council and developments in 2012, with a particular focus in the case study on the nexus between sexual violence in conflict and sanctions imposed by the Security Council. The report also examines the Council’s inconsistency in including language on the UN’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse for UN personnel in resolutions establishing or renewing mandates for peace missions. The report will also briefly touch on key developments on the women, peace and security agenda in early 2013. Since our first Cross-Cutting Report on Women, Peace and Security in 2010, there has been significant growth in the UN system’s focus on this thematic issue. The first Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict was appointed in February 2010, and in January 2011 a system-wide entity on women’s equality and empowerment, UN Women, was established. Both the head of UN Women and the Special Representative have briefed the Security Council regularly since taking up their respective positions. Three years since the start of these institutional processes, it seems appropriate to examine how the establishment of these offices at UN headquarters, the continued deployment of gender expertise in the field as well as gender expertise supplementing the work of various sanctions committees’ experts groups have complemented the Security Council’s own approach to the women, peace and security agenda. This report will assess whether a more robust women, peace and security infrastructure has improved the flow of information to the Security Council and, if so, whether such improvement, in turn, has translated into an enhanced focus on these matters in Council decision-making, and in particular, in the work of its sanctions committees. Specifically, this report examines the Council’s follow-through on its own intention expressed in resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1960 (2010) to consider including designation criteria for the imposition of sanctions pertaining to acts of rape and other forms of sexual violence. To examine the nexus between sexual violence and activity by the Security Council and its sanctions committees, this report reviews the mandates of relevant sanctions regimes, the application of sanctions and relevant listing and designation criteria and reporting by associated expert groups on sexual and gender-based violence. The report will consider the sanctions regimes imposed on Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Iraq, Liberia, Libya, Somalia and Sudan as examples of the Security Council’s approach to women, peace and security issues—in particular whether such tools have been used to enhance accountability for sexual violence in armed conflict. In addressing the issue of accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence, the case study will also briefly touch on parallel international justice mechanisms where they exist. The past two years have been a time of particular division in the Council, with significant push-back by several permanent and elected Council members on the key thematic issues including on women, peace and security, children and armed conflict and protection of civilians. There has been repeated criticism by some Council members that the reporting on women, peace and security, particularly on sexual violence, has gone beyond its mandate by including countries that are not on the Security Council’s agenda. However, the overarching observation of this study is that this push-back has largely played itself out in difficult and protracted negotiations at the thematic level but has not negatively impacted the integrity of the Council’s women, peace and security normative framework. Interestingly, despite this controversy at the thematic level, the women, peace and security agenda continued to be substantively applied in the Council’s country-specific resolutions, the Council expanded its work at the committee-level when considering sexual violence or rape as designation criteria in various sanctions regimes and there has been regular interaction between the Council and UN Women and the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The Council’s interaction with the Special Representative has been especially notable at both the Council level—insofar as she has briefed not only on her broader mandate but also on several country-specific situations—and her office’s interactions with several expert groups of the Council’s sanctions committees. However, the study did reveal one area of concern regarding the Council’s inclusion of the UN’s zero-tolerance policy in its relevant resolutions. In a review of the resolutions in effect in 2012 for 12 peacekeeping operations and seven political and peacebuilding missions, only eight had mandates that included a reference to the zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse for UN personnel. In practice, the Council has not been involved in the matter and the issue has been left to the discretion of the Secretariat and troop-contributing countries. Details: New York: Security Council Report, 2013. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/cross_cutting_report_2_women_peace_security_2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/cross_cutting_report_2_women_peace_security_2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129516 Keywords: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Wijk, Nikil Phoebe Licorice van Title: Domestic Violence By and Against Men and Women in Curacao: A Caribbean Study Summary: The available domestic violence literature offers few clues on the situation in the Caribbean. General violence indicators support the assumption of high prevalences, but how these may be affected by, for example, gender relations and family structures is unclear. Reliable statistical data on the prevalence, nature, and consequences of domestic violence are not available, the prevalence of domestic violence in Curacao has never been studied before. The central question of this thesis is: What are the prevalences, risk factors and consequences of domestic violence against men and women on Curacao? Curacao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southwestern Caribbean, and has a population of 140.000. The island's population comes from many ethnic backgrounds. For its size, the island has a considerably diverse economy which does not rely mostly on tourism alone as is the case on many other Caribbean islands. International financial services, the harbor and trade are important economic sectors as well. In contrast to the relatively isolated Western-style nuclear family, family structures in the Caribbean are often characterized by matrifocal, (grand)mother-dominated households with several generations living in the same house or in houses built close to each other on a compound, sharing resources and carer's duties. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Domestic violence against adults can be divided into three main categories: psychological, physical and sexual violence. Other relevant aspects of domestic violence are initiation, intention and motivation: 'common couple violence' is distinguished from 'intimate terrorism'. Common couple violence is expressive and characterized by minor forms of violence. Intimate terrorism on the other hand is instrumental, to control, subdue, and reproduce subordination. Compared to common couple violence, it is more rare and serious, tends to escalate over time, and peaks after separation. When surveying sensitive topics, serious underreporting of the phenomena under study is a grave danger to the validity of the data. Domestic violence is a prime example of a sensitive topic, as it concerns behavior that is socially frowned upon, may be illegal, and concerns the private domain. A special mixed-mode survey was designed to assess the prevalence of domestic violence on Curacao and its health consequences. Great care was taken to reduce selective non-response and stimulate open and honest responses on this topic. Our study clearly shows that respondents from different demographic segments have different preferences as for type of data collecting mode. Overall, almost a quarter of our respondents chose a face-to-face interview, while for the segment of low educated, elderly people, the interview option was chosen by over half of the respondents. This supports our expectations that a mixed mode approach pulls in those respondents that we would have missed if we restricted ourselves to a single mode approach. The tailored mixed-mode strategy leads to higher number of completed questionnaires, and restores partly the non-response bias by pulling in more lower educated and elderly, groups that are in general underrepresented. The results of this study indicate that one out of three people (25% of men, 38% of women) in Curacao have experienced some form of domestic violence as adults, and the lifetime victimization rates are 39% of men, 51% of women. The most significant risk factors for domestic violence in Curacao are the female gender, a young age, low education and experiencing domestic violence victimization in childhood. Divorce, single parenthood and unemployment increase the risk for women, but not for men. Possible explanations for the high victimization rates of divorced women are the fact that domestic violence rates spike during separation and higher denial rates among couples who are still together: domestic violence victims that are still in a relationship Domestic violence against women on Curacao is for the most part (ex-) partner violence. Against men, it is primarily violence from parents, family and friends. Parents are the main perpetrators of domestic violence against children, except for sexual violence, which is primarily perpetrated by family members and friends. The majority of the Curacao victims of physical domestic violence have experienced more severe forms of abuse, like being hit with objects. Men and women have similar rates of committing domestic violence; this is consistent with findings in Western countries. The self reports reveal that 25%-33% have committed psychological domestic violence, 11%-17% physical violence and 1%-6% sexual violence. Antecedents of perpetrating domestic violence are similar for both sexes, too. Being a victim of domestic violence increases the probability to become a perpetrator for both genders, especially in case of severe physical violence victimization. Other perpetrator risk factors are a high education for perpetrating psychological violence, and having children in the household for perpetrating physical violence. Curacao is a collectivist country, which is associated with higher male perpetration rates, with a matrifocal orientation and high gender empowerment, which is associated with gender similarity in perpetration rates. Since we found gender similarity in the perpetration rates on Curacao, we conclude that the influence of gender empowerment seems to be more decisive than the collectivistic/individualistic society dimension. Nevertheless we should interpret these results with caution, since we have measured domestic violence perpetration rates and not intimate partner violence perpetration rates. It is still very well possible that intimate partner violence is more often perpetrated by men, and that women direct their aggression more towards other family members, like children. Consistent with the current international literature, we found a strong association between different forms of abuse and negative healthcare outcomes. Victims of domestic violence have worse self assessed health, more health problems and more health care use than non-victims. All types of violence (psychological, physical and sexual) have specific effects on the victims health and consequently on the medical use and costs. Further research on the context, nature and severity of domestic violence in the Caribbean is necessary. Studies should preferably combine the strengths of national crime surveys and family conflict studies: nationally representative samples (including men and women), and questionnaires that include all possible experiences of psychological, physical and sexual assaults by current and former partners, family and friends. Details: Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 2012. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 22, 2013 at: http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/38342/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2012 Country: Caribbean URL: http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/38342/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 131613 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence (Curacao) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Men Violence Against Women

Author: Spangaro, Jo Title: What is the Evidence of the Impact of Initiatives to Reduce Risk and Iincidence of Sexual Violence in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones and other Humanitarian Crises in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries? A Systematic Review Summary: What evidence exists for the impact of initiatives to reduce risk and incidence of sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict zones and other humanitarian crises in lower and middle-income countries? Who wants to know and why? Sexual violence in the context of conflict and other humanitarian crises is widespread, with at least one in four women in conflict situations affected. Men and children are also at heightened risk. In these settings, sexual violence may be committed i) as a tactic of armed conflict, ii) opportunistically due to situational vulnerability, iii) as a form of sexual exploitation by peacekeepers or humanitarian staff, or iv) as a form of familial or community violence exacerbated by weakened social or legal structures. Since 2000, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has passed five resolutions that addressed this problem among others, prompting the issue of various guidelines and training packages. No previous systematic reviews of evidence for reducing risk and incidence of sexual violence in conflict or other crisis have been undertaken to date. There is now a need to gauge the impact of interventions undertaken to address this problem. Methods of the review A realist approach was adopted, suited to complex problems as it enables analysis of contextual factors and underlying program mechanisms. An extensive literature search employed 23 bibliographic databases, 26 websites, and a hand search of three journals. Included studies were those containing primary empirical data describing implementation or impact of interventions aimed at reducing risk or incidence, or addressing harm from sexual violence occurring in conflict, postconflict or other humanitarian crisis settings in lower or middle-income countries. Studies included were published from 1 January 1990 to 1 September 2011. A total of 2,656 studies was identified, after removal of duplicates. Following the application of exclusion criteria, 49 studies were selected as being in scope for the review and were mapped. Nine studies which reported on overarching policy responses were excluded, leaving 40 studies in the full review. Although much of the broader literature refers to militarised sexual violence committed by combatants, the majority of studies found addressed sexual violence committed opportunistically or within the family/community. Twenty studies reported outcomes and the other twenty reported only on the implementation of interventions (see Appendix 3.1 for a map of the studies). The majority of the studies identified in the review described interventions for sexual violence in post-conflict settings, with few addressing prevention or the conflict context. Most interventions were provided by multilateral agencies, international non-government organisations (NGOs) or national governments, with a few provided by local NGOs or community groups. Seven strategy types were identified: i) survivor care interventions (10 studies); ii) livelihood initiatives (2 studies); iii) community mobilisation initiatives (3 studies); iv) personnel initiatives, e.g. recruitment or training (3 studies); v) systems and security, predominantly firewood patrols or fuel alternatives (3 studies); vi) interventions using a combination of these strategies (13 studies); and vii) legal interventions (6 studies). Most interventions targeted women or were non-specific. Two interventions targeted young people specifically, both were disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) interventions, but neither found reduced risk/incidence (Amone-P'Olak 2006; Denov 2006). No studies were found which targeted men specifically as victims. Details: London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 2013. 170p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2013 at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Conflict_zones_2013Spangaro_report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 131642 Keywords: Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Gender-Based Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: MacQuarrie, Kerry L.D. Title: Spousal Violence and HIV: Exploring the Linkages in Five Sub-Saharan African Countries Summary: Over the past decade a consensus has been growing that intimate partner violence contributes to women's vulnerability to HIV. A diverse body of research has explored this association, mostly in the developing world. Studies based on women who present at health clinics often report a significantly higher prevalence of intimate partner violence among HIV-positive women compared with HIV-negative women. Moreover, six of seven studies using nationally representative samples reported a significant association between some form of violence and HIV status. The usual interpretation is that spousal violence increases the risk of HIV for women. Yet a direct effect on HIV status is unlikely, since there is no apparent direct causal pathway leading from most forms of spousal violence to the acquisition of HIV. This study contributes to an understanding of the relationship between spousal violence and HIV by taking advantage of data from both members of a couple and using discrete, nuanced measures of spousal violence to better specify the associated pathways through which violence influences HIV. We propose a gender-based conceptual framework in which the association between a woman's experience of spousal violence and her HIV status is mediated by two primary pathways: First, the HIV risk behaviors/factors of her husband and, second, her own behavioral and situational HIV risk factors. Both of these factors have been associated with violence experienced by women and perpetrated by men. This study uses data on married couples from six Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) in five sub- Saharan countries: Kenya 2008-09, Malawi 2010, Rwanda 2005, Rwanda 2010, Zambia 2007, and Zimbabwe 2010-11. These surveys included HIV testing for both women and men and also the domestic violence module, thus providing a subsample of married or cohabiting couples by their experience of violence and their HIV status. We examine the direct or indirect linkages between spousal violence and women's HIV status. We also explore the association between spousal violence and wives' and husbands' HIV risk factors. Specifically, we include the following factors: lifetime number of sexual partners; STI or STI symptoms in the last 12 months; and for husbands only, non-marital sex in the past 12 months; having paid for sex; alcohol use; and husband's HIV status. We consider several forms of spousal violence (emotional, physical, and sexual violence) and husbands' controlling behaviors. In keeping with the conceptual framework, we develop a series of statistical analyses to test the direct effect of spousal violence on women's HIV status and the role of HIV risk factors as mediators. The results reveal a strikingly common structure of what constitutes violence across the five countries. Five factors emerge in each country: (1) suspicion, (2) isolation, (3) emotional violence, (4) physical violence, and (5) sexual violence. These five factors account for 57 to 66 percent of the variance among the items in each country. Our factor analysis upholds the validity of experts' assignment of the various acts of spousal violence to the categories of emotional, physical, or sexual violence. An important additional insight is that the six items typically categorized as controlling behavior actually represent not one construct, but two separate constructs-suspicion and isolation-which are distinct from emotional, physical, or sexual violence. The study finds a significant association between multiple forms of violence and women's HIV status, after adjusting for wives' and husbands' socio-demographic characteristics but not risk factors. Yet, no single form of spousal violence is consistently associated with women's HIV status in all five countries. A significant relationship is found with women's HIV status for the controlling behaviors suspicion and isolation in Zambia and Zimbabwe; for emotional violence in Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe; for physical violence, in Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe; and in no country for sexual violence, the least prevalent form of violence among study couples. In Malawi no form of violence is associated with a wife's risk of having HIV. In all five countries both HIV risk factors for women - lifetime number of sexual partners and recent STI or STI symptoms - are significantly associated with their having HIV, after controlling for background characteristics but not for each other. Most of the spousal violence measures are associated with both wives' HIV risk factors in each country. The most prominent predictor of a woman's HIV status is her husband's HIV status, among all the men's factors considered. Numerous husbands' HIV risk factors are associated with their wives' HIV status, but far less consistently than either husbands' HIV status or women's risk factors. The association between the experience of spousal violence and husbands' risk factors, too, is weaker and less consistent than with women's risk factors. Nevertheless, multiple relationships between spousal violence and wives' and their husbands' risk factors on one hand, and between wives' and husbands' risk factors and women's HIV status on the other, suggest that there are several possible mediators between various forms of spousal violence and women's HIV status. Indeed, when either wives' risk factors or husbands' risk factors, or both combined, are added to our models, most spousal violence factors are no longer a significant predictor of women's HIV status. The only form of spousal violence that appears to have a direct net association with HIV is physical violence, which remains significant in all models in Kenya and Zimbabwe. For almost all forms of violence (physical violence being the exception) and in all five countries, any observed significant relationship of spousal violence with a woman's HIV status is explained away by wives' or husband's HIV risk factors. The study provides evidence that there is no direct effect of most forms of spousal violence on women's HIV status, only an indirect effect through selected behavioral and other factors commonly considered to put an individual at high risk of HIV. The finding that sexual violence is not associated with women's HIV status, even before considering any mediating risk factors, deserves further exploration. Similarly, investigation is warranted to ascertain why physical violence continues to be associated with women's HIV status after controlling for these risk factors. Details: Calverton, MD: ICF International, 2013. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: DHS Analytical Studies No. 36: Accessed November 13, 2013 at: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/AS36/AS36.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Africa URL: http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pdf/AS36/AS36.pdf Shelf Number: 131654 Keywords: Family Violence Gender-Based Violence HIV (Viruses) Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Spouse Abuse (Africa) Violence Against Women

Author: Great Britain. Home Office Title: Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) Pilot Assessment Summary: In 2012/13, a 14 month pilot to test a national Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS) took place across four police force areas (Gwent, Wiltshire, Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire). This report sets out the findings from an assessment of the pilot. Within existing legislation and common law, police have the power to disclose information to an individual, if it might help protect them, about previous violent offending by their partner. The DVDS pilot aimed to introduce a consistent process for this. The pilot tested two processes for disclosing this information, "Right to Ask‟ where a disclosure request is triggered by a member of the public directly contacting the police about a partner, and "Right to Know‟ where a disclosure request is triggered by police or partner agencies based on information that an individual is at risk of harm from their partner. Requests are subject to police checks before potentially being referred to a local multi-agency decision-making forum, where a decision is made about whether to make a disclosure. The forum must justify that there is "pressing need‟ for disclosure, and that a disclosure is lawful, necessary and proportionate to protect the potential victim from future crime. Aims and Approach This assessment aimed to capture views of the pilot to help understand how the process was working in practice and identify lessons learnt to inform any decisions about roll-out of the process. The assessment was not designed to consider any impact the scheme may have had on domestic abuse victims or estimate the "value for money‟ of the scheme. Specifically, the assessment aimed to understand: the nature of cases going through the scheme, including the volume and characteristics of applications and disclosures; perceptions of police officers and partner agencies involved in implementing the scheme, to capture lessons learnt; and experiences of those who requested and/or received a disclosure. This assessment drew on pilot police force monitoring data, focus groups with practitioners who delivered the scheme and a small number (38)2 of questionnaires completed by those who had applied for and/or received a disclosure. Further details on these methods are provided in the main report. Details: London: Home Office, 2013. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 27, 2013 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260894/DVDS_assessment_report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260894/DVDS_assessment_report.pdf Shelf Number: 131720 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Evaluation of the Pilot of Domestic Violence Protection Orders Summary: Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs) were piloted in three police force areas in 2011-12. DVPOs are a new civil provision designed to provide immediate protection for victim-survivors of domestic violence where no other enforceable restrictions can be placed upon the perpetrator. This evaluation of the pilot suggests that DVPOs were generally seen positively by practitioners and victim-survivors and were associated with a reduction in re-victimisation, particularly when used in 'chronic' cases. While a negative cost impact was found over the pilot period, there are likely to be further benefits that the evaluation could not quantify (e.g. preventing escalating violence), and over the long term the benefits increase relative to costs. The evaluation recommends wider roll out of DVPOs. Domestic abuse or violence is a crime and should be reported to the police, there are also other organisations who can offer you help and support. Call 999 if it's an emergency or you're in immediate danger. The police take domestic violence seriously and will be able to help and protect you. If it's not an emergency, contact your local neighbourhood policing team. Details: London: Home Office, 2013. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Home Office Research Report 76 : Accessed November 27, 2013 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260897/horr76.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260897/horr76.pdf Shelf Number: 131721 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Protection Orders Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: London Assembly. Police and Crime Committee Title: Neglect, Abuse and Violence Against Older Women Summary: The objective of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) was the elimination of all forms of neglect, abuse and violence against older persons (MIPAA, 2002). In addition, it was acknowledged clearly in the Plan of Action that "Older women face greater risk of physical and psychological abuse due to discriminatory societal attitudes and the nonrealization of the human rights of women. Some harmful traditional practices and customs result in abuse and violence directed at older women, often exacerbated by poverty and lack of access to legal protection." (para. 108). Since the adoption of the Madrid Plan of Action, the problem of abuse against older persons, in all its forms, has grown. The results of the second review and appraisal of the Madrid Plan of Action in 2012 showed clearly that neglect, abuse and violence against older persons was acknowledged as a major policy issue in all regions, regardless of level of development.1 The General Assembly pronounced 15 June as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2012. Discussion of legislation on human rights protection against neglect, abuse and violence has become a main focus of the ongoing discussions of the General Assembly Open-ended Working Group on Ageing. However, despite the evidence from available data that older women are at greater risk of abuse and violence, older women have not been mainstreamed into ongoing research and discussion on violence against women. For instance, the campaign by UN Women on Ending Violence Against Women has made no mention of older women as a vulnerable group. Therefore, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), together with its focal point on ageing in the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), began a discussion based on current research, available data and the terminology used in academic circles to describe and classify violence and abuse against older women. The majority of academic research and discourse has been conducted in developed countries, and agreement on terminology and meanings has-by no means-been clear or agreed. This lack of agreed definitions was one of the problems that explained the lack of visibility of older women in the discourse surrounding the issue of violence and abuse. The purpose of the present publication is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about the abuse of older women. The main forms or categories of abuse against older women are discussed, particularly in relation to differing definitions of neglect, abuse and violence against women and older adults. Prevalence rates from studies using different definitions and incorporating different forms of abuse can vary greatly, depending on whether the study focuses on intimate partner violence, older adult abuse or, specifically, on the abuse of older adults in protective settings. Prevalence rates are also influenced by whether the data are based on one-year, five-year or lifetime cumulative time frames, and which old-age cohorts are included in the study samples. The publication discusses the challenges that this has presented to researchers. Risk factors identified through prevalence and other studies include age and gender, as well as care-dependency in cases of neglect. The publication provides a summary of selected study findings on the health consequences of abuse and violence against older women, as well as sources of data collection and some of the challenges that this presents to researchers. The publication provides an overview of preventive measures for addressing the issue, presenting the findings of evaluations on their effectiveness, where available. It gives an overview of main approaches to addressing the abuse of older women, and key interventions - including policies and programmes for the protection of older women victims of abuse - along with outcomes, where evaluations have been completed. Details: New York: United Nations, 2013. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ageing/neglect-abuse-violence-older-women.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/documents/ageing/neglect-abuse-violence-older-women.pdf Shelf Number: 131905 Keywords: Elder Abuse Elderly Victims Violence Against Women

Author: Smedslund, G. Title: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Men Who Physically Abuse their Female Partner (Review) Summary: In national surveys, between 10% and 34% of women have reported being physically assaulted by an intimate male partner. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or programmes including elements of CBT are frequently used treatments for physically abusive men. Participants either enroll voluntarily or are obliged to participate by means of a court order. CBT not only seeks to change behavior using established behavioural strategies, but also targets thinking patterns and beliefs. Objectives To measure effectiveness of CBT and programmes including elements of CBT on men's physical abuse of their female partners. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for men who have physically abused their female partner and included a measure of the impact on violence. Main results Six trials, all from the USA, involving 2343 participants, were included. A meta-analysis of four trials comparing CBT with a no intervention control (1771 participants) reported that the relative risk of violence was 0.86 (favouring the intervention group) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.54 to 1.38. This is a small effect size, and the width of the CI suggests no clear evidence for an effect. One study (Wisconsin Study) compared CBT with process-psychodynamic group treatment and reported a relative risk of new violence of 1.07 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.68). Even though the process-psychodynamic treatment did marginally better than CBT, this result is equivocal. Finally, one small study (N = 64) compared a combined CBT treatment for substance abuse and domestic violence (SADV) with a Twelve-Step Facilitation (TSF) group. An analysis involving 58 participants investigated the effect on reduction in frequency of physical violence episodes. The effect size was 0.30 (favouring TSF) with 95% CI from -0.22 to 0.81. Authors' conclusions There are still too few randomised controlled trials to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy for male perpetrators of domestic violence. Details: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2014 at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006048.pub2/pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006048.pub2/pdf Shelf Number: 131962 Keywords: Abusive Men Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Guy, Jonathon Title: Early Intervention in Domestic Violence and Abuse Summary: Domestic Violence and Abuse is the first in a series of reports on different aspects of Early Intervention. We chose to focus on domestic violence and abuse in our first report because it is an important cause of long-term problems for children, families and communities. The damaging impacts of witnessing domestic violence and abuse on children can cast a long shadow with inter-generational consequences sometimes leading to a repetition of abusive and violent behaviours. Moreover, domestic violence and abuse is not confined to a small section of the population but highly prevalent with 30% of women having experienced any domestic abuse since the age of 16 and 1.2% of people aged 16-59 having experienced partner abuse involving severe force in the last year. It also comes with immense costs - it is estimated that the overall costs to society of domestic violence and abuse stands at over L15.7bn. There must be more effective ways of preventing domestic violence and abuse and protecting children and families from its long-term effects. The Early Intervention Foundation's (EIF) focus is on the flow of evidence between research, practice and policy, with the goal of driving improvements to children's outcomes and breaking intergenerational patterns of disadvantage and dysfunction. Our approach is characterised by three roles: to assess the evidence of what works, to advise on the best Early Intervention approaches and to advocate for a shift in the culture from late to early intervention. A pre-emptive, early approach not only has the potential to improve the lives of children and families, but also represents an intelligent approach to spending - with possible long term savings as a result. A particular focus of the EIF is on ensuring children and young people have the bedrock of social and emotional skills, resilience and capability they need to function as effective, responsible adults with good levels of autonomy and well-being. In that context Early Intervention refers to the programmes and practices provided to babies, children, young people and their families to help achieve these outcomes. Many such Early Intervention services focus on supporting parenting as a key driver of success. EIF also provides advice to all interested in Early Intervention including practitioners, Local Councils, Schools, Police and Crime Commissioners, Clinical Commissioning Groups, the voluntary sector and Government on the causes of poor outcomes for children and young people and what has been shown to work to tackle these. We are working initially with 20 Pioneering Early Intervention Places including 18 Local Councils and 2 Police and Crime Commissioners across the country to help make Early Intervention a reality on the ground. Domestic violence and abuse is an issue that has been recurrently highlighted by local commissioners as an issue of serious concern and one which requires improved services. Many practitioners are looking at how to identify at risk groups in the population, better equip local workforces and provide more integrated services that respond to domestic violence and abuse alongside other issues that families may be facing. This report is not intended as a systematic and exhaustive review of 'What Works' in addressing and preventing domestic violence and abuse. The purpose of this report is to assess the extent to which evidence on domestic violence and abuse indicates Early Intervention Foundation that it can be an important cause of long term problems for children and families, and the role of Early Intervention in pre-empting this. The report combines our 3 'A's - assessment, advice and advocacy. It assesses a suite of preventative programmes for children and young people, Early Intervention initiatives for families at risk of domestic violence and abuse and perpetrator programmes. It reflects the feedback we have had from our 20 Pioneering Places and wider research to provide advice for local commissioners and others. It goes on to advocate for specific actions and tangible recommendations for government and other agencies. Details: London: Early Intervention Foundation, 2014. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2014 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 131987 Keywords: Children and Violence Domestic Violence Family Violence Interventions Violence Against Women

Author: Tennessee Economic Council on Women Title: The Economic Impact of Violence Against Women in Tennessee Summary: Violence is a thief. In much the same way that a robust education can open minds to new opportunities and unprecedented achievement, violence closes doors and cripples the human ability to grow and innovate. At the hands of a stranger, and even more often a loved one, women in Tennessee are being coerced, intimidated, battered and assaulted in alarming numbers. In recent years, our state has regularly ranked among the worst in the country when counting the number of women murdered by men, and estimates indicate that one in three women will experience domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime. The immediate implications of these crimes are daunting. This report reveals that, across the state, communities spend or lose at least $886 million each year as a result of recent violence committed against women. By focusing on the immediate impact on the public, however, this figure only hints at the most significant cost: Crimes like domestic violence, human sex trafficking and sexual assault have a lasting impact on a victim's ability to earn for herself, to provide for her family, to live a healthy, pain-free life, and to reach her full potential in her community. The reality of this hardship is personal and immeasurable, but the way in which violence can derail a woman's ability to excel, or to more fully contribute to her community, has ramifications that extend deeply into each of our lives. The chief goal of this effort is to explore the costs that we incur under the current low-budget, response-oriented approach to these crimes, and to highlight the potential return on investment that a robust push for prevention could bring by weakening the generational cycle of violence that feeds this suffering. If there is a secondary goal for this document; it is to expose certain truths about these heinous crimes with the aim of promoting a more productive public response. Foremost among these are that : (1) Domestic violence is not a family matter, with limited impact on the wellbeing of others. It is, in fact, one of the most debilitating and prevalent crimes in our society and it perpetually extracts costs, both immediate and long-term, from every single one of us. (2) Prostitution is not a profession willingly chosen; it is a suffering of last resort that desperate women and children are forced into, or fall back upon to survive. It is an abominable form of modern slavery perpetrated by predatory traffickers and the reckless purchasers of forced sex, which challenges the humanity of the individual and the dignity of their community. (3) It is in the best interest of all Tennesseans to recognize that a child should not be born into a unique likelihood of rape, abuse, or violation because of her gender. Crimes that victimize women in such tremendous volume and specificity have compounding effects on our society and economy, and by derailing the lives of so very many, they serve to impede an entire gender's collective ability to achieve its full socio-economic potential. Details: Nashville: Tennessee Economic Council on Women, 2013. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2014 at: http://www.tennesseewomen.org/2013vawreport.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.tennesseewomen.org/2013vawreport.pdf Shelf Number: 132028 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Domestic Violence Prostitution Violence Against Women

Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Title: Violence Against Women: An EU-Wide Survey. Main Results Summary: This FRA survey is the first of its kind on violence against women across the 28 Member States of the European Union (EU). It is based on interviews with 42,000 women across the EU, who were asked about their experiences of physical, sexual and psychological violence, including incidents of intimate partner violence ('domestic violence'). The survey also included questions on stalking, sexual harassment, and the role played by new technologies in women's experiences of abuse. In addition, it asked about their experiences of violence in childhood. Based on the detailed findings, FRA suggests courses of action in different areas that are touched by violence against women and go beyond the narrow confines of criminal law, ranging from employment and health to the medium of new technologies. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014. 198p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 8, 2014 at: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-vaw-survey-main-results_en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-vaw-survey-main-results_en.pdf Shelf Number: 132048 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Harassment Sexual Violence Stalking Violence Against Women

Author: British Columbia. Missing Women Commission of Inquiry Title: Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry Summary: The Commission Report consists of four volumes: Volume I: The Women, Their Lives and the Framework of Inquiry: Setting the Context for Understanding and Change. It provides the framework for the Inquiry's factual findings and conclusions and for its broader policy advisory responsibilities, which focus on recommendations for forward-looking change. Emphasis has been placed on developing a contextualized framework: context is the setting for a particular idea or event, a set of circumstances or facts that surround an event or situation that give it meaning. The missing and murdered women investigations were not isolated events; they must be situated and assessed relative to a bigger picture. This contextual framework comprises of four elements: The international, national and provincial dimensions of the crisis of missing and murdered women; - The women as individuals; - The women as a group and their lives in the DTES; and - The legal and policy framework for police investigations of missing women and suspected multiple homicides. Volume II: Nobodies: How and Why We Failed the Missing and Murdered Women. It contains my findings of facts and conclusions pertaining to the police investigations framed by four main parts: - The police investigation into the assault on Ms. Anderson and the decision to stay proceedings against Pickton in January 1998; - An overview of the missing and murdered women investigations designed to serve as a narrative account upon which further analysis is carried out, including a timeline of key events to assist the reader; - An analysis of the seven main critical police failures; and - An analysis of the underlying causes of these critical police failures. Due to its size, Volume II is printed in two volumes: Volume IIA and Volume IIB. A summary of my findings of facts and conclusions is included at the end of Volume IIB. Volume III: Gone, but not Forgotten: Building the Women's Legacy of Safety Together. This volume summarizes the information gathered through the study commission process and sets out my recommendations for reform. The framing of the recommendations is closely tied to the factual conclusions that I reached in Volume II. The discussion and recommendations are set out in relation to what I identify as the ten components of the missing women's legacy: - Laying the foundation for effective change: acknowledging the harm and fostering healing and reconciliation; - Renewing our commitment to equal protection of the law through practical measures; - Listening, learning and responding: strategies to prevent violence against marginalized women in the DTES and other urban areas; - Standing together and moving forward: strategies to prevent violence against Aboriginal and rural women; - Fostering innovation and standardization: a framework for best practices in missing person investigations; - Enhancing police investigations of missing persons and suspected multiple homicides; - Committing to a regional police force in Greater Vancouver; - Facilitating effective multi-jurisdictional responses to crime; - Ensuring police accountability to the communities they serve; and - Assuring the women's legacy: implementation, change management and evaluation. A summary of my recommendations is included at the end of Volume III and at the end of this Executive Summary. Volume IV: The Commission's Process. It contains materials related to the Commission's process and is meant to provide a public record of the work that led to the preparation of this report. The first section is a detailed overview of the Commission's approach to the hearings and study commission processes. The remaining sections provide information about the Commission's work including the Terms of Reference, a list of Commission personnel, a list of Participants and Counsel, practice and procedure guidelines and directives, a list of witnesses at the evidentiary hearings, a list of oral and written submissions to the study commission, and a list of Commission studies and reports. Details: Victoria, BC: Missing Women Commission on Inquiry, 2012. 180p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2014 at: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public_inquiries/docs/Forsaken-ES.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public_inquiries/docs/Forsaken-ES.pdf Shelf Number: 132100 Keywords: Criminal Investigations Homicide Missing Persons Missing Women Murder Serial Murder Violence Against Women

Author: Nobel Women's Initiative Title: From Survivors to Defenders: Women Confronting Violence in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala Summary: From January 21 to January 31, 2012, a women's rights fact-finding mission traveled to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. The delegation was organized by the Nobel Women's Initiative, JASS (Just Associates) and prominent national organizations that formed host committees in each country, and led by Nobel Laureates Jody Williams and Rigoberta Menchu Tum. The purpose of the trip was to gather evidence of the impact of escalating violence in the region on women and women's rights, assess the role and response of governments, and acknowledge and evaluate ways of supporting women who are organizing to protect themselves and their communities. The combined experience of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, JASS and long-time activists on the delegation provided a strong basis for assessing the crisis in violence and human rights in these three countries. The delegation built on the extensive organizing efforts and relationships with diverse women human rights defenders and organizations that have been established by JASS' Mesoamerica team. This platform of trust enabled us to gather first-hand information from frontline women human rights defenders who are facing great risk as a result of their work. Moreover, these exchanges meant that the delegation's visit also contributed to strengthening the alliances that are so critical to women's survival and safety. Of all the countries in the region, the delegation chose to visit Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala because these nations show alarming increases in violence against women over the past years, with evidence of the negligence of governments in protecting its citizens and direct participation in acts of violence. Although these countries are not currently involved in open warfare, the massive deployment of military and police forces in all three has gravely affected civil society and spurred a rise in violence and violation of human rights, with particular impact on the lives and rights of women. Over the course of ten days, we met with a number of government officials and representatives of international organizations. Most importantly, we gathered evidence and heard testimonies from over 200 women survivors of violence and human rights defenders from organizations that have been working against violence for decades. Building on JASS' and host committees' relationships, many women agreed to travel at great risk from cities and villages across their country to tell the stories of their struggles for the first time in an international forum. The bravery of the women we met provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to combine the human element of personal experience recounted face to face, with studies, statistics and government declarations. We found that the line between survivors and defenders has been erased as survivors of violence take on the role of defenders. Importantly, the networks and protocols for protection that have been built over the last few years by the host committees with JASS' support, ensured that these brave women could safely return to their communities. JASS and the Nobel Women's Initiative will continue to support the women of Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala as they move forward. Details: Ottawa, ONT: Nobel Women's Initiative, 2012. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2014 at: http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Report_AmericasDelgation-2012.pdf?ref=18 Year: 2012 Country: Latin America URL: http://nobelwomensinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Report_AmericasDelgation-2012.pdf?ref=18 Shelf Number: 132118 Keywords: Human Rights Violations Political Violence Violence Against Women

Author: ChildFund Australia Title: Stop Violence: Against Women and Children in Papua New Guinea Summary: For years, Margaret endured her husband hitting her with knives, stones, metal and bottles. He said he would find boys to pack-rape her and she lived in fear of his chilling death threats: "You see this stone? It is nice and hard and round. If I put it on your head you are dead. When we are at home I will really kill you." When Margaret speaks of the violence she has lived through, the real pain surfaces when she explains how her husband hurt their little boy. Sammy experienced so much violence in his first months of life that when he hears a sudden noise, he cries and needs Margaret to hug him. When Sammy was just one month old, Margaret's husband tried to punch her in the face and missed, knocking the baby unconscious. Sammy's pupils constricted and Margaret watched on, terrified, as her husband shook the baby to revive him. He then threatened to kill Margaret with the iron bar in his hand as he demanded, "Come and get the child." Hopefully Sammy won't remember his father trying to hit Margaret while she was breastfeeding him, or his father picking him up and using his little body as a weapon to hit her. Margaret's story is extreme, which, sadly, makes it representative. In Papua New Guinea, women are raped, killed and maimed on a shocking scale. The brutality is severe, often involving bush knives, axes, burning and even biting. In the following pages, you will hear from a woman whose bottom lip was bitten off in a random attack, and another who was relentlessly belted and raped by her husband over three consecutive days. Two grieving women tell how their sister died after her husband smashed her head against a car, leaving her young children motherless. Young women who grew up without mothers to defend them speak of the brutal beatings they have experienced at the hands of relatives. ChildFund understands that violence against women inevitably hurts children, too. That is why, with the benefit of almost 20 years' experience working in Papua New Guinea, we have developed an innovative new program focused on family violence, which we will roll out in Central Province, east of Port Moresby. In this report, we share what we have learnt through field research that was conducted to inform this new support and education program. Details: Surry Hills NSW: ChildFund Australia, 2013. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2014 at: http://www.childfund.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/Stop%20Violence%20Against%20Women%20and%20Children%20in%20PNG%202013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Papua New Guinea URL: http://www.childfund.org.au/sites/default/files/publications/Stop%20Violence%20Against%20Women%20and%20Children%20in%20PNG%202013.pdf Shelf Number: 132132 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Catalano, Shannan Title: Intimate Partner Violence: Attributes of Victimization, 1993-2011 Summary: This report presents data on trends in nonfatal intimate partner violence among U.S. households from 1993 to 2011. Intimate partner violence includes rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault by a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. This report focuses on attributes of the victimization such as the type of crime, type of attack, whether the victim was threatened before the attack, use of a weapon by the offender, victim injury, and medical treatment received for injuries. The report also describes ways these attributes of the victimization may be used to measure seriousness or severity of the incident. Data are from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which collects information on nonfatal crimes reported and not reported to the police. The NCVS is a self-report survey administered every six months to persons age 12 or older from a nationally representative sample of U.S. households. Highlights: From 1994 to 2011, the rate of serious intimate partner violence declined 72% for females and 64% for males. „„ Nonfatal serious violence comprised more than a third of intimate partner violence against females and males during the most recent 10-year period (2002�11). „„ An estimated two-thirds of female and male intimate partner victimizations involved a physical attack in 2002�11; the remaining third involved an attempted attack or verbal threat of harm. „„ In 2002�11, 8% of female intimate partner victimizations involved some form of sexual violence during the incident. „„ About 4% of females and 8% of males who were victimized by an intimate partner were shot at, stabbed, or hit with a weapon in 2002�11. Part of the Intimate Partner Violence Series Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2013. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 3, 2014 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ipvav9311.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ipvav9311.pdf Shelf Number: 132226 Keywords: Abused Wives Abusive Men Crime Statistics Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence (U.S.) Victimization Surveys Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Kahui, Sherilee Title: Productivity Gains from Workplace Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Summary: Domestic violence is a workplace issue. It is estimated to cost employers in New Zealand at least $368 million for the June year 2014. If nothing is done, projections indicate that the total costs will be at least $3.7 billion dollars when combined over the next ten years. Employment is a key pathway out of domestic violence. The body of research about domestic violence over the past 30 years finds conclusively that staying in employment is critical to reducing the effects of violence. Security of employment enables those affected by domestic violence to maintain domestic and economic stability, in this way assisting them to find a pathway out of violence and to successfully re-build their lives. Employers have the potential of productivity gains from implementing workplace protections that support victims of domestic violence. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that as well as the potential for breaking the cycle of domestic violence, the introduction of workplace protections for people affected by domestic violence both saves employers costs (recruitment, retention, re-training, health and safety) and increases productivity. The PSA commissioned this project to examine the impact of workplace protections on domestic violence victims, other staff and colleagues, the employer and overall productivity. Experience in New Zealand to date indicates that there are barriers to the implementation of workplace protections. These barriers are due in part to current attitudes towards workplace Health and Safety training which can overstate the costs and understate the benefits from lower costs of recruitment, retention and retraining. A framework has been developed for this project that specifies the determinants of these costs and then proceeds to calculate them. These include the costs to find a replacement worker and the average annual cost of training when a victim's employment is terminated by her employer. In 2014, $153 million is estimated to be lost across the New Zealand workforce due to these two factors. This is an under estimation of the total cost of victims leaving their employment as the effect of women resigning their current job has not been taken into account. For every woman whose experience of violence is prevented as result of the workplace protections in a particular year, an average of $3,371 in production-related costs can be avoided. This number is conservative as outlined in the body of the report. Details: Wellington, NA: MoreMedia Enterprises, 2014. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2014 at: http://psa.org.nz/Libraries/Documents_2014/Workplace_Productivity_Improvements_for_DV_21_May_2014.sflb.ashx Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://psa.org.nz/Libraries/Documents_2014/Workplace_Productivity_Improvements_for_DV_21_May_2014.sflb.ashx Shelf Number: 132252 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Domestic Violence (New Zealand) Family Violence Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women Workplace

Author: Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation Title: Postcode Lottery: Police Recording of Reported 'Honour' Based Violence Summary: In undertaking the research for this report we, the Iranian and Kurdish women's rights Organisation (IKWRO), set out to ascertain the scale of reported 'honour' based violence (HBV) in the UK and to check that police forces are properly recording HBV cases. Flagging (labelling) of HBV cases is essential to enable the safeguarding of victims and those at risk. It allows the scale of the reported problem to be understood, both locally and nationally, and helps prevent under-resourcing. Once an HBV case is properly flagged, it reduces the risk of other police officers failing to identify it as HBV, not acting appropriately and endangering the victim, for example by negotiating with their family or community. It is also crucial for risk profiling and risk management. We submitted Freedom of Information Requests to every police force across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. We were encouraged by the fact that we received a response from every police force. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each police force for their co-operation. What became apparent from the responses, is that it is not possible to establish the full scale of reported HBV. This is because a significant proportion, 20% of police forces, failed to flag all HBV cases reported to them. This failure puts lives at risk. In this report we have set out recommendations to help 'honour' based violence be tackled effectively. We hope that the government, the Association of Chief Police Officers, all police forces and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will commit to implementing these recommendations, to ensure the protection of those at risk of HBV. Details: London: IKWRO, 2014. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2014 at: http://ikwro.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/HBV-FOI-report-Post-code-lottery-04.02.2014-Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://ikwro.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/HBV-FOI-report-Post-code-lottery-04.02.2014-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 132298 Keywords: Honor Killings Honor-Based Violence (U.K.) Violence Against Women

Author: Sooka, Yasmin Title: An Unfinished War: Torture and Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka 2009-2014 Summary: This report paints a chilling picture of the continuation of the war in Sri Lanka against ethnic Tamils, five years after the guns went silent. The findings are: � Abduction, arbitrary detention, torture, rape and sexual violence have increased in the post-war period. Targeted for these violations are LTTE suspects, or those perceived as having been connected to, or supporters of, the LTTE. The purported aim is to extract confessions and/or information about the LTTE and to punish them for any involvement with the organisation. � These widespread and systematic violations by the Sri Lankan security forces occur in a manner that indicates a coordinated, systematic plan approved by the highest levels of government. Members of the Sri Lankan security forces are secure in the knowledge that no action will be taken against them. � This report establises a prima facie case of post-war crimes against humanity by the Sri Lankan security forces, with respect to (a) torture and (b) rape and sexual violence. The report is based on: � 40 sworn statements from witnesses - half men and half women - who testified to their experiences of abduction, torture, rape and sexual violence by the Sri Lankan security forces. � The abductions and torture described all occurred within the time frame of May 2009 to February 2014, i.e. post-war. � More than half of the abductions recorded in this report took place during 2013 and 2014. � Almost all the incidents in this report occurred from 2011 onwards. � The witness testimony is supported by detailed medical and psychiatric records in 32 of the 40 cases, but given some have only very recently arrived in the UK this was not always available. � The evidence of two internationally recognised experts on torture with experience in examining hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum claimants. � In addition to the 40 statements, 57 medico-legal reports pertaining to different cases were made available by immigration lawyers (40 male and 17 female clients). All dealt with torture in the period 2006-12. Of these 28 also alleged they were raped or subjected to sexual violence by the Sri Lankan security forces. The cases of torture, rape and sexual violence covered in this report constitute a small sample of those crimes likely to have been committed against the Tamil population in Sri Lanka. These are witnesses whose families were able to locate them, pay a bribe for their release and send them abroad to the UK. Since there is no centralised system to locate asylum seekers in the UK, there likely are more recent survivors we have not found. Investigators were acutely aware of the risks to witnesses and their families should they be identified and have made every effort to ensure that identities be kept secret so as to prevent retaliation against extended family members still in Sri Lanka. Several witnesses were living abroad and had no idea they would be at risk if they returned home. The overwhelming majority of the witnesses were �white vanned�, a term now used in Sri Lanka to denote abduction by the security forces. A quarter of the witnesses reported being abducted and tortured on more than one occasion. Witnesses were released from detention only after their family paid bribes to members of the security force, often through intermediaries from pro-government paramilitary groups. Those who exited the country through Colombo airport also paid bribes to avoid being stopped and questioned. The testimony demonstrated the rapes were often extremely violent, leaving the victim bleeding heavily, and often accompanied by racist insults. One woman was subjected to forced vaginal, anal and instrumental penetration (with a baton), and on one occasion forced to have oral sex simultaneously while being raped. She endured seven gang rape sessions interspersed with severe beatings. All witnesses revealed deep shame and guilt about the sexual abuse; nearly half had attempted to commit suicide after reaching the UK. This report has immediate implications for asylum policy, donor funding and the international community as a whole. Action must be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice using the International Criminal Court and/or, an international tribunal as well as instigating national prosecutions under universal jurisdiction. Every witness who spoke to our investigators said they were recounting their ordeal in the hope that these crimes would stop and nobody else would have to suffer as they did. Details: Yasmin Sooka, the Bar Human Rights Committee, England and Wales, and the International Truth & Justice Project, Sri Lanka: 2014. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2014 at: http://www.univie.ac.at/bimtor/dateien/violence_in_sri_lanka_2009_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Sri Lanka URL: http://www.univie.ac.at/bimtor/dateien/violence_in_sri_lanka_2009_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132299 Keywords: Rape Sexual Violence (Sri Lanka) Violence Against Women

Author: Williams, Damien J. Title: Mentors in Violence Prevention: Evaluation of the pilot in Scottish High Schools Summary: This report outlines evaluation findings of the pilot implementation of the Mentors in Violence Prevention programme (MVP) delivered in three Scottish high schools during the 2012-13 school year: Port Glasgow and St Stephen's High Schools in Inverclyde, and Portobello High School in Edinburgh. The project utilised a mixed methods approach to undertake a process and outcome evaluation to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of MVP from the perspective of staff, mentors, and mentees. The three primary research questions were: 1. What are pupils' attitudes towards gender violence? 2. Is the MVP programme effective at shifting these attitudes, and encouraging non-violent intervention? 3. How can the programme become more effective? Details: St. Andrews, Fife, UK: University of St. Andrews, 2013. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2014 at: http://www.actiononviolence.com/sites/default/files/FINAL%20MVP%20EVALUATION%20REPORT.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.actiononviolence.com/sites/default/files/FINAL%20MVP%20EVALUATION%20REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 75 Keywords: Crime Prevention Date Rape Dating Violence Gender Violence Mentoring Violence Against Women

Author: Caruso, Raul Title: What is the Relationship Between Unemployment and Rape? Evidence from a Panel of European Regions Summary: This paper analyzes the relationship between unemployment and rape in a panel of European regions. In particular, this paper is intended to test whether an 'opportunity perspective' holds for rape. The 'opportunity perspective' interprets the level of unemployment as an indicator of 'social inactivity', so that a negative relationship between violent crime and unemployment is predicted. Results show that rape and unemployment are positively associated so not confirming the opportunity perspective. Results are robust using alternative dependent variables, namely (i) the count of rape; (ii) the rape rate per 100,000 people. Details: Munich: Munich Personal RePEc Archive (MPRA), 2014. Source: Internet Resource: MPRA Paper No. 54725: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/59041/9/MPRA_paper_59041.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 132525 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault Unemployment and Crime Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Freccero, Julie Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Thailand Summary: With one of the longest-running civil wars in history, Burma has been plagued by internal conflict between a military-backed government and many ethnic minority insurgent groups for over six decades. Widespread human rights abuses, the confiscation of land, the destruction of villages, and livelihood vulnerability have forcibly displaced millions of people in Eastern Burma, primarily ethnic minorities. Many flee to neighboring Thailand, where an estimated 142,000 Burmese refugees reside in camps along the border and over two million Burmese migrants live throughout Thailand as a whole. Without access to official refugee status in Thailand, Burmese asylum seekers are allowed to temporarily reside in one of the nine camps along the Thailand-Burma border. If they leave the camps without proper documentation, however, they are generally regarded as illegal migrants and are subject to arrest, detention, and deportation by Thai authorities. In the refugee camps, it is believed that insufficient resources, protracted confinement, and high rates of alcohol use contribute, to a high incidence of domestic violence. Service providers have also documented rape, sexual exploitation, and trafficking as significant problems. Outside the camps, local women's groups have identified domestic violence, rape, and trafficking as significant problems in migrant communities. Reporting of this violence is rare, however, as it exposes undocumented migrants to arrest and deportation. Additionally, limited economic opportunity and the undocumented or temporary legal status of migrants leave many vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse by employers, Thai authorities, and others in their communities. In an era of increased attention to conflict-related violence, we are now beginning to understand the continuum of sexual and gender-based harm that men, women, and children can suffer during armed conflict, in flight, and while temporarily resettled in refugee or internal displacement camps. Violence such as rape, gang rape, sexual torture, and sexual slavery can occur during periods of armed conflict, perpetrated by different actors for different reasons. Those fleeing a conflict may still be susceptible to rape, sexual exploitation, or trafficking while attempting to secure transport, cross borders, and find lodging. Finally, even after flight - whether to refugee or internal displacement camps or within urban centers - vulnerability to harm persists, perhaps due to a lack of protective networks, immigration status, or basic resources. In fact, displacement is believed to increase vulnerability through new and exacerbating conditions, such as the breakdown of family and community ties, collapsed gender roles, limited access to resources, insufficient security, and inadequate housing in camp settings. When refugees or internally displaced persons experience sexual and gender-based violence, their needs can be particularly urgent and complex. Survivors may experience compounded levels of physical or psychological distress resulting from individual and collective harms suffered. Unfortunately, multisectoral service options are often scarce in forced displacement settings. It is important to better understand the options for immediate physical shelter that exist in these contexts. In addition to providing immediate physical protection, programs that provide shelter to displaced persons fleeing sexual and gender-based violence may help to facilitate access to other critical services in resource-constrained settings. However, data about shelter-providing programs in such contexts is extremely limited. Evidence-based information about shelter models, client and staff needs, service challenges, and strategies is urgently required to inform policy, programming, and implementation guidance for international, national, and local entities that design or oversee these protection programs. Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California - Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 145p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Thailand_web.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Thailand URL: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/files/HRC/SS_Thailand_web.pdf Shelf Number: 132528 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence Human Trafficking Rape Refugees Sexual Exploitation Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Horn, Rebecca Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Kenya Summary: In the first eight months of 2012, the Dadaab refugee camp complex at the Kenya-Somalia border registered nearly 6,000 new arrivals from Somalia, bringing the total population of the northeastern camps to 474,000. If the Dadaab complex were a city, it would be Kenya's third largest, after Nairobi and Mombasa. A similar population explosion occurred on the other side of the country, in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya's northwest. Nearly 13,000 new refugees were registered between January to August 2012, mostly from South Sudan. The total camp population is now over 101,000. By August 2012, the total number of registered refugees and asylum-seekers in Kenya came to over 630,000-with 55,000 of these residing having migrated internally to Nairobi.2 Camp overpopulation and ongoing security concerns have led to extreme resource constraints and protection challenges. UNHCR's implementing partners report cases of aggression within the camps, including rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Further south in the country, 664,000 Kenyan citizens were displaced as a result of the post-election violence that occurred immediately after December 2007's presidential election results were announced.3 During the two months of inter-ethnic conflict that ensued, approximately 1000 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were treated by the two major gender violence clinics in Nairobi.4 Today, many Kenyans remain displaced, with entire camp communities still clustered in central and western Kenya. Security and service delivery to the camps is low. Rates of sexual and gender-based violence are difficult to assess, but assumed to be largely underreported. In an era of increased attention to conflict-related violence, we are now beginning to understand the continuum of sexual and gender-based harm that men, women, and children can suffer during armed conflict, in flight, and while temporarily resettled in refugee or internal displacement camps. Violence such as rape, gang rape, and sexual torture or slavery can occur during periods of armed conflict and may be perpetrated by different actors for different reasons. Those fleeing a conflict may still be susceptible to rape, sexual exploitation, or trafficking while attempting to secure transport, cross borders, and find lodging. Finally, even in settlement-whether in refugee or internal displacement camps or in urban centers-vulnerability to harm persists due to a number of factors, including lack of protective networks, immigration status, and basic resources. Displacement also increases vulnerability through new and exacerbating conditions, including the breakdown of family and community ties, collapsed gender roles, limited access to resources, insufficient security, and inadequate housing in camp settings. Refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing armed conflict or even natural disasters have few options for immediate physical protection from sexual or gender-based violence-either during flight or in camps. Further, the needs of refugees or internally displaced persons who also experience sexual and gender-based violence are likely to be urgent and complex. They may experience compounded levels of physical or psychological distress stemming from both conflict-related displacement and their experience of sexual and gender-based violence. Providing services to people with such complex vulnerabilities requires multisectoral approaches that address the special needs created by these circumstances. It is important to better understand the options for immediate safe shelter that exist in these contexts. In addition to providing immediate physical protection, programs that shelter those fleeing sexual and gender-based violence may help to facilitate access to other critical services in resource-constrained displacement settings. However, data about shelter-providing programs in these contexts is extremely limited. Evidence-based information about shelter models, client and staff needs, service challenges, and strategies is urgently required to inform policy, programming, and implementation guidance for international, national, or local entities that design or oversee these protection programs. Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 113p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2014 at: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2fd9.html Year: 2013 Country: Kenya URL: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2fd9.html Shelf Number: 132529 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Human Trafficking Rape Refugees Sexual Exploitation Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Heilman, Brian Title: The Making of Sexual Violence. How Does a Boy Grow Up to Commit Rape? Summary: Women and girls around the world experience staggering levels of rape and other forms of sexual violence. This violence devastates lives, unhinges communities, and hampers greater social and economic development. While the severity, frequency, and purpose of this violence can broaden during times of conflict or emergency, its foundations are laid during "peacetime," as is underscored by the extreme levels of violence observed consistently across the globe. Yet it is only in recent decades that policymakers, researchers, and programmers have begun to pay closer attention to this urgent violation of human rights and barrier to sustainable development. This report presents an overview of five study sites of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), presents findings related to men's self-reported perpetration of sexual violence, investigates seven domains of possible influences on men's sexual violence perpetration and provides actionable lessons and recommendations. Details: Washington, DC: International Center for Research on Women and Promundo, 2014. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 26, 2014 at: http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/The%20Making%20Of%20Sexual%20Violence%20-%20June%202014%20-%20WEB%20PREVIEW.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.icrw.org/files/publications/The%20Making%20Of%20Sexual%20Violence%20-%20June%202014%20-%20WEB%20PREVIEW.pdf Shelf Number: 132556 Keywords: Males Masculinity Rape Sex Offenders Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Sohal, (Alex) Hardip Title: Identifying Intimate Partner Violence in Different Ethnic Groups in Primary Care -- A Systematic Review and Secondary Data Analysis Summary: Background Intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual and emotional violence, causes short and long term ill-health. Brief questions that can identify women from different ethnic groups experiencing IPV who present in clinical settings are a prerequisite for an appropriate response from health services to this substantial public health problem. Aim: To examine the evidence for the validity of questions trying to identify IPV in different ethnic groups and to determine whether their validity varies between ethnic groups. Methods Design: A systematic review and the secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey of four questions (HARK) identifying IPV in a primary care sample. Main outcome measures: Systematic review - for each set of index questions identified, diagnostic accuracy indices, correlation coefficients, reliability measures, validity evidence based on response processes and test content were analysed and interpreted. Secondary data analysis - diagnostic indices for IPV and its dimensions in three ethnic groups were calculated for the four HARK questions combined and for the individual HARK questions. 4 Results Systematic review - there is no evidence of questions valid for identifying IPV in specific ethnic groups, including white groups. Secondary data analysis - the optimal HARK cut off score of ≥ 1 was unaffected by the participants‟ ethnicity. The diagnostic indices generated using the HARK cut off of ≥ 1 remained at a high level, in all three ethnic groups. There were no significant ethnic differences in the diagnostic indices of the four combined and individual HARK questions‟ ability at identifying either IPV or its dimensions. Conclusion From the systematic review and secondary data analysis, there is no evidence that questions‟ validity for identifying IPV varies significantly between different ethnic groups. The secondary data analysis does provide evidence that four questions (the HARK) can identify IPV in self-classified UK census categories of African- Caribbean, south Asian, and white groups. Details: London: University of London, 2011. 296p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed June 30, 2014 at: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/2350 Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/2350 Shelf Number: 132566 Keywords: Domestic Violence Ethnicity Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Gerney, Arkadi Title: Women Under the Gun: How Gun Violence Affects Women and 4 Policy Solutions to Better Protect Them Summary: Violence against women looks very different than violence against men. Whether in the context of sexual assault on college campuses or in the military, violence by an intimate partner, or other types of violent victimization, women's experiences of violence in this country are unique from those of men. One key difference in the violence committed against women in the United States is who commits it: Women are much more likely to be victimized by people they know, while men are more likely to be victims of violent crime at the hands of strangers. Between 2003 and 2012, 65 percent of female violent crime victims were targeted by someone they knew; only 34 percent of male violent crime victims knew their attackers. Intimate partners make up the majority of known assailants: During the same time period, 34 percent of all women murdered were killed by a male intimate partner, compared to the only 2.5 percent of male murder victims killed by a female intimate partner. A staggering portion of violence against women is fatal, and a key driver of these homicides is access to guns. From 2001 through 2012, 6,410 women were murdered in the United States by an intimate partner using a gun - more than the total number of U.S. troops killed in action during the entirety of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. Guns are used in fatal intimate partner violence more than any other weapon: Of all the women killed by intimate partners during this period, 55 percent were killed with guns. Women in the United States are 11 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than are women in other high income countries. Limiting abusers and stalkers' access to firearms is therefore critical to reduce the number of women murdered in this country every year. This idea is not new: Congress first acted 20 years ago to strengthen our gun laws to prevent some domestic abusers from buying guns. But we are still a long way from having a comprehensive system of laws in place at both the federal and state levels that protect women - and children and men - from fatal violence in the context of intimate and domestic relationships. This report provides an overview of the data regarding the intersection of intimate partner violence and gun violence, describing four policies that states and the federal government should enact to reduce dangerous abusers' access to guns and prevent murders of women: - Bar all convicted abusers, stalkers, and people subject to related restraining orders from possessing guns. - Provide all records of prohibited abusers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS. - Require a background check for all gun sales. - Ensure that abusers surrender any firearms they own once they become prohibited. Some states have already adopted some of these policies, and in the past 12 months, there has been a growing movement across the country to enact laws closing some gaps related to domestic abusers' gun access in several states, including Wisconsin, Washington, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Minnesota. This report collected and analyzed data from a variety of sources, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI; the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC; the Office of Violence Against Women; state criminal justice agencies; state domestic violence fatality review boards; and academic research. These data provide a snapshot of women's experiences of violence in this country and show the glaring gaps in state and federal laws that leave victims of domestic violence and stalking vulnerable to gun violence. Many of these data have not been made public prior to the publication of this report and were collected through Freedom of Information Act requests. Among our findings: - In 15 states, more than 40 percent of all homicides of women in each state involved intimate partner violence. In 36 states, more than 50 percent of intimate partner-related homicides of women in each state involved a gun. - A review of conviction records in 20 states showed that there are at least 11,986 individuals across the country who have been convicted of misdemeanor-level stalking but are still permitted to possess guns under federal law. It is likely that there are tens of thousands of additional convicted stalkers who are able to buy guns. - While submission of records regarding convicted misdemeanant domestic abusers to the FBI's NICS Index has increased 132 percent over the past five-and-a-half years, only three states appear to be submitting reasonably complete records - Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. Records from these three states account for 79 percent of the total records submitted to the FBI. Every day in the United States, five women are murdered with guns. Many of these fatal shootings occur in the context of a domestic or intimate partner relationship. However, women are not the only victims. Shooters have often made children, police officers, and their broader communities additional targets of what begins as an intimate partner shooting. In fact, one study found that more than half of the mass shootings in recent years have started with or involved the shooting of an intimate partner or a family member. Enacting a comprehensive set of laws and enforcement strategies to disarm domestic abusers and stalkers will reduce the number of women who are murdered by abusers with guns-and it will make all Americans safer. Details: Washington, DC: Center for American Progress, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2014 at: http://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/GunsDomesticViolence2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://cdn.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/GunsDomesticViolence2.pdf Shelf Number: 132588 Keywords: Family Violence Gun Control Gun Violence Homicides Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Ricardo, Christine Title: Engaging Boys and Young Men in the Prevention of Sexual Violence: A Systematic and Global Review of Evaluated Interventions Summary: Violence against women is a widespread issue, one that exists in all cultural and socio-economic contexts. Among the various forms of violence that girls and women suffer, rape is often the least visible and least reported. In many cases, such as in dating or married relationships, rape or other forms of sexual violence may not even be recognized by social or legal norms. While the underlying causes of sexual violence are multiple and complex, among the core causes are unequal gender norms and power dynamics between men and women. Throughout the world, boys and men are largely the perpetrators of sexual violence, and girls and women are the victims. It is increasingly understood that men's use of violence is generally a learned behavior, rooted in the ways that boys and men are socialized. There is evidence that this is often at an earlier age than many of the current violence prevention and sexuality education programs target. Adolescence is a time when many boys and young men first explore and experiment with their beliefs about roles in intimate relationships, about dating dynamics and male-female interactions. Research has shown that this is also the time when intimate partner violence first starts to manifest itself, and the earlier and more often it occurs, the more it reinforces the idea that violence is a "normal" part of dating relationships (Laner 1990). A key challenge, therefore, in primary rape prevention is to intervene before the first perpetration of rape or sexual violence, and to reach boys and young men when their attitudes and beliefs about gender stereotypes and sexuality are developing. In this context, it is necessary to reach boys and young men (and girls and young women) with programs that address sexual violence before expectations, attitudes and behaviors about dating are well developed (Fay and Medway 2006). It is also necessary to challenge gender norms and sexual scripts that often underlie coercion and violence in relationships, including "those cultural norms that normalize intimate sexual violence as a 'natural' or 'exaggerated' expression of innate male sexuality" (Carmody and Carrington 2000). In addition, it is necessary to teach adolescents effective communication and problem-solving skills and to promote a culture of responsibility for preventing sexual violence (Berkowitz 2004). In recent years, there has been a significant increase in attention to programming with boys and men and the evidence base regarding what works and what does not work. Violence prevention is still an area in which there are many questions and there is a need for consolidating evidence for advocacy and practice purposes. While there are already many existing reviews of rape prevention programs with male university students and dating violence prevention programs with adolescents, these reviews have largely been limited to North American or Australian context and most often focused only on those programs published in the academic literature - not grey literature. This review is more extensive, in terms of age range (adolescents) and settings (global), and in terms of program goals and scope because it includes those programs that do not have rape prevention as primary focus, but which address underlying risk factors. Details: Washington, DC: Promundo, 2011. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2014 at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/menandboys.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/menandboys.pdf Shelf Number: 132611 Keywords: Dating Violence Gender-Based Violence Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Mitchell, David Title: Men at Work: Men's views on a stopping violence service Summary: There is no doubt that family violence is a serious and on-going issue in our community. As a local community initiative a panel was organised in 2010 by Nelson's Te Rito Family Violence Prevention Network to discuss the issue of family violence. This panel discussion led representatives from SVS - Living Safe; Public Health, Nelson Marlborough District Health Board (NMDHB); and the Bachelor of Nursing Programme, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) to meet and consider the possibility of working together on a project that could serve to add constructively to reducing family violence. Underpinning the project was the belief that male perpetrators of violence against partners, as service users, have an important role in providing guidance for service development. The aim of the project was to collect data from men who had completed or were completing the SVS - Living Safe's 'Stopping Violence' group to surface their views on: - The effectiveness of the 'Stopping Violence' group. - How SVS - Living Safe's services could be further developed. - Strategies that would be useful in reducing the incidence of family violence in our community. In order to achieve the above aims above the project used both a written survey and focus groups. Thirty one men responded to the survey and 12 participated in the focus groups. Support to proceed with the project was obtained from NMIT's Research & Ethics Advisory Committee. The survey looked at respondent characteristics as well as group structure, processes and quality. The feedback overall was positive in all areas. Of particular note here were: - That the group was life-changing. - The benefit of the initial interview. - The benefit of group participation being augmented with 1:1 support. - Having both male and female facilitators. - The sense of respect the men encountered. - The skills the men developed. In the two focus groups the participants were asked firstly, with reference to the results from the survey, to critique SVS - Living Safe Stopping Violence services for men. Secondly, they were asked to consider initiatives in stopping violence more broadly. There were 12 participants in the first group with 11 returning for the second group. Three main themes evolved from the two consecutive groups. - SVS - Living Safe should revisit how it is promoted. - The complexity of intimate partner violence (IPV) needs to be better appreciated. - The need for a different approach to education on IPV especially exploring differing models of how IPV is both understood and addressed. Details: Nelson, NZ: SVS Living Safe, 2014. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2014 at: Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: Shelf Number: 132050 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: Everyone's Business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse Summary: In September 2013, HMIC was commissioned by the Home Secretary to inspect the police response to domestic violence and abuse. The report, Everyone's business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse found that, while most forces and police and crime commissioners have said that domestic abuse is a priority for their areas, this isn't being translated into an operational reality. HMIC is concerned to find that, despite the progress made in this area over the last decade, not all police leaders are ensuring that domestic abuse is a priority in their forces - it is often a poor relation to other policing activity. Details: London: HMIC, 2014. 157p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/improving-the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/improving-the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 132022 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Police Response Violence Against Women

Author: Slegh, H. Title: Gender Relations, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: Results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) Summary: Promundo and Sonke Gender Justice have released the complete results from the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which reveal high levels of gender-based violence and the continuing effects of conflict on couple and family relations. The report will be launched this week at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict at ExCel London. The comprehensive report, Gender Relations, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and the Effects of Conflict on Women and Men in North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, affirms that the devastating impact of war in DRC affects nearly all those living in eastern DRC, and is manifested in highly inequitable and violent partner relations. Approximately 70% of men and 80% of women were directly affected by war and conflict in DRC, and their reports of conflict-related trauma - including physical displacement, injury, death of friends and family members and experiences of sexual violence - are multiple and widespread. The study's results show that years of conflict, combined with persistent poverty, limited functioning of the state and widespread inequitable norms in DRC, create multiple vulnerabilities for women and girls, and no shortage of vulnerabilities for boys and men as well. One key finding is that rates of sexual violence against women in eastern DRC are some of the highest in the world, compared to other settings where the multi-country survey IMAGES has been carried out. Another key finding is that sexual violence as part of conflict, while brutal and traumatic for those who experience it, happens at lower rates than sexual violence carried out in the home, which the study's co-authors Gary Barker and Henny Slegh discuss in the article "Being Honest About Sexual Violence in War, and Everywhere Else." This survey, carried out with 1,500 men and women in eastern DRC, found that 22% of women were forced to have sex or were raped as part of the conflict, as were some 10% of men. In addition, approximately half of women had experienced sexual violence from a husband or male partner. Nearly a third of both women and men reported an unwanted sexual experience as children. In sum, the effects of economic stress, trauma, fear, frustration, hunger and lack of means to sustain the family are felt first and foremost in family and partner relations. Furthermore, in spite of the compounding effects of the conflict, many findings were consistent with IMAGES studies in other parts of the world: men's childhood experiences of violence, binge drinking and inequitable attitudes were associated with their use of intimate partner violence. At the same time, men whose own fathers were involved in the household were more likely to carry out household tasks. The report reveals the urgent need for more intense promotion of gender equality in DRC's education, health and justice sectors, at both the local and national levels; a rollout of psychosocial and secondary prevention that enables boys and girls to overcome violence they have experienced and witnessed; and long-term rebuilding from the conflict that takes into consideration men�s and women's sense of loss of status and identity, and their need for psychosocial support. The report also highlights the needs for a more adequate policy framework in DRC and immediate action on those policies. Sonke Gender Justice recently carried out a review (a summary of which is included in this study) of the policies in DRC and the associated challenges. This study in DRC is part of the International Men and Gender Equality Survey (IMAGES), a multi-year, multi-country study created and coordinated by Promundo and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). IMAGES is one of the most comprehensive studies ever on men's practices and attitudes as they relate to gender norms, attitudes toward gender equality policies, household dynamics including caregiving and men's involvement as fathers, intimate partner violence, health and economic stress. As of 2013, it had been carried out in 10 countries (including this study in DRC) with additional partner studies in Asia inspired in part by IMAGES. Details: Washington, DC, and Capetown, South Africa:Promundo-US and Sonke Gender Justice, 2014. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2014 at: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/101908-gender-relations-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-and-the-effects-of-conflict-on-women-and-men-in-north-kivu-eastern-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/file.html Year: 2014 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/101908-gender-relations-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-and-the-effects-of-conflict-on-women-and-men-in-north-kivu-eastern-democratic-republic-of-the-congo/file.html Shelf Number: 132628 Keywords: Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Rape Sexual Violence Socioeconomic Conditions and Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Meyer, Silke Title: Victims' Experiences of Short- and Long-Term Safety and Wellbeing: Findings from an examination of an integrated response to domestic violence Summary: One in three Australian women experience domestic violence at some point during their adult life and it is women and their children who typically suffer the most severe short and long-term consequences of this violence. In this paper the findings are presented from an evaluation of a Queensland police-led integrated service response to domestic violence incidents that was designed to better address women and children's needs for short and long-term safety. The findings indicated that a significant improvement in women's self-rated safety and well-being was generated throughout the initial six-week support period. However, subsequent follow-up interviews with a sample of participants identified that the women had continued to experience a range of abuse, harassment and stalking after the initial support period had ended. This suggests a need to provide ongoing support to women and children escaping domestic violence, as well as a stronger focus on perpetrator accountability, if improvements to the safety and well-being of women and children escaping domestic violence are to be sustained. Details: Sydney: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 478: Accessed July 11, 2014 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi478.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi478.pdf Shelf Number: 132653 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Family Violence Victims Services Violence Against Women

Author: Brooks, Oona Title: Violence Against Women: Effective Interventions and Practices with Perpetrators: A literature review Summary: This report presents a review of literature on effective interventions and practices to deal with perpetrators of violence against women. The key focus is with those interventions and practices which are aimed at reducing re-offending, rather than primary prevention and or public education work. The review was commissioned by the Scottish Government in order to inform development of Scotland's strategy for preventing the causes and consequences of violence against women. Many initiatives in relation to violence against women, in particular in relation to domestic abuse, rape prevention and stalking, operate with the twin aim of improving responses to both victims and perpetrators. While this review focuses on what works to deal with perpetrators, it is important to acknowledge that appropriate responses to victims will improve their engagement with the criminal justice system and therefore facilitate improved legal responses to violence against women. Details: Glasgow: Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, 2014. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Report No. 01/2014: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/VAW-Literature-Review-SCCJR-Report-No-05-20141.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/VAW-Literature-Review-SCCJR-Report-No-05-20141.pdf Shelf Number: 132696 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Interventions Sexual Violence Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Police Executive Research Forum Title: Improving the Police Response To Sexual Assault Summary: PERF's Summit on "Improving the Police Response to Sexual Assaults," was held on September 23, 2011. This conference brought together approximately 150 police executives, leaders of women's and crime victim organizations, FBI leaders and other federal officials, and others to explore weaknesses in the investigation of sexual assault crimes.At PERF's conference, police executives described several initiatives that have been undertaken to prevent improper "unfounding" of cases, including: - Conducting audits of past cases to identify improperly classified cases; - Eliminating the authority of patrol officers to determine that a case is unfounded, and requiring approval of superior officers to classify a case as unfounded; - Working with advocacy groups to improve transparency and oversight of policing handling of sexual assault cases; and - Improved training of officers regarding the dynamics of rape and how they differ from other crimes. For example, rape victims often feel shame, embarrassment, or stigma that victims of robbery or other serious crimes do not experience. Details: Washington, DC: PERF, 2012. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Critical Issues in Policing Series: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series/improving%20the%20police%20response%20to%20sexual%20assault%202012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series/improving%20the%20police%20response%20to%20sexual%20assault%202012.pdf Shelf Number: 130802 Keywords: Police Education and Training Police Investigations Police Response Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Wells, Lana Title: Engaging Men and Boys in Domestic Violence Prevention: Opportunities and Promising Approaches Summary: This report outlines seven 'entry points' for engaging men and boys in domestic violence prevention: 1. Engaging fathers in domestic violence prevention; 2. Men's health and domestic violence prevention; 3. The role of sports and recreation in domestic violence prevention; 4. The role of the workplace in domestic violence prevention; 5. The role of peer relationships in domestic violence prevention; 6. Men as allies in preventing domestic violence; and 7. Aboriginal healing and domestic violence prevention. This research provides an analysis of the literature and highlights 67 promising approaches in the areas of policy, programs and practices, and citizen-led initiatives. Details: Calgary, AB, Canada: University of Calgary, Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence, 2013. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://www.calgaryunitedway.org/socialvoice/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Shift-Engaging-Men-and-Boys.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://www.calgaryunitedway.org/socialvoice/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Shift-Engaging-Men-and-Boys.pdf Shelf Number: 132710 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Willman, Alys Title: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: What is the World Bank Doing, and What Have We Learned? A Strategic Review Summary: Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is the most egregious manifestation of gender inequality. At least 35% of the world's women have experienced some form of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and numerous men have been victimized as well. Even in contexts of open warfare, the scale of injuries and deaths due to SGBV far eclipses that seen on the battleground. SGBV involves a range of perpetrators and takes many different forms, from workplace harassment, domestic and intimate partner violence, to sexual violence, female genital mutilation, sex-selective abortion, trafficking, and in the most extreme cases, femicide. The impacts of such violence extend far beyond the individual survivors, affecting households, communities and spanning across generations. They can range from physical injuries, to psychological trauma and loss of livelihood or employment. Economically, survivors of SGBV not only have reduced short-term income potential, they may have immediate and long-term medical expenses or have injuries that reduce long-term income and productivity. Details: Washington, DC: World Bank, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2014 at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2013/12/09/000461832_20131209163906/Rendered/PDF/832090WP0sexua0Box0382076B00PUBLIC0.pdf Shelf Number: 132737 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Femicide Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Harassment Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Breckenridge, Jan Title: Traversing the Maze of 'Evidence' and 'Best Practice' in Domestic and Family Violence Service Provision in Australia Summary: This paper considers how 'evidence' is constructed and translated into 'best practice'. It contends that the experience and understanding of practitioners within domestic and family violence (DFV) services constitute important contributing knowledge for the evidence-base. However, practice wisdom alone is not sufficient, since other forms of knowledge also play an important role in optimising outcomes. Ultimately this paper promotes the engagement of DFV practitioners in formal research and evaluation, not only to substantially inform the evidence but also to critically examine the effects of their interventions against all manner of valid evidence, in a recursive process of knowledge translation. It is suggested that a critical, reflexive engagement with formal evidence is ultimately the defining feature of 'best practice' in the continuous drive towards an effective response to violence against women. Details: Sydney: Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2014. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 26: Accessed July 7, 2014 at: http://anrows.org.au/sites/default/files/page-attachments/IssuesPaper26-May2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://anrows.org.au/sites/default/files/page-attachments/IssuesPaper26-May2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132738 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Evidence-Based Practices Family Violence Victim Services Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kumari, Ranjana Title: Violence against Women in Politics. (A study conducted in India, Nepal and Pakistan) Summary: As India's weeks-long federal election continues, the fear of violence prevents many women from participating in the political process, according to a new study. The number of women who vote and contest elections has increased in India, Nepal and Pakistan, but the share of female representatives in national governments decreased, according to a study released Wednesday by UN Women and New Delhi-based Centre for Social Research. This is because more than 60% of women were afraid they would face violence if they participated in politics, said the study, conducted between 2003 and 2013. In India's federal elections in 2009, 556 women ran for office, but only 59, or 10% were elected, a drop in almost 7% from the 1999 election, in which 49 of 284 women were elected, according to the report titled "Violence against Women in Politics." Most victims of violence were poor, lower caste, young women who entered politics, according to the study. India's small share of powerful female politicians are eyeing central roles in the new government once polls end in May, but a majority of Indian women did not enter the male-dominated political circles because they thought it made them vulnerable to violence, the study said. The most widespread risks faced by women in politics include the expectation of sexual favors and threats of violence, according to 800 male and female respondents surveyed across the three countries. Character assassination, verbal harassment and emotional blackmail were also used against women who contest elections. "When men fail to find fault in women's activities or progress, they raise questions on women�s chastity," said Netra Prasad Panthi, a politician from the Rupendehi district of Nepal, according to the study. While physical violence, verbal abuse and the threat of violence were higher for India, character assassination was seen as the greatest threat in Pakistan and Nepal. The attitude that a woman's primary responsibility is at home also kept women out of politics. 70% of respondents in India said that even as an elected candidate, a woman should not ignore her domestic responsibilities, and 53% said that a woman's family should decide if she can participate in elections. Another finding in the study showed that 53% of Indian respondents said the country lacked adequate laws to prevent violence against women, and 81% said that the real problem was poor implementation of existing laws. Details: New Delhi: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; Centre for Social Research; 2014. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2014 at: http://www.unwomensouthasia.org/assets/VAWIP-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Asia URL: http://www.unwomensouthasia.org/assets/VAWIP-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132771 Keywords: Politics Sexual Violence Verbal Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Flynn, David Title: Fathers, Fathering and Preventing Violence Against Women Summary: Contributing to the prevention of men's violence against women requires more than simply being a non-violent man. It requires an understanding of the factors which underlie and contribute to violence against women and how these factors are deeply engrained in our culture, to the degree to which they are sometimes not immediately obvious. It requires an awareness of how these factors influence our beliefs, attitudes and behaviours - about what it is to be a man and how to relate to others. It requires the courage to change, to adopt new beliefs and new attitudes, and it requires the knowledge and skills to put new actions and behaviours in place. Fatherhood provides this opportunity. Perhaps more than any other life stage, it delivers the chance for men to examine how the factors that contribute to violence against women impact on their choices and behaviours on a daily basis. A good father is a non-violent father. Yet fathers can do much more to prevent violence against women than being non-violent men themselves. Through their relationships with women and children and their involvement in family tasks and responsibilities, fathers are well positioned to reflect on issues of masculinity and gendered power relations, to do more than just practice non-violence, but actively work towards the creation and maintenance of equal and respectful relationships, and to contribute significantly to the prevention of men's violence against women. Details: Sydney, AUS: White Ribbon Foundation, 2012. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: White Ribbon Research Series - Preventing Men's Violence Against Women, Report No. 5: Accessed July 30, 2014 at: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/microsites/fathers/whiteribbon-fd-report-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/microsites/fathers/whiteribbon-fd-report-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 132817 Keywords: Abusive Men Family Violence Fathers Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Seelinger, Kim Thuy Title: Safe Haven: Sheltering Displaced Persons from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Case Study: Haiti Summary: As part of its Sexual Violence Program, the Human Rights Center conducted a one-year study in 2012 to explore and improve understanding of the options for immediate, temporary shelter for refugees, internally displaced persons, and other migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence in countries affected by conflict or natural disaster. We define shelter flexibly. For example, it may be in the form of a traditional safe house, or a network of community members' homes, or other safe spaces coordinated by a base organization. Our aim was to generate research-based evidence to inform donors, policymakers, and international and local actors about types of relevant models, priority challenges, and promising practices. The study focused on three key objectives: 1. Identify and describe shelter models available to refugees, the internally displaced, and migrants fleeing sexual and gender-based violence. 2. Identify unique challenges experienced by staff and residents in these settings and explore strategies to respond to these challenges. 3. Explore protection needs and options for particularly marginalized victim groups, such as male survivors, sexual minorities, sex workers, and people with disabilities. The aim and objectives were the same across each of the studies, carried out in Colombia, Haiti, Kenya, and Thailand. Our research focused primarily on programs that served communities of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons, including those operating in a camp setting. We also studied mainstream shelters to identify protection options and innovations in urban settings. Study outputs include four country-specific reports and one comparative assessment that contain guiding considerations for the UNHCR and other stakeholders involved in the provision of protection to these populations. The Haitian landscape of shelters for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence changed quickly after the 2010 earthquake. Two major safe houses suddenly ceased to operate. One was the Centre Yvonne Hakim Rimpel, run by the Ministere a la Condition Feminine et aux Droits des Femmes (hereinafter Women's Ministry) and funded in part by Eve Ensler's V-Day. The other was a short-term emergency house run by the women's rights organization Kay Fanm. In their place, post-earthquake Haiti saw a proliferation of new shelter efforts supported by international donors, including several of the programs we visited. Our researchers conducted interviews with staff and residents in six shelter programs, including the following: - three traditional safe houses run by local women's rights groups; - one independent living arrangement program funded by a private US-based foundation; - one LGBT rights group that did not run a formal shelter, but which provided ad hoc access to a community host network; - one hybrid shelter space that consisted of dormitory space downstairs in the office of a women's rights organization. We also learned of other developing shelter options, such as temporary plywood housing, or "T-shelters," erected by various international groups in certain camps, an IOM project in Croix-des-Bouquets, and a safe house planned by the French Red Cross in conjunction with a local Haitian organization in Petit Goave. However, these emerging programs were not included in our study sample. Details: Berkeley, CA: Human Rights Center, University of California - Berkeley, School of Law, 2013. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2014 at: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2b29.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Haiti URL: http://www.unhcr.org/51b6e2b29.pdf Shelf Number: 133038 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence (Haiti) Human Trafficking Rape Refugees Sexual Exploitation Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Harvey, Shannon Title: Case by Case: Refuge provision in London for survivors of domestic violence who use alcohol and other drugs or have mental health problems Summary: Not long after the inception of the Stella Project in 2002, a survey of Women's Aid refuges found that just 13% would always accept women with mental health or drug or alcohol needs, while another 48% said that they would sometimes take these women, depending on other factors (Barron, 2004). Over the intervening decade, we have witnessed greater recognition of the intersections between the issues and seen many examples of increased partnership working across the domestic violence, substance use and mental health sectors. Despite the many positive changes, however, one of the most persistent concerns raised by practitioners is the lack of refuge space for women who are affected by substance use and/or mental ill-health. This study aimed to provide an updated picture of access to refuge services for this group of survivors. This was achieved through: - Telephone or face-to-face interviews with London-based refuge service providers (n=30) about their policies on accommodating women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems. - Freedom of information requests to all London boroughs (excluding the City of Westminster) in April 2012 and August 2013 about the number of women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems accommodated in refuges in the borough in the previous twelve months. The key findings were: - Most boroughs (n=18) include some level of requirement to support women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems within service specifications for refuge provision. This sometimes a specific requirement or a more generic 'expectation' that all survivors would be supported and that problematic substance use or mental ill-health would not constitute an absolute exclusion criteria. - Only two boroughs actively exclude women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems from the refuges they fund. - Most refuges fulfil the requirements in their service specification by operating a 'case by case' basis for assessing the needs and risks of potential service users. - Many refuges do, however, operate a partial blanket policy relating to certain types of substance use and/or mental health problems, most commonly women using opiates (including methadone) and those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder or dementia. - Only seventeen (53.1%) of 32 local authorities were able to provide full or partial information on the number of domestic violence survivors accommodated by their refuge providers in the past year who had identified problems with drugs and/or alcohol and mental health needs. - In 2012 and 2013 these 17 boroughs accommodated, at most, 239 women with identified problems in relation to alcohol or drug use or mental health. - Only 14 boroughs could provide information about the number of women with drug and alcohol and/or mental health problems were refused access to refuge accommodation in their borough. Details: London: AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) and Solace Women's Aid, 2014. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/148039/case%20by%20case%20-%20london%20refuge%20provision%20-%20final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.avaproject.org.uk/media/148039/case%20by%20case%20-%20london%20refuge%20provision%20-%20final.pdf Shelf Number: 132029 Keywords: Alcohol Abuse Domestic Violence (U.K.) Drug Abuse Mental Health Services Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Herbert, Ruth L. Title: The Way Forward: An Integrated System for Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in New Zealand Summary: New Zealand has an epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN). This fact is well known and there is widespread acceptance that IPV and CAN are among New Zealand's biggest social issues. Over the past 20 years there have been countless formal groups, meetings, conferences, strategies, reviews, and investigations into the prevalence and problem of IPV and CAN in New Zealand undertaken by government, non-government agencies and academics. There have been hundreds of reports identifying the problem and areas that need to be addressed. There have been action plans containing an endless stream of largely one-off initiatives or new developments. Yet despite the plethora of documents, a strong legislative framework and the efforts of successive governments and many NGOs that have strategised and delivered services to try and 'fix' the problem, real improvements seem to remain elusive. New Zealand has not made significant traction in responding to or reducing the problem. Details: Wellington, NZ: The Impact Collective, 2014. 165p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.theimpactcollective.co.nz/thewayforward_210714.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.theimpactcollective.co.nz/thewayforward_210714.pdf Shelf Number: 133082 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence (New Zealand) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Denney, Lisa Title: A problem-focused approach to violence against women: The political-economy of justice and security programming Summary: The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women ended its 57th session on 15 March 2013 with an outcome document affirming the importance of eliminating violence against women (VAW). The Commission was unable, however, to achieve consensus on a global action plan. The negative reaction of some UN member states to an action plan is a worrying reminder of ongoing resistance to reform. These persistent challenges highlight the continuing struggle to gain a serious global commitment to address VAW and recognise it as a breach of women's fundamental human rights. Engaging in this struggle, many donors have put addressing VAW generally, and in fragile and conflict-affected situations (FCAS) specifically, at the top of the development agenda and made it a major priority of international policy. But in practice progress remains difficult, not least due to entrenched resistance and discriminatory socio-political norms and gender relations that persist in many societies. The problem of violence against women therefore needs to be addressed from the perspective of the concrete socio-political and cultural conditions that shape its particular features and the relevant context specific dynamics of conflict, post-conflict patterns of violence and fragility. International efforts to support reform in the area of VAW in FCAS need to go beyond prescriptive approaches that focus on what access to protection, justice and redress should look like. We propose here an approach that engages with the specificities of the problem - paying attention to context, and the concrete political-economy dynamics of the drivers of VAW - and takes account of the real options that women face in navigating the available security and justice chains to seek protection, redress and justice. Details: London: Overseas Development Office, 2013. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2014 at: http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/8325.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/8325.pdf Shelf Number: 133145 Keywords: Domestic Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Holmes, Rebecca Title: Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian crisis Summary: In recent years, international concern over gender-based violence (GBV) in emergencies has grown exponentially. Beginning in the mid-1990s with small programmes in a few countries, GBV interventions providing at least basic survivor care and support are now the norm rather than the exception in humanitarian programming. However, while international attention to GBV has increased substantially, there remains a lack of data on and understanding of good practice in relation to GBV programming in humanitarian contexts, and a lack of consensus on how to apply GBV concepts and terminology. This has resulted in a lack of agreement on how to define, prioritise, prevent and respond to gender-based violence in humanitarian contexts. In response to these challenges, this Network Paper maps and critically analyses good practice in preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian contexts to support humanitarian practitioners and policymakers to improve the quality of GBV programming. It is based on a review of the literature relating to gender-based violence in emergencies, funded by the UK Department for International Development. The review aimed to answer a number of key questions around the monitoring and evaluation of existing programmes; key features of 'successful' programming; needs assessments, programme design and funding; the effects of mainstreaming GBV programming in humanitarian action; and the state of knowledge and use of GBV guidelines. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, Humanitarian Practice Network, 2014. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Network Paper No. 77: Accessed August 25, 2014 at: http://www.odihpn.org/hpn-resources/network-papers/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-in-humanitarian-crises Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.odihpn.org/hpn-resources/network-papers/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-in-humanitarian-crises Shelf Number: 133147 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence Services for Victims of Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Rape Victims as Criminals: Illegal Abortion after Rape in Ecuador Summary: Ecuador's criminal code prohibits abortion with few exceptions, imposing prison terms ranging from one to five years for women and girls who receive abortions. Medical professionals who provide them are subject to harsher penalties. Even abortion after rape is punishable under the criminal code, except in the case of so-called "idiot or demented" women. These penalties drive some women and girls to have illegal and unsafe abortions, thwarting Ecuador's efforts to reduce maternal mortality and injury. Rape Victims as Criminals: Illegal Abortion after Rape in Ecuador documents how Ecuador's restrictive abortion laws impede health care and post-rape services, and can put the health and even the lives of rape victims in danger. The report is based on interviews with 37 women and girls who had sought reproductive health care, including care after gender-based violence, 22 officials and women's rights experts, and 45 medical professionals working in public and private health facilities. As part of its imminent work on reform of the criminal code, Ecuador's National Assembly should eliminate penalties for voluntary abortions and ensure that all women and girls who have been victims of rape can get comprehensive health services, including abortion if requested. President Rafael Correa should endorse any legislation proposed by the Assembly that would expand the rights of women and girls in Ecuador to access and exercise their reproductive rights and protect their health and well-being. Details: New York: HRW, 2013. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ecuador0813_ForUpload_1.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Ecuador URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/ecuador0813_ForUpload_1.pdf Shelf Number: 129906 Keywords: Criminal Code Illegal Abortion Rape (Ecuador) Sexual Violence Victims of Rape Violence Against Women

Author: Jemia, Monia Ben Title: Violence against Women in the Context of Political Transformations and Economic Crisis in the Euro-Mediterranean Region: Trends and Recommendations toward Equality and Justice Summary: EMHRN's new report "Violence against Women in the Context of Political Transformations and Economic Crisis in the Euro-Mediterranean Region" comes to shed light on the sharp increase in gender-based violence. Unfortunately, the euphoria of the Arab Spring has given way to the sobering realisation that women have been the main victims of the turmoil rocking the region. In Europe, the economic crisis has led to disproportionate growing poverty and lack of economic independence among women compared to men. These trends are aggravated by societal attitudes and conservative discriminatory policies. Details: Copenhagen: Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), 2014. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2014 at: http://www.euromedrights.org/eng/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VAW-report_final_en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euromedrights.org/eng/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/VAW-report_final_en.pdf Shelf Number: 133160 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence (Europe) Poverty Socioeconomic Conditions and Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Myrttinen, Henri Title: Poster Boys No More: Summary: Gender analysis of actual SSR processes is sorely lacking in the SSR literature. In 'Poster Boys No More: Gender and Security Sector Reform in Timor-Leste' Henri Myrttinen breaks new ground in examining the gender dimensions of the DDR and SSR processes in Timor-Leste, with a focus on the establishment of the police and armed forces. The paper explores issues such as: how men's roles relate to gang violence and relationships of patronage that undermine the security services, how women have been incorporated into the new security services and how the security services are addressing gender-based violence. It shows how a gender perspective can add to our understanding of many of the social processes at work in Timor-Leste and help to find solutions to some of the main security issues in the country, making recommendations for Timor-Leste's ongoing SSR processes. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), 2009. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Paper No. 31: Accessed August 29, 2014 at: http://www.dcaf.ch/Publications/Poster-Boys-No-More Year: 2009 Country: East Timor URL: http://www.dcaf.ch/Publications/Poster-Boys-No-More Shelf Number: 129913 Keywords: Abusive Men Gang Violence Gender-Based Violence (East Timor) Policing violence Against Women

Author: Denne, Stephanie Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Programmes and Services Provided by Te Manawa Services: A Community Intervention into Family Violence Summary: Despite New Zealand being credited with some of the most progressive policies and campaigns for addressing the issue of domestic violence in our communities, reported incidents of domestic violence in New Zealand have been steadily increasing, with a 54% increase in family violence offences reported by police between 2000 and 2006. Studies examining women's help-seeking behaviours have found that they will often only seek help as a last resort when they can no longer endure the abuse, or when the fear for their own, or their children's, safety escalates. Approaches concerning how best to respond to domestic violence have variously developed overtime. The Duluth Domestic Abuse Intervention Program framework emerged in the 1980s. This approach promoted a group formatted, highly structured programme that incorporates family systems therapy and concepts of gendered power and control alongside the cognitive behavioural elements of programme provision, with the focus on addressing the social, contextual and cultural elements of abuse. In 2006, the New Zealand Government, under the Domestic Violence Act (1995), offered funded placements in living without violence programmes for approximately 2,930 men, with the Family Court referring 2,715. There is a lack of research concerning the effectiveness of living without violence programmes, and what has been conducted has produced mixed results. The mixed and confusing results regarding the effectiveness of living without violence programmes may, in part, be a product of the inherently complex nature of domestic violence. Research has noted that psychological and verbal forms of abuse are more frequent that physical acts of domestic violence, and yet much of the recidivism data relies heavily on reported incidences of physical violence, in particular acts serious enough to attract the attention of police and other professional organisations. Furthermore, there appears to be little consensus as to what 'effectiveness' means in relation to living without violence programmes. There are solid arguments for various measures of 'effectiveness': a reduction in criminal offending shows us empirical measures of violence and lethality; men's accounts of change give us insight into the processes of change and subjective understandings of the course content; and women's accounts of their (ex) partners' engagement with programmes provides us with the lived experiences of safety and change for those most affected by domestic violence. This suggests that evaluations could strengthen findings on effectiveness by combining qualitative and quantitative methods, enabling a more complete and comprehensive, albeit at times conflicted, picture of success or limitations. The present study is an evaluation of the Men Living Free from Violence Programme developed and provided by Te Manawa Services, a domestic violence service provider in the Manawatu, New Zealand. At the heart of Te Manawa Services is the desire not only to reduce all forms of violence and abuse, but to support new ways of developing positive relationships, self-respect, kindness and caring. Te Manawa Services adopt a systemic approach to the issue of domestic violence and service provision, and operate in a manner that is inclusive of whanau and supportive of community systems. They are guided by the principles of accountability, equality and respect. The six key strategies to achieving their objectives are: 1. To continue to provide high quality programmes and support services in response to the identified needs of the community. 2. To ensure that quality programmes and services on offer are known and accessible to the community. 3. To initiate and engage in effective collaboration that enables the best responses and outcomes for clients. 4. To build organisational capability and capacity in targeted areas (strengthening families) and maintain organisational capacity in others. 5. To ensure the financial sustainability of Te Manawa Services. 6. To grow an increasingly effective and pro-active governance team. In keeping with Te Manawa Services' whanau model of service provision, the Men Living Free from Violence Programme does not operate in isolation. The Women Living Free from Violence Programme is a group-based programme offered to women who have experienced violence, or have used violence themselves, and is similar in content and structure to the men's Programme. The Youth and Parenting Programme is a 15 week, individual programme for youth and their parents or caregivers to help build safe and healthy families. Family Support Services are offered to those connected to Te Manawa Services Programmes (for instance, the (ex) partners of those on the men's Programme) and involves regular at-home, on site or telephone meetings that offer support and guidance. In order to evaluate how effectively Te Manawa Services are achieving their objective of reducing and eliminating domestic violence in the community, the focus was on how the Men Living Free from Violence Programme does, or does not, improve women and children's safety during and after programme completion. With the complexities and problematics of evaluation research in mind, the current study sought to evaluate the 'effectiveness' of Te Manawa Services Men Living Free from Violence Programme utilising all 3 effectiveness measures (recidivism data, men's accounts and women's accounts) in the hopes that a comprehensive and complex picture of effectiveness may be developed to deepen our understandings of if, and how, the Men Living Free from Violence Programme works to reduce and eliminate domestic violence in the local community. This study adopted a mixed method approach to evaluation, utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and interpretation. The quantitative examination of police records detailing domestic violence recidivism enabled a discussion of re-offending patterns before, during and after course completion. The inclusion of a statistical analysis allows the study to be situated within the context of previous evaluation research that uses re-offence data, enabling a comparison between recidivism rates of Te Manawa Services clients and previous research findings in order to assess 'effectiveness' in relation to recidivism. Qualitative methods were used to enable an in-depth analysis of the processes of, and services associated with, the Men Living Free from Violence Programme. Men's accounts were examined for processes and understandings of change, non-violence and safety, with an eye for the demonstration of responsibility and accountability. In keeping with the principle of prioritising victim safety, women's accounts of safety for themselves and their children following their (ex) partners' involvement in the Men Living Free from Violence Programme were explored. Details: Palmerston North, NZ: Massey University, 2013. 189p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2014 at: http://www.temanawa.org.nz/cms_files/general/te%20manawa%20services%20final%20report%2030.05.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.temanawa.org.nz/cms_files/general/te%20manawa%20services%20final%20report%2030.05.pdf Shelf Number: 133256 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence (New Zealand) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention Programs

Author: Breiding, Matthew J. Title: Prevalence and Characteristics of Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization - National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, United States, 2011 Summary: This report examines the prevalence of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization using data from the 2011 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. In the United States, an estimated 19.3% of women and 1.7% of men have been raped during their lifetimes; an estimated 1.6% of women reported that they were raped in the 12 months preceding the survey. An estimated 43.9% of women and 23.4% of men experienced other forms of sexual violence during their lifetimes. The percentages of women and men who experienced these other forms of sexual violence victimization in the 12 months preceding the survey were an estimated 5.5% and 5.1%, respectively. An estimated 15.2% of women and 5.7% of men have been a victim of stalking during their lifetimes. An estimated 4.2% of women and 2.1% of men were stalked in the 12 months preceding the survey. The lifetime and 12-month prevalences of rape by an intimate partner for women were an estimated 8.8% and 0.8%, respectively. An estimated 15.8% of women and 9.5% of men experienced other forms of sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, while an estimated 2.1% of both men and women experienced these forms of sexual violence by a partner in the 12 months prior to the survey. Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Surveillance Summaries, Vol. 63, no. 8: Accessed September 12, 2014 at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6308.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6308.pdf Shelf Number: 133290 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Rape Sexual Abuse (U.S.) Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Stalking Violence Against Women

Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Finding the Costs of Freedom: How women and children rebuild their lives after domestic violence Summary: Whilst crisis interventions for women and children experiencing domestic violence are well developed, little is known about the process of rebuilding lives, including what longer term support needs might be. Women's organisations have lacked the resources to follow up service users. The Research Grants Programme run by the Big Lottery provided an exciting opportunity to do just that. Working in partnership with the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU) at London Metropolitan University, Solace Women's Aid successfully applied for funds that enabled us to track 100 women and their children over a three year period (2011-2014). Women were recruited into the study after exiting a range of domestic violence services provided by Solace and, through four waves of interviews, we followed their onward journeys. The overarching aims of the project were to identify: - What factors support long term settlement, how do they interrelate and at what points in the process are they particularly important? - When do obstacles to resettlement occur and how can they be overcome? - How can community resources best be developed and integrated for long term support of survivor resettlement and independence? Through a multi-layered research methodology we explored how women and children are able to grow their 'space for action' (Kelly, 2003) after physically removing themselves from the 'coercive control' (Stark, 2007) exerted by the perpetrator over their everyday lives. We also measured post-separation abuse in Wave Three, experience of services and the legal system, changes in housing situation and how their informal networks facilitated or interfered with efforts to create safety and freedom. Details: London: Solace Women's Aid, 2014. 244p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2014 at: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SWA-Finding-Costs-of-Freedom-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://solacewomensaid.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/SWA-Finding-Costs-of-Freedom-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 133296 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Corr, Mary-Louise Title: From Boys to Men: Phase Two Key Findings Summary: This document reports on the findings of the second phase of The From Boys to Men Project. This entailed thirteen focus group discussions with 69 young people, aged 13-19. The focus groups explored young men's attitudes to domestic abuse by inviting responses to a government anti-violence publicity campaign and a series of hypothetical vignettes. Groups were selected on the basis that they may have a potentially distinctive relationship to violence and/or intimacy and so included young people who had completed a school-based domestic abuse prevention programme; young people who were attending an alternative education programme; school students attending an anger management programme; two groups of young men undergoing Youth Offending Team supervision, one with a history of violence towards their girlfriends; young gay men; young Asian men; young men attending a substance use programme; and young men who had witnessed violence at home. Differences between the groups in terms of their attitudes towards violence, however, were not as overt and consistent as might have been expected. For example, in general terms at least, there was broad consensus in every group that abuse in relationships is wrong. Abuse encompassed controlling behaviour, including the exercise of emotional control, as much as physical and/or sexual violence. Participants' initial reactions to televised scenes of domestic abuse were universally condemnatory. Despite this broad condemnation, it was quite common for participants to justify the use of controlling behaviour - and in fewer cases, physical violence - where low levels of trust were identified in a relationship. While trust was regarded by the young men we spoke to as a fundamental feature of any good relationship, romantic relationships lacking in trust were described as not worth having, even if providing sexual gratification. Leaving a relationship lacking in trust was regarded as a better option than violence. But some young men thought a breach of trust, for example when a partner has been - or has the potential to be - unfaithful, justified controlling behaviour. Others viewed controlling behaviour as necessary to protect naive young women from the risks posed by dangerous men, or even to avoid a report to the police if accusations of rape might be made. Insecurities - either generally felt or linked to current or past relationships - were highlighted as an underlying cause of some young men's controlling behaviours and attitudes. In some instances, it was evident that participants could 'see themselves' in the anti-violence publicity shown, and that this recognition was difficult to admit to, generating defensive victim-blaming responses in some instances. Insecurities were commonly projected onto women who 'dressed like slags', whose behaviour many thought ought to be moderated, even if misguided in motive. They were also disowned and attributed to 'control freaks', 'scumbags', 'mad men' 'Muslims', 'Somalians' 'chavs', 'gang' members, drunks and drug addicts, even 'poofs'. In other words, imagined out-groups of men, deemed lesser in terms of their social standing and respect for women. Retributive violence could be justified against them, not only to protect vulnerable women and girls, but also to distinguish oneself as different and better. Such dynamics highlight the distinction between what young men know about domestic abuse, i.e. that it involves emotional, verbal and financial components as well as controlling and threatening behaviours that can take place between partners or ex-partners of any age, and the working assumptions that come into play when the experience is personal. Even those who had recently undergone a programme of relationship education tended to lapse periodically into the assumption that 'real' domestic abuse only happens in adult relationships where men repeatedly assaulted women, if not because they are 'freaks', then because of the pressures engendered by work and family related stresses. Participants from all groups struggled to suggest ways of preventing and responding to domestic abuse, whether perpetrated in the families of young men, or by a young man who had pushed a girl in his school and called her a 'slag'. No-one doubted that in the latter scenario the boy would get excluded, though opinions varied on whether or not this was either a sufficient response or an overreaction to something trivial - the latter view most articulated by those who had been in trouble themselves for this kind of behaviour. When prompted, most young men welcomed initiatives to provide preventative domestic abuse education in schools and specialist advice and counselling provision for victims, witnesses and perpetrators alike. Young people were, however, more cautious about social service intervention, and generally sceptical about whether criminal justice responses would achieve intended results. Confronting perpetrators with physical violence was a reaction that emerged repeatedly and spontaneously in many of the discussions, however, suggesting that policy and practice interventions construed in terms of 'challenging men' risk unwittingly accentuating the connections between masculinity and violence in some instances. Some young people with histories of school exclusion pointed out that classroom-based learning consistently fails to reach those whose attendance is minimal. This might include those living in care, many of whom would have lived with abusive parents. While none of the participants commented on the potential of social marketing, our discussions revealed that exposure to material from a recent government anti-violence campaign was sufficient to get most young people talking about the complexity of the issue of domestic abuse. Exposure to this material evoked a range of reactions: condemnation and outrage; self-reflection and defensiveness; the desire for vengeance and empathy and understanding; and a willingness to intervene amidst limited knowledge of what effective intervention might entail. The extent to which exposure to such campaigning creates opportunities for reorienting young men at risk of becoming prone to perpetrating domestic violence merits further research. Details: London: From Boys to Men Project, 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2014 at: http://www.boystomenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Phase-Two-Key-Findings.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.boystomenproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Phase-Two-Key-Findings.pdf Shelf Number: 133314 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Palmer, Alexandra Title: Civil Level Action and the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence Summary: This report describes action that could be taken at a city level to support the primary prevention of family and sexual violence. Drawing on the Ecological Model and the Spectrum of Prevention, we present examples of promising primary prevention initiatives that act at a range of levels, from individuals and relationships to institutions, communities, and society. Details: Auckland, NZ: Point Research Ltd, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://www.pointresearch.co.nz/City-level_primary_prevention_sexual_family_violence.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.pointresearch.co.nz/City-level_primary_prevention_sexual_family_violence.pdf Shelf Number: 133545 Keywords: Community Participation Family Violence (New Zealand) Sexual Abuse Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Woodley, Alex Title: Working together to Prevent Family and Sexual Violence: Multi-sector Action Plans and Case Studies Summary: his literature review is aimed at outlining where New Zealand sits on matters of family and sexual violence - both in terms of impacts and in terms of current policies and programmes - and what steps we might take to address these issues. We particularly pay attention to the role that local government bodies such as the Auckland Council can play in addressing violence. Details: Auckland, NZ: Point Research Ltd, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://www.pointresearch.co.nz/Working_together_prevent_family_&_sexual_violence.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.pointresearch.co.nz/Working_together_prevent_family_&_sexual_violence.pdf Shelf Number: 133546 Keywords: Family Violence (New Zealand) Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Matczak, Anna Title: Review of Domestic Violence policies in England and Wales. Summary: Violence against women was recognised as a fundamental infringement of human rights in the 1993 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women and was a major topic at the 1995 Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women (UN Women, 1995). The serious consequences of domestic violence have also been recognised by the World Health Organisation (Krug et al. 2002). Over the past 30 years there have been major changes in the national policy and comprehension of domestic violence in the United Kingdom driven and in response to advocacy and campaigning by the women's movement and non-governmental organisations providing services to abused women (Harvin, 2006). In the shadow of policy developments, since the late 1980s, the criminal justice system, in particular the police service has been involved in configuring justice responses to the problem of domestic violence (ibid.). Responses followed in the health and social care services policy arena. Many government and non-government institutions started commissioning research on domestic violence and formulating policy recommendations. At the end of the 1990s two events had a particular influence on the development domestic violence policy in the United Kingdom; first, the increasing interest in aligning UK policies with the strategic objectives agreed in the Beijing Platform for Action (UN Women, 1995) to promote the human rights of women, and secondly New Labour taking power in England (1997) with a manifesto commitment to take forward policy development to combat domestic violence. During the period between 1997 and 2010, the main focus of policy and legislation on domestic violence was on implementing measures based on prevention, protection and justice and the provision of support for victims of domestic abuse, to be implemented by partnerships of service providers at local and national levels. Interestingly, in formulating policy, the government defined domestic violence in a gender-neutral way. Since 2010, following the election of a Coalition government (Conservatives and Liberal Democrats), there is a shift in policy direction with increased focus on a more broad gender-based agenda to "end violence against women and girls" (Home Office, 2010). Each of the four countries of the United Kingdom develops their own domestic violence strategy. Scottish policy is outlined in the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (2009), 'Safer Lives: Changed Lives a Shared Approach to Tackling Violence against Women in Scotland' and focuses on Prevention; Protection of victims; Provision of services and Participation of all agencies to ensure policy making and practice development around violence against women is informed by those who use domestic violence services. Recent initiatives in relation to domestic violence in Scotland are framed within meeting gender equality priorities. In Northern Ireland, the current strategy is set out in "Tackling Violence at Home - A Strategy for Addressing Domestic Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland" (DHSSPNI, 2005) and is supported by Action Plans up to 2012. In 2008 the Northern Ireland government published "Tackling Sexual Violence and Abuse - A Regional Strategy" (2008). These two strategies run in tandem and it planned that in March 2012 a joint Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse Action Plan will be published taking forward actions on a collaborative basis. In 2005 the Welsh Assembly Government published its first national strategy Tackling Domestic Abuse: The All Wales National Strategy supported also by yearly action plans. This was superseded in 2010 with the publication of "The Right to be Safe" which is six year integrated strategy for tackling all forms of violence against women and has an increased focus ensuring that "the whole violence against women agenda is tackled effectively" (Welsh Assembly Government, 2010, p.3). This report details and focuses on England and aims to present the findings from the literature review of policy development and implementation in the last two decades in England. The development of national measures (legislation and policy) to combat domestic abuse is addressed chronologically. Responsibility for providing services to domestic violence victims is divided between a range of government bodies and other agencies featured in the report. Some of the obstacles in achieving an integrated domestic violence policy in England are highlighted. Details: London: Kingston University and St George's, University of London, 2011. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/18868/1/Matczak-A-18868.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://eprints.kingston.ac.uk/18868/1/Matczak-A-18868.pdf Shelf Number: 133551 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Williamson, Emma Title: Evaluation of the Phoenix Programme: On Behalf of NADA and the Novas Scarman Group Summary: The aim of the Phoenix Programme is to assist women to recognise abusive behavior and how it can impact on their, and their children's, lives. Based on the findings of this evaluation this aim appears to have been achieved. Women reported higher levels of confidence and self esteem at the end of the intervention compared to pre intervention measurements. The women reported feeling happier and more content at the end of the programme than at the beginning. The largest change in the measurement of well-being was that feelings of anger increased for the participating women. Whilst anger is an important emotion which may well reflect women's move from blaming themselves to attributing blame for abuse on the shoulders of perpetrators it may also be linked to the lack of change in feeling safe. It would be helpful for facilitators to focus on these two issues at the final session to ensure that safety is maintained post intervention. The number of women who reported having an invisible disability was relatively high and supports the use of pre-engagement interviews which is a requirement of engaging with the phoenix programme. The only negative comment from participants related to the volume of information contained within the individual sessions. Women sometimes felt overwhelmed by the amount of information which may justify the inclusion of an additional session which allows women to reflect on what they have learnt throughout the programme. The majority of women on the programme had a combined household income of less than $10,000 per year. It would be useful therefore for the programme facilitators to consider how low income status might impact on women's choices. Finally, this evaluation has shown that the Phoenix Programme has a positive impact on the lives of the women who engage with the programme and as such provides a service to assist women move on from abusive relationships and to be aware of potential abuse within future relationships. The programme also includes specific elements relating to the relationship between abused women and their children. Those women who commented on this aspect of the programme stated that they found the programme helpful in identifying how patterns of abuse had affected both them and their children. These women found the programme helpful in identifying more positive ways to interact with their children following experiences of abuse. This is a positive outcome. Details: Bristol, UK: University of Bristol, 2011. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2011/rj5332/phoenixfinalreport.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/sps/research/projects/completed/2011/rj5332/phoenixfinalreport.pdf Shelf Number: 134221 Keywords: Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Domestic Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Campo, Monica Title: Children affected by domestic and family violence: A review of domestic and family violence prevention, early intervention and response services Summary: This report sets out the findings of research into domestic and family violence (DFV) prevention, early intervention and response for children aged 0-8 years. The research was commissioned and funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. It contributes to the development of the knowledge base on DFV prevention, early intervention and response strategies and the needs of children, and supports the implementation of aspects of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children (National Plan) and the NSW Government's It Stops Here: Standing Together to end Domestic and Family Violence in NSW (It Stops Here) strategy. We acknowledge the need for holding perpetrators, not women and children, accountable for DFV, and the necessity of ongoing primary prevention of DFV addressing men, however as the key focus of this report is on prevention, early intervention and response strategies for children, it is beyond the scope of this report to engage in a detailed discussion of perpetrator programs or primary prevention activities targeting men. However, there is a further study, also commissioned by the Department of Family and Community Services, and undertaken by a team overseen by Professor Moira Carmody at the University of Western Sydney, that focuses on prevention targeting men and boys. The research had two areas of focus: synthesising the literature on the impacts of DFV on children, and on the evidence for primary prevention and early intervention strategies for children aged 0-8 years; and identifying best practice approaches for primary prevention, early intervention and response for children aged 0-8, and identifying the extent to which these needs are met within existing DVF primary prevention, early intervention, and response approaches in Australia. The research took place in conjunction with two other studies; a study examining DFV prevention initiatives for at-risk women, also conducted by AIFS, and a study that focused on primary prevention initiatives for men and boys. The latter study was conducted by a team at the University of Western Sydney led by Professor Moira Carmody. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2014. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0014/300623/PDF-6_Final_Report_Children_affected.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://www.women.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0014/300623/PDF-6_Final_Report_Children_affected.pdf Shelf Number: 134020 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Early Intervention Programs Family Violence (Australia) Violence Against Women

Author: Violence Policy Center Title: When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2012 Homicide Data Summary: When Men Murder Women is an annual report prepared by the Violence Policy Center detailing the reality of homicides committed against females by single male offenders. The study analyzes the most recent Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The information used for this report is for the year 2012. Once again, this is the most recent data available. This is the first analysis of the 2012 data on female homicide victims to offer breakdowns of cases in the 10 states with the highest female victim/male offender homicide rates, and the first to rank the states by the rate of female homicides. The key findings in this year's release of When Men Murder Women include: - Nationwide, 1,706 females were murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents in 2012, at a rate of 1.16 per 100,000. - For homicides in which the victim to offender relationship could be identified, 93 percent of female victims nationwide were murdered by a male they knew. Of the victims who knew their offenders, 62 percent were wives, common-law wives, ex-wives, or girlfriends of the offenders. - Firearms - especially handguns - were the weapons most commonly used by males to murder females in 2012. Nationwide, for homicides in which the weapon used could be identified, 52 percent of female victims were shot and killed with a gun. Of the homicides committed with guns, 69 percent were killed with handguns. - The overwhelming majority of these homicides were not related to any other felony crime, such as rape or robbery. Nationwide, for homicides in which the circumstances could be identified, 85 percent of the homicides were not related to the commission of another felony. Most often, females were killed by males in the course of an argument between the victim and the offender. The study also ranks each state based on the homicide rate for women murdered by men. Below are the 10 states with the highest rate of females murdered by males in single victim/single offender incidents in 2012. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2014. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2014 at: https://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133643 Keywords: Crime Statistics Family Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicide (U.S.) Intimate Partner Violence Murders Violence Against Women

Author: Taylor, S. Caroline Title: Policing Just Outcomes: Improving the Police Response to Adults Reporting Sexual Assault Summary: The prevalence of sexual assault and its consequent harm to both individual victims and society as a whole has now been widely researched, documented and recognised in Western jurisdictions for generations. In particular, policing of this gendered5 crime has been the subject of many research endeavours and police organisations have increasingly opened their doors to academics and other researchers in pursuit of evidence-based knowledge that will assist them to enhance their training, investigations and Brief preparations in this respect. Victoria Police has been among the foresighted police organisations in this regard over the past several years. This report is the result of one major research endeavour concerning reports of sexual assault made by adults and the related police response, investigation and management involving Edith Cowan University in partnership with Victoria Police. This study was designed in terms of three strands, each of which incorporated a number of interrelated research programs. Strand one focused on victims/survivors and it proceeded through the use of an online survey and interviews of adult victims/survivors as well as focus groups and interviews of police officers in the State of Victoria and rape crisis counsellors from Centres Against Sexual Assault located across Victoria. Strand two focused on police decision-making processes and police networking in relation to complaints of sexual assault by adults. It proceeded through close reading of Victoria Police operational case files, individual interviews and focus groups involving police, and a focus group of Office of Public Prosecutions personnel. Strand three focused on the management of the police response and the recruitment, training and development of police for the specialist role of sexual assault policing. It proceeded through the use of strand two methods, as well as observation of Victoria Police training courses, police trainee feedback sheets and online survey, and interview of trainers in relation to the specialist sexual assault policing role. Details: Perth, Western Australia: Edith Cowan University, 2012. 411p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2014 at: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/Child_Abuse_Inquiry/Submissions/Professor_Caroline_Taylor_Appenedix_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/images/stories/committees/fcdc/inquiries/57th/Child_Abuse_Inquiry/Submissions/Professor_Caroline_Taylor_Appenedix_1.pdf Shelf Number: 133932 Keywords: Police Attitudes Police Decision-Making Police Investigations Rape (Australia) Sexual Assault Victims of Crimes Violence Against Women

Author: Rehal, Manjit Title: The Price of Honour: Exploring the Issues of Sexual Violence within South Asian Communities in Coventry Summary: Sexual violence is an appalling crime that constitutes a serious public and human rights problem. It can devastate the lives of victims, survivors and their families and inspire fear in our communities. It has both short and long-term consequences for victims and survivor's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing. It also has significant consequences for the public purse and for the economy. This report highlights some of the key issues that have prevented victims of sexual violence, from Asian communities within Coventry, disclosing or reporting their abuse. In particular it highlights how victims can be silenced by a culture of so called honour and shame. This has resulted in many victims being unable to access support and pursue justice for the abuse which they have experienced. Details: Coventry, UK: CRASAC, 2014. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 15, 2014 at: http://www.crasac.org.uk/uploads/2/1/6/0/21603882/the_price_of_honour_full_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.crasac.org.uk/uploads/2/1/6/0/21603882/the_price_of_honour_full_report.pdf Shelf Number: 133923 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence (U.K.) Violence Against Women

Author: Phillips, Janet Title: Domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia: an overview of the issues Summary: Executive summary - The World Health Organization (WHO) describes the levels of violence experienced by the world's women as 'a global public health problem of epidemic proportions, requiring urgent action'. - In Australia, domestic, family and sexual violence is found across all cultures, ages and socio-economic groups, but the majority of those who experience these forms of violence are women. However, it is not possible to measure the true extent of the problem as most incidents of domestic, family and sexual violence go unreported. - The information available on the prevalence of domestic, family and sexual violence in Australia is derived from surveys. The 2013 Australia-wide survey on personal safety conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found that many men and women experience at least one encounter with violence in their lifetimes. The survey showed that men are far more likely to experience physical violence at the hands of a stranger but the majority of women experience physical violence by someone known to them-usually an intimate partner or family member. Both men and women are more likely to experience physical violence than sexual violence but women are much more likely to experience sexual assault in their lifetime than men. - The social and economic costs of violence against women are considerable. In 2009 the National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (NCRVWC) estimated that violence against women and their children, including both domestic and non-domestic violence, cost the Australian economy $13.6 billion. - The Commonwealth Government is responsible for the over-arching government programs designed to reduce violence against women nationally. However, it is the state and territory governments that have the law enforcement responsibilities in relation to policing and prosecuting instances of domestic, family and sexual violence. - Reducing violence against women has been a priority for both Coalition and Labor governments for many years. The most recent Government initiative is the National Plan to reduce violence against women and their children (National Plan) endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in 2009. The National Plan set a framework for social change and proposed the introduction of sweeping changes between 2009 and 2021 to be implemented through a series of four three‐year action plans over 12 years. - The move towards better integrated, multi-agency responses and coordination across all levels of government through the National Plan has been received favourably by most stakeholders and is viewed as making significant progress in terms of reducing the levels of violence experienced by women in Australia. Details: Canberra: Parliamentary Library, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2014-15: Accessed October 16, 2014 at: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/3447585/upload_binary/3447585.pdf;fileType=application/pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/3447585/upload_binary/3447585.pdf;fileType=application/pdf Shelf Number: 133963 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Family Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Clancy, Anna Title: Defining and Profiling Serial Domestic Abuse Perpetrators: An All-Wales Feasibility Review. Interim Report Summary: The Integrated Offender Management (IOM) Cymru partnership commissioned this research to investigate the feasibility of developing a shared definition and common multi-agency recording process for serial domestic abuse perpetrators across Wales. This report sets out findings from phase one of the research which included a qualitative mapping exercise (interviews with Police, Probation, and third sector agency representatives) along with a quantitative analysis of n=6642 anonymised domestic abuse perpetrator records provided by Wales Probation Trust. The qualitative evidence obtained for this report indicated substantial variability within and across agencies, which undoubtedly impacts upon the way in which serial abusers are identified, targeted and managed across Wales: - The four Welsh police forces have a definition of serial domestic abuse in place, but each varies slightly, as do their recording systems and reporting processes. - The data currently held by Probation do not enable 'serial perpetrators' to be easily identified, and the two IT systems used by Wales Probation Trust to manage information about domestic abuse perpetrators are not used consistently across Wales. - There is not currently a systematic process in place to ensure serial perpetrators are routinely identified and flagged across all relevant third sector agencies. The quantitative case files analysis indicated the following: - Roughly three-quarters of perpetrators fell into the 'medium' risk category (as defined in OASys or SARA). - MAPPA arrangements were in place for only a small proportion (17.5%). - Analysis of the risk judgments indicated significant variation across Wales (e.g., some regions had twice as many perpetrators deemed to be at 'high' risk). It is not possible to ascertain whether this reflects a true difference in the risk profile of perpetrators, or different assessment practices amongst Offender Managers across the regions, or a combination of these. Both the qualitative and the quantitative findings have implications for the feasibility of implementing a system for the routine identification of 'serial' domestic abuse perpetrators across Wales. The main recommendation arising from this research is that Police, National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in Wales, and third sector partners should work towards a commonly agreed definition of 'serial domestic abuse' and amend their recording systems so that these individuals may be easily identified (a full set of recommendations is provided at the end of this report). By developing an agreed profile and a shared definition of serial domestic abuse perpetrators, interventions and services can be targeted more effectively to reduce re-offending and protect victims. Details: Cardiff: Cardiff University, 2014. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 16, 2014 at: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/63750/1/Clancy%20Robinson%20%26%20Hanks%20%282014%29%20Defining%20serial%20perpetrators%20report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/63750/1/Clancy%20Robinson%20%26%20Hanks%20%282014%29%20Defining%20serial%20perpetrators%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 133959 Keywords: Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence (Wales) Family Violence Offender Management Offender Profiling Violence Against Women

Author: Women's League of Burma Title: Same Impunity, Same Patterns: Sexual abuses by the Burma Army will not stop until there is a genuine civilian government Summary: Almost a decade ago, the Women's League of Burma (WLB) denounced systematic patterns of sexual crimes committed by the Burma Army against ethnic women and demanded an end to the prevailing system of impunity. Today WLB is renewing these calls. Three years after a nominally civilian government came to power; state-sponsored sexual violence continues to threaten the lives of women in Burma. Women of Burma endure a broad range of violations; this report focuses on sexual violence, as the most gendered crime. WLB and its member organizations have gathered documentation showing that over 100 women have been raped by the Burma Army since the elections of 2010. Due to restrictions on human rights documentation, WLB believes these are only a fraction of the actual abuses taking place. Most cases are linked to the military offensives in Kachin and Northern Shan States since 2011. The Kachin Women's Association Thailand (KWAT) documented that 59 women have been victims of acts of sexual violence committed by Burmese soldiers. The Shan Women's Action Network (SWAN) reports 30 cases of sexual violence involving 35 women and girls in the past three years. The incidence of rape correlates with the timing of conflict. These crimes are more than random, isolated acts by rogue soldiers. Their widespread and systematic nature indicates a structural pattern: rape is still used as an instrument of war and oppression. 47 cases were brutal gang rapes, several victims were as young as 8 years old and 28 of the women were either killed or died of their injuries. Over 38 different battalions are implicated in these cases, while several battalions are involved across multiple cases and timeframes, and the incidents took place in at least 35 different townships. These rapes cannot be explained away as a human impulse gone astray. The use of sexual violence in conflict is a strategy and an act of warfare that has political and economic dimensions that go beyond individual cases. In Burma, counterinsurgency tactics designate civilians in ethnic areas as potential threats. Sexual violence is used as a tool by the Burmese military to demoralize and destroy ethnic communities. Army officers are not only passively complicit in these sexual crimes but often perpetrators themselves. Combined with blatant impunity, soldiers are given a "license to rape", as SWAN highlighted in 2002. Several international treaties to which Burma is party, and other sources of international law applicable to Burma prohibit sexual violence; rape is also criminalized under Burma's penal code. But neither international nor domestic laws are enforced effectively. The systematic and widespread use of sexual violence by the Burma Army makes the abuses documented in this report potential war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law, requiring thorough independent investigation. It is high time for Burma's government to take responsibility and live up to the expectations the recent changes have created, to restore the dignity that women of Burma deserve. This can only be achieved through truth and justice for the violence women endure. It necessitates not only an immediate end to the violence, but also a deep reform of Burma's legal framework. Changing the 2008 Constitution, which gives the military the right to independently administer all its affairs, is the first step towards ensuring justice for the women of Burma. Judicial independence has to be guaranteed by the constitution, to allow for reform of the judicial system that will ensure its impartiality. The court-martial system, established by the Constitution to adjudicate all crimes committed by the military, has an unrestricted mandate and overly broad powers: it needs to be reformed to place the military under civilian judicial control. In both military and civilian jurisdictions, victims' access to justice has to be ensured through appropriate complaint mechanisms. At the moment, the National Human Rights Commission does not have the mandate, capacity and willingness to address serious human rights violations in an independent and transparent manner. If the government is serious about its commitments to address violence against women, it should acknowledge ongoing abuses against ethnic women, sign the recent international declaration for prevention of sexual violence in conflict, and adopt laws specifically aimed at protecting women from violence. Recent proposals set out concrete requirements for effective legal protection for women. In addition, the government needs to deeply change its political approach to the peace process, in order to make it a meaningful way to end abuses. Achieving sustainable peace and putting an end to abuses against women will not happen without women's representation in the political dialogue for peace. The fact that almost all the participants involved in the official peace process are male excludes critical perspectives on peace and conflict, and preserves structural gender inequality. Moreover, it is crucial that the upcoming political dialogue addresses past human rights violations as well as the role of the army. This includes accepting that, in a free country, the military is subject to civilian authorities representing the genuine will of the people. Unless and until the military is placed under civilian control through constitutional amendments, we will not see an end to militarized sexual violence. Details: Chiang Mai, Thailand: Women's League of Burma, 2014. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2014 at: http://womenofburma.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/SameImpunitySamePattern_English-final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Burma URL: http://womenofburma.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/SameImpunitySamePattern_English-final.pdf Shelf Number: 133741 Keywords: Gang Rapes Military Rape (Burma) Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Khan, M.E. Title: Sexuality, Gender Roles, and Domestic Violence in South Asia Summary: The Population Council has recently released a report titled 'Sexuality, Gender Roles and Domestic Violence in South Asia.' The report involves a wealth of data about patterns of sexuality and gender inequities, which have serious consequences in relation to the spread of HIV infections in the region. A key finding of the report is that women are often unable to negotiate the use of contraception and other safe sex practices in domestic relationships. The dynamics of gender inequalities in South Asia make it very difficult for women to protect themselves against possible HIV and sexually transmitted infection risks. Another key message is that young men and women often have little knowledge about reproductive health and sex, because of a lack of information. Details: New York: Population Council, 2014. 373p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://www.popcouncil.org/uploads/pdfs/2014RH_SGBVSouthAsia.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Asia URL: http://www.popcouncil.org/uploads/pdfs/2014RH_SGBVSouthAsia.pdf Shelf Number: 134040 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Asia) Family Violence Gender-Based Violence HIV (Viruses) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Vetten, Lisa Title: Domestic violence in South Africa Summary: South Africa's response to domestic violence is of relatively recent origin, with 1993 marking both the introduction of the first legal remedy to address domestic violence, and the recognition of marital rape as a crime. This first attempt to deal with domestic violence through legislation, namely the Prevention of Family Violence Act, was further developed and strengthened through the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 (DVA), which is widely considered one of the more progressive examples of such legislation internationally. This policy brief describes the extent and nature of domestic violence in South Africa and considers aspects of the implementation of the DVA, the state's most prominent intervention in the problem of domestic violence. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief 71: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/PolBrief71.pdf Year: 2014 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/PolBrief71.pdf Shelf Number: 134074 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence (South Africa) Elder Abuse Marital Rape Rape Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: George, Amanda Title: Landscapes of Violence: Women Surviving Family Violence in Regional and Rural Victoria Summary: In 2013 the Centre for Rural Regional Law and Justice (CRRLJ) released a report detailing Women's Experiences of Surviving Family Violence and Accessing the Magistrates' Court in Geelong, Victoria. The research was informed by in-depth, qualitative interviews with survivors of family violence and workers who support survivors and their children, as well as court observations conducted at the Geelong, Heidelberg and Werribee magistrates' courts. The report (which is publicly available via the CRRLJ website) details the finding that while some women described positive experiences with police officers, magistrates and lawyers, the women respondents also found the court process to be intimidating and felt that there are limited opportunities to have their voices and concerns heard in court. Women spoke of the Family Violence Intervention Order (FVIO) process as confusing and cited frequent breaches of FVIOs - of varied natures and severities - which were identified by women, lawyers and workers as the principal reason for the continuing failure of FVIOs. Court support was identified as reducing the anxiety experienced by applicants, but the provision of support was described as ad hoc, and lacking a streamlined process to connect all survivors who access the court. Overwhelmingly, women emphasised their concern with the impact of violence on their children and expressed their distress that children are not always named on the FVIO. Court wait times, limited safe, separate waiting areas at court and the need for more funding to enable access to expeditious and affordable legal advocacy were also identified as key issues of concern. Given these findings, Jordan and Phillips advocate for 'a more consistent approach to survivors seeking safety and justice' and 'increased levels of specialist training for all justice system personnel working on family violence cases'. This report draws and extends upon the 2013 report, in regards to the geographic areas, issues covered, and range of participants. It examines the experiences of and outcomes for women survivors of family violence in regional and rural Victoria, considering their contact with and perceptions of government agencies (including Victoria Police, the Victorian magistrates' courts and the Department of Human Services [DHS]) as well as private and community advocates (legal actors and services, women's services and family violence services) and healthcare professionals. Through this research, survivors have identified issues and barriers they have encountered in escaping family violence, and have provided suggestions in regards to how both the criminal justice system and the broader Victorian community might assist survivors and help prevent family violence. As well as being informed by survivors, this research includes insights provided by government and non-government practitioners and organisations who have offered their views on this report's key findings and recommendations. In addition to the generous contributions of these participants, this report utilises relevant data and emerging research in an effort to identify best practice responses to family violence; improve access to justice, support and safety; and protect and promote women's rights and entitlements. Details: Melbourne: Deakin University, Centre for Rural and Regional Law and Justice, 2014. 217p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violence-online-pdf-version.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/287040/Landscapes-of-Violence-online-pdf-version.pdf Shelf Number: 134078 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Rural Areas Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Nanda, Priya Title: Masculinity, Intimate Partner Violence and Son Preference in India Summary: In-depth research on gender, power and masculinity and various programmatic efforts to engage men have made it abundantly clear that men and boys must be an integral part of efforts to promote gender equality. This is especially relevant in India, where caste, class and linguistic ethnicity have tremendous influence on how men construct their sense of masculinity and define what it means to be a �real man� or what is expected of them. Recent research suggests that men�s attitudes and more broadly, masculinity, perpetuate son preference and to some extent, intimate partner violence in India. With this in mind, ICRW conducted research, surveying a total of 9,205 men and 3,158 women, aged 18-49 in the following seven states across India: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The study findings emphasize that in India, masculinity, i.e., men�s controlling behavior and gender inequitable attitudes, strongly determines men�s preference for sons over daughters as well as their proclivity for violence towards an intimate partner � both of which are manifestations of gender inequality. Masculine control in women�s lives affects their own experiences of intimate partner violence and preference for sons. The study finds that ultimately eliminate son preference and intimate partner violence in India, it is critical to develop and implement national policies and programs that involve men in promoting gender equity and diminishing socio-cultural and religious practices that reinforce gender discrimination. Details: New Delhi: United Nations Population Fund- India; International Center for Research on Women, 2014. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/Masculinity%20Book_Inside_final_6th%20Nov.pdf Year: 2014 Country: India URL: http://www.icrw.org/sites/default/files/publications/Masculinity%20Book_Inside_final_6th%20Nov.pdf Shelf Number: 134126 Keywords: Gender Discrimination Gender Inequality Intimate Partner Violence Masculinity (India) Violence Against Women

Author: Crinall, Karen Title: 'Safe at home' programs in the context of the Victorian Integrated family Violence Service System Reforms: A review of the literature Summary: Family violence is a leading cause of homelessness, poverty (FaCHSIA 2009, COAG 2010), preventable death, disability and illness for Victorian women aged 15-45 years (VicHealth 2004). Exposure to family violence is now widely recognised as a form of child abuse (Statewide Steering Committee 2005, FaCHSIA 2009). Family violence costs the Australian economy an estimated $13.6 billion per year (FaCHSIA 2009:34), if not effectively and appropriately addressed, the total cost in 2021-22 is estimated to be $15.6 billion (FaCHSIA 2009:36). Although domestic and family violence began to be taken seriously by Australian governments in the latter half of the twentieth century, a growing body of evidence revealed that prevalence was not decreasing. At the same time, there was recognition that the best interests of women and children experiencing this form of violence were not necessarily being well served (Rorke 2008). In response to calls from the family violence sector, the Victorian government embarked on a program of major legislative and service system reform by adopting a 'whole of government' approach to redressing family violence incidence and responding to the needs of affected women and children. The new approach to family violence involves integration of the Victorian family violence service system, and is guided by the goals of ensuring the safety of women and children and holding men who use violence accountable (see Green, ADFVC, record#170). This wide-ranging initiative represents a profound shift in the way government, police, judiciary and service providers respond to, and seek to prevent family violence. Enabling women to have the choice to remain safely within their own homes, rather than believing they must leave and seek refuge, is a key component in this reform program. Referred to here as 'safe at home', the strategy signifies a new direction in the way the family violence service system supports women and their children to escape family violence. This literature review was undertaken to develop a more complete understanding of 'safe at home' as a service system response, with a particular focus on its capacity to contribute to the Victorian reform goals of ensuring the safety of women and children and holding men who use violence against women accountable. The review examines 'safe at home' in the context of National and state family violence policy and practice initiatives. Specific focus is given to determining elements required for successful and effective implementation. The aims are to: - further understand 'safe at home' as an intervention strategy within the Victorian integrated family violence service system; - explore how the 'safe at home' strategy might contribute to enhancing the safety of women and children; - consider whether 'safe at home' interventions are able to hold men who use violence against women accountable; - to identify elements necessary for successful implementation of 'safe at home' programs. Key questions informing the review are: - How is 'safe at home' defined in policy and practice? - Is there evidence to indicate that 'safe at home' programs have enhanced the safety of women and children? - Is there evidence to suggest that 'safe at home' as a response is able to hold men who use violence against women accountable? - What is required for successful implementation of 'safe at home' programs? - What supports are necessary to enable women and children to stay in their home, if they prefer this option? Details: Melbourne: Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Monash University, University of Melbourne, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/safehomereview_with_covers.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/safehomereview_with_covers.pdf Shelf Number: 134139 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Family Violence (Australia) Violence Against Women Violence Prevention Programs

Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in British Columbia, Canada Summary: 1. This report addresses the situation of missing and murdered indigenous women in British Columbia, Canada. It analyzes the context in which indigenous women have gone missing and been murdered over the past several years and the response to this human rights issue by the Canadian State. The report offers recommendations geared towards assisting the State in strengthening its efforts to protect and guarantee indigenous women's rights. 2. Indigenous women and girls in Canada have been murdered or have gone missing at a rate four times higher than the rate of representation of indigenous women in the Canadian population which is 4.3%. The most comprehensive numbers available were collected by the non-profit organization Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) through an initiative financed by the governmental entity Status of Women Canada. As of March 31, 2010, NWAC has gathered information regarding 582 cases of missing or murdered indigenous women and girls across the country from the past 30 years. Civil society organizations have long claimed that the number could be much higher, and new research indicates that over 1000 indigenous women could be missing or dead across Canada. Although high numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada have been identified at both the national and international levels, there are no trustworthy statistics that could assist in reaching a fuller understanding of this problem. The Government itself recognizes that Canada's official statistics do not provide accurate information regarding the true numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women. In addition, there is no reliable source of disaggregated data on violence against indigenous women and girls because police across Canada do not consistently report or record whether or not the victims of violent crime are indigenous. 3. As the report explains, the numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women are particularly concerning when considered in light of the fact that indigenous people represent a small percentage of the total population of Canada. Although the information received by the Commission indicates that this could be a nationwide phenomenon, this report is focused on the situation in British Columbia, because the number of missing and murdered indigenous women is higher there in absolute terms than any other province or territory in Canada. 4. British Columbia accounts for 160 cases, 28% of NWAC's total database of 582 and is followed by Alberta with 93 cases, 16% of the total. The high numbers of missing and murdered indigenous women in British Columbia are concentrated in two different areas of the province: Prince George, in the northern part of the province; and the Downtown East Side, an area of downtown Vancouver, the largest city and metropolitan area in the province. 5. The disappearances and murders of indigenous women in Canada are part of a broader pattern of violence and discrimination against indigenous women in the country. Various official and civil society reports demonstrate that indigenous women are victims of higher rates of violence committed by strangers and acquaintances than non-indigenous women. During the IACHR visit the Canadian government indicated that indigenous women are significantly over-represented as victims of homicide and are also three times more likely to be victims of violence than non-indigenous women. Also, indigenous women suffer more frequently from more severe forms of domestic violence than non-indigenous women. 6. According to the information received, the police have failed to adequately prevent and protect indigenous women and girls from killings and disappearances, extreme forms of violence, and have failed to diligently and promptly investigate these acts. Family members of missing and murdered indigenous women have described dismissive attitudes from police officers working on their cases, a lack of adequate resources allocated to those cases, and a lengthy failure to investigate and recognize a pattern of violence. Also, the existence of multiple policing jurisdictions in British Columbia resulted in confusion between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Vancouver Police Department regarding responsibility for investigation. This situation in turn has perpetuated the violence; as the failure to ensure that there are consequences for these crimes has given rise to both real and perceived impunity. The kinds of irregularities and deficiencies that have been denounced and documented include: poor report taking and follow up on reports of missing women; inadequate proactive strategies to prevent further harm to women in the Downtown Eastside; failure to consider and properly pursue all investigative strategies; failure to address cross-jurisdictional issues; ineffective coordination between police; and insensitive treatment of families. 7. Canadian authorities and civil society organizations largely agree on the root causes of these high levels of violence against indigenous women and the existing vulnerabilities that make indigenous women more susceptible to violence. These root causes are related to a history of discrimination beginning with colonization and continuing through inadequate and unjust laws and policies such as the Indian Act and forced enrolment in residential schools that continue to affect them. In this regard, the collection of laws determining Aboriginal status established in the Indian Act restricted the freedom of women who identified themselves as indigenous to be recognized as such. Additionally, the residential schools program separated indigenous children from their families, communities, and cultural heritage. 8. As a consequence of this historical discrimination, the IACHR understands that indigenous women and girls constitute one of the most disadvantaged groups in Canada. Poverty, inadequate housing, economic and social relegation, among other factors, contribute to their increased vulnerability to violence. In addition, prevalent attitudes of discrimination - mainly relating to gender and race - and the longstanding stereotypes to which they have been subjected, exacerbate their vulnerability. 9. The OAS Charter and the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man constitute sources of legal obligation for OAS Member states including Canada. The organs of the international and regional human rights systems for the protection of human rights have developed jurisprudence that recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples as well as the obligation to guarantee women's rights, both of which encompass rights to equality, nondiscrimination and non- violence. In this regard, international and regional human rights systems have developed a set of principles when applying the due diligence standards in cases of violence against women, as well as particular standards in relation to missing women. 10. International and regional systems have also emphasized that a State's failure to act with due diligence with respect to cases of violence against women is a form of discrimination. The lack of due diligence in cases of violence against indigenous women is especially grave as it affects not only the victims, but also their families and the communities to which they belong. In addition, given the strong connection between the greater risks for violence that indigenous women confront and the social and economic inequalities they face, when applying the due diligence standard, States must implement specific measures to address the social and economic disparities that affect them. 11. The IACHR stresses that addressing violence against indigenous women is not sufficient unless the underlying factors of racial and gender discrimination that originate and exacerbate the violence are also comprehensively addressed. A comprehensive holistic approach applied to violence against indigenous women means addressing the past and present institutional and structural inequalities confronted by these women. Elements that must be addressed include the dispossession of their land, as well as historical laws and policies that have negatively affected indigenous women, put them in an unequal situation, and prevented their full enjoyment of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Details: Washington, DC: Organization of American States, 2014. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 21, 2015 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Indigenous-Women-BC-Canada-en.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Indigenous-Women-BC-Canada-en.pdf Shelf Number: 134433 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Homicides Indigenous Peoples (Canada) Missing Persons Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: European Institute for Gender Equality Title: Estimating the Costs of Gender-Based Violence in the European Union Summary: The report provides an analysis of methodological options on the cost of gender-based violence and intimate partner violence, by studying different literatures and studies, and provides recommendations. It includes a case study on the cost of intimate partner violence against women in the UK during 2012 and provides a calculation of the costs in the EU. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014. 148p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2015 at: http://eige.europa.eu/sites/default/files/MH0414745ENC.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://eige.europa.eu/sites/default/files/MH0414745ENC.pdf Shelf Number: 134474 Keywords: Costs of Criminal Justice Costs of Violence Family Violence Gender-Based Violence (Europe) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Lindsay, Melissa Title: Violence Perpetrated by Ex-Spouses in Canada Summary: Intimate partner violence affects the lives of many Canadians. In 2011, there were 97,451 victims of police-reported intimate partner violence1 (Sinha 2013) with women representing 80% of the victims of police-reported intimate partner violence in 2011. While these numbers provide some insight into the prevalence of spousal violence in Canada, it only reflects a small portion of the actual violence that occurs. Data from the 2009 General Social Survey - Victimization (GSS) found that only 22% of victims of self-reported spousal violence reported the incident to the police (Brennan 2011). These numbers also do not provide information on the prevalence of violence perpetrated by ex-spouses, nor the experiences of victims of ex-spousal violence. While data exist on violence perpetrated by current spouses, very little information is available on the experiences of ex-spousal violence in Canada. In 2001, Hotton published the report, Spousal Violence after Marital Separation, which was based on data from the 1999 GSS. This report provided great insight into the prevalence of ex-spousal violence in Canada, as well as on experiences of victims of ex-spousal violence. With data from the 2009 GSS, it is possible to look at these same issues using the most current data available. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the 2001 Spousal Violence after Marital Separation report using data from the 2009 GSS. This report explores Canadians' experiences with violence committed by ex-spouses, including the prevalence of ex-spousal violence, violence experienced after separation and the emotional consequences of ex-spousal violence. The prevalence of child witnesses to ex-spousal violence is discussed, as is information on the issues surrounding child residence and contact in situations of ex-spousal violence. Finally, the issue of reporting ex-spousal violence to police is explored. Details: Ottawa: Department of Justice Canada, 2014. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2015 at: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/rr14_03/rr14_03.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/fv-vf/rr14_03/rr14_03.pdf Shelf Number: 134514 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Intimate Partner Violence (Canada) Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Title: Addressing forced marriage in the EU: legal provisions and promising practices Summary: Forced marriage is marriage without consent. It is a form of domestic violence. It violates the right to freely decide whether, when and whom to marry. Most of the victims are women but it can be imposed on men, too. Children and those with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable. With this paper the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) encourages European Union institutions to look at the issue of forced marriage in a comprehensive manner. It suggests that the EU should consider acceding to the 2011 Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), given that the convention envisages this possibility. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2015 at: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-forced-marriage-eu_en.pdf.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Europe URL: http://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-forced-marriage-eu_en.pdf.pdf Shelf Number: 134593 Keywords: Domestic Violence Forced Marriage (Europe) Gender-Related Violence Violence Against Women

Author: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Title: Too Much Pain: Female Genital Mutilation and Asylum in the European Union Summary: Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This harmful traditional practice is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa; in some countries in Asia and the Middle East; and among migrant and refugee communities from these areas in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America. FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and the right to life when the procedure results in death. The practice of FGM is also considered as a criminal act in all EU Member States. This statistical overview has been prepared on the occasion of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) study on FGM in the European Union and Croatia. Little is known about FGM in the European Union in general, and this statement holds true about FGM and asylum more specifically. In light of the recognized need for country- and community-tailored responses, this study provides some of the statistical evidence needed to advance the discussion on the necessary policies and tools to address the specific vulnerabilities of female asylum-seekers with FGM in the asylum system on the one hand, and of refugee girls and women living with FGM and integrating in EU Member States on the other hand. In addition, in the absence of statistical data on asylum claims relating to this harmful traditional practice, this document also provides estimates that draw attention to the specific needs for international protection girls (and their parents) as well as women may raise in relation to FGM. Details: Geneva, SWIT: UNHCR, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/512c72ec2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/512c72ec2.pdf Shelf Number: 134617 Keywords: Asylum Seekers Child Abuse and Neglect Child Protection Female Cutting Female Genital Mutilation Gender-Related Violence Human Rights Abuses Violence 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 Women Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mills, Helen Title: Empower, resist, transform. A collection of essays Summary: This essay collection highlights how women facing criminalisation and gender based violence are repeatedly failed by society. Helen Mills, Rebecca Roberts and Laurel Townhead describe the shortcomings of criminal justice approaches that often replicate and reinforce inequalities rather than tackle the root causes of harm and violence. The document offers a critical and gendered analysis to the challenges of radically scaling back criminal justice. It also includes a copy of the 'Call to Action' issued by the Centre and the charity, Women in Prison. This work is part of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies' Justice Matters initiative, motivated by the belief that the United Kingdom's over reliance on policing, prosecution and punishment is socially harmful, economically wasteful, and prevents us from tackling the complex problems our society faces in a sustainable, socially just manner. Details: London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2015 at: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/Empower%20Resist%20Transform%20January%202015_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/Empower%20Resist%20Transform%20January%202015_0.pdf Shelf Number: 134984 Keywords: Female Inmates Female Prisoners (U.K.) Gender-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Queensland. Special Task Force on Family and Domestic Violence in Queensland Title: Not now, not ever: putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland Summary: In the 1970s we started to face up to the hidden shame and tragedy of domestic abuse. The first shelter for battered wives and children, 'Elsie', was established in Sydney by feminist Dr Anne Summers AO. Today there are more than 300 women's refuges around Australia and there have been many advances in the past 40 years in how we deal with domestic abuse, but the deeply disturbing fact is that this terrible scourge on our community is increasing in incidence and severity. In Queensland the number of reported incidents increased from 58,000 in 2011-12 to 66,000 in 2013-14. What this means is that there are about 180 reports to police of domestic violence incidents every day. During the past five months, my fellow Taskforce members and I have travelled the length and breadth of Queensland to hear stories of desperate abuse and violence so abhorrent that it hardly bears thinking about. But think about it we must. It is beholden upon all of us - every single citizen of this diverse, vibrant state - to take a stand against domestic and family violence; to commit to protecting the vulnerable; and to make it clear to those who would hurt another, within a relationship of intimacy and trust, that we will not tolerate, excuse, condone or accept their behaviour. This Report delves into the nature of domestic and family violence and documents some of the work of the deeply committed people who provide services to victims and perpetrators of abuse. The Report tells the stories of those who have suffered, and those who work to stop the violence. Most importantly it provides recommendations and insights gathered and developed by the Taskforce to provide to the Premier to set the vision and direction for a Queensland strategy to stop domestic and family violence. Details: Brisbane: Government of Queensland, 2015. 368p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2015 at: http://www.qld.gov.au/community/documents/getting-support-health-social-issue/dfv-report-vol-one.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.qld.gov.au/community/documents/getting-support-health-social-issue/dfv-report-vol-one.pdf Shelf Number: 135002 Keywords: Domestic Violence (Australia) Family Violence Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Centre for Innovative Justice Title: Opportunities for Early Intervention: Bringing perpetrators of family violence into view Summary: This Report turns the spotlight on perpetrators of family violence. In doing so, it calls for earlier and more proactive intervention - explaining that, while family violence has finally come to attention as a systemic wrong in need of a National Plan, a significant gap exists in our collective response. Equally, while victims of family violence must remain our priority, these victims will also remain at risk unless we step back and widen our gaze. In other words, until we adjust the lens and bring those who use violence and coercion more clearly into view - until we intervene at the source of the problem - the cycle of this violence will simply roll on. This may manifest in assaults against the same or subsequent partners, in the damaging effects we know are experienced by children, in the behaviour of adolescents, or in the tragic escalation that can devastate an entire community. Either way, it will manifest as core business in our courts and as an ongoing drain on our economic and social wellbeing. As one practitioner told the CIJ: "You can't put violent men in a corner and expect them to change. All you'll achieve is another partner, another victim, somewhere down the track." The aim of this Report, then, is to help to bring violent individuals out of this corner and under the scrutiny of a systemic response. In doing so it makes no apologies for its gendered analysis as, while men can be victims of family violence too, this does not change the fact that structural inequality and widespread community attitudes perpetuate violence against women, as well as rigid gendered roles that entrap women and men alike. As many commentators have pointed out, however, men are often written out of the analysis of gendered violence, rendered invisible by descriptions of the violence as if it is a separate entity, rather than something used by an individual with whom the system might intervene. Meanwhile, though "perpetrator accountability" has importantly been flagged as a priority in the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and subsequent Second Action Plan, our understandable focus on responding to increasing demand has prevented the majority of policy responses from engaging in detail with what this concept might actually mean. Despite its epidemic proportions and despite the value of public health analogies, family violence does not sweep invisibly through communities, leaving victims inexplicably in its wake. Instead, family violence consists of controlling, coercive, abusive or violent behavior used by identifiable individuals - ones with whom our legal system can and must engage. What's more, similar threads run through the trajectories of this behaviour that reveal how this engagement might occur. Details: Melbourne: Centre for Innovative Justice, RMIT University, 2015. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 25, 2015 at: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/r3qx75qh2913.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: This Report turns the spotlight on perpetrators of family violence. Shelf Number: 135009 Keywords: Abusive Men Children and Violence Cycle of Violence Family Violence (Australia) Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Guy, Jonathon Title: Early Intervention in Domestic Violence and Abuse - Full report Summary: Domestic Violence and Abuse is the first in a series of reports on different aspects of Early Intervention. We chose to focus on domestic violence and abuse in our first report because it is an important cause of long-term problems for children, families and communities. The damaging impacts of witnessing domestic violence and abuse on children can cast a long shadow with inter generational consequences sometimes leading to a repetition of abusive and violent behaviours. Moreover, domestic violence and abuse is not confined to a small section of the population but highly prevalent with 30% of women having experienced any domestic abuse since the age of 16 and 1.2% of people aged 16-59 having experienced partner abuse involving severe force in the last year. It also comes with immense costs - it is estimated that the overall costs to society of domestic violence and abuse stands at over L15.7bn. There must be more effective ways of preventing domestic violence and abuse and protecting children and families from its long-term effects. Details: London: Early Intervention Foundation, 2014. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2015 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Early-Intervention-in-Domestic-Violence-and-Abuse-Full-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135278 Keywords: Abused Wives Children and Violence Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Gillibrand, Kirsten Title: Snapshot Review of Sexual Assault Report Files at the Four Largest U.S. Military Bases in 2013 Summary: On February 10, 2014, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, in her oversight role as Chairman of the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, requested the Department of Defense (DoD) provide her office with files pertaining to the investigation and adjudication of sexual assault cases, from 2009 to 2013, at the largest U.S. base for each military service. These installations are the Army's Fort Hood in Texas, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. On December 15, 2014, 308 days after the initial request, the Department of Defense provided 107 redacted sexual assault case files from the year 2013. Senator Gillibrand had requested "all reports and allegations of rape, forcible sodomy, sexual assault, sex in the barracks, adultery and attempts, conspiracies, or solicitations to commit these crimes" for the last five years. Despite two separate assurances from then-Secretary of Defense Hagel directly to Senator Gillibrand that all files would expeditiously be provided, the DoD reluctantly agreed to provide just one year's worth of files after then-Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin intervened. The larger request remains unfulfilled. This refusal from the DoD to provide basic information pertaining to sexual violence and military justice to the former Personnel Subcommittee chair with oversight duties calls into question the Department's commitment to transparency and getting to the root of the problem. While the case files do shed some light on how the military has dealt with the scourge of sexual assault on bases, with many findings consistent with the Associated Press's accounts of sexual assaults at American military bases in Japan, it is important to note that the files are redacted, incomplete, and often do not contain all relevant data pertaining to the cases. Our review of the 107 case files provided by the Department of Defense sheds further light on the true scope of sexual violence in military communities, including two large but overlooked segments of the military population - military spouses, and civilian women living near military bases - that are not counted in the DoD's surveys on sexual assault prevalence. The documents analyzed by our office suggest that civilians (including spouses) are especially vulnerable, and that the military justice system continues to struggle to provide justice. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, 2015. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2015 at: http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Gillibrand_Sexual%20Assault%20Report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Gillibrand_Sexual%20Assault%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 135536 Keywords: Military (U.S.) Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment Violence Against Women

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords and House of Commons Title: Violence against women and girls. Sixth Report of Session 2014-15 Summary: We undertook this inquiry to examine the United Kingdom's progress towards ratification of the Istanbul Convention. In doing so, we have heard how domestic violence transcends races, religions, communities and cultures. The scale, pervasive nature, and seemingly cross-cultural ignorance, of violence against women and girls is deeply troubling to us. Overall we think the UK is in a good position to be able to ratify the Istanbul Convention. The Home Secretary has shown personal commitment to this. Only one legislative change regarding jurisdiction is necessary in order to ratify, although several changes in practice are required to fulfil the Convention's positive obligations. Our key concern is that the Inter-Ministerial Group has insufficient powers. In addition, we have more focused concerns as set out below. We heard a great deal of evidence regarding the importance of education as part of preventing violence against women and girls. We recommend that the Government urgently prioritises prevention programmes. Prevention programmes need to be targeted and specific to communities and victims, based on evidence. We also recommend that all schools could, and should, play a greater role in tackling cultural attitudes through a requirement to teach issues surrounding gender equality and violence. This would also help prevent the use of unacceptable cultural justifications for such crimes across British culture. We heard evidence about the importance of specialist local services to victims of violence against women and girls. In January 2014, we heard assurances from the Prime Minister that the Government is happy to look at points raised by women's organisations regarding locally delivered women's services. However, witnesses told us a different story. We are concerned that devolving decisions about provision to local authorities has left women with specific needs unable to access vital help. We found that it was often those most in need and in the most vulnerable positions that were least well served. We recommend that the Government adopt a national co-ordinating role for the provision of specialist support services. The Government has introduced an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill which would create a specific criminal offence for psychological or coercive control. We are not convinced that the creation of an offence alone will result in a change of culture and we recommend that the Government consider a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and a review of training for professionals within the Criminal Justice System if Parliament creates this new specific offence. We also have concerns regarding how victims of such an offence would provide the evidence required to qualify for civil legal aid and are further concerned that the Government's Universal Credit roll-out has not sufficiently addressed the concerns of women's organisations regarding the vulnerability of victims of domestic violence: financial control is a component of coercive control. We are also troubled to hear of the prevalence of unacceptable justifications for crimes, including crimes committed in the name of so-called 'honour'. We believe this occurs in many cultures in Britain, and the Government has not done enough to tackle this. Education is a key preventative tool that the Government is not using effectively. We recommend that a standalone inquiry into these crimes is necessary. HMIC's finding that police forces responding to calls concerning domestic violence collected inadequate evidence was worrying. We also heard about the devastating or fatal impact resulting from inadequate response or risk assessment. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure they do all in their power to protect and assist those at risk. We heard particular concerns regarding victims with insecure immigration status, asylum seekers or refugees. These women and girls are often overlooked. Immigration policy isdeveloped separately from policy about violence against women and girls. We urge the Government to address the gap in service provision for women with insecure immigration status and to review the use of the detained fast track process for victims of violence against women and girls. Finally we call on the Government to prioritise ratification of the Istanbul Convention by putting the final legislative changes required (regarding jurisdiction) before this Parliament. Details: London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2015. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2015 at: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/uploads/Pdfs/VAWG.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/uploads/Pdfs/VAWG.pdf Shelf Number: 135539 Keywords: Domestic Violence Domestic Violence (U.K.) Family Violence Honor Crimes Victim Services Violence Against Women Violence Against Women (U.K.) Violence Against Women and Girls

Author: Howard, Marilyn Title: Unequal, Trapped and Controlled: Women's experience of financial abuse and potential implications for Universal Credit Summary: inancial abuse is often misunderstood but can have a devastating impact. This coercive and controlling behaviour can leave women with no money for basic essentials such as food and clothing. It can leave them without access to their own bank accounts, with no access to any independent income and with debts that have been built up by abusive partners set against their names. Underreported and poorly recognised, financial abuse affects women across the income distribution and in a range of different ways. Even those who may have a full-time salary or who share joint accounts with their partners are not safe from financial abuse. It is also important to understand that it seldom happens in isolation: in most cases perpetrators use other abusive behaviours to threaten and reinforce the financial abuse they are conducting. It is therefore vital that action is taken to improve understanding of the nature and impact of financial abuse among staff in all frontline services that may come into contact with domestic violence survivors. There is also a particular need for organisations such as banks to pay specific attention to customers who may be experiencing abuse and to support them to access money that is rightfully theirs and find safety. Universal Credit poses a particular challenge. A benefit that is set to be paid on a household basis sits uneasily with the realities of financial abuse, where men in some households use money to abuse their partners. Under current plans they will be able to do so more easily once Universal Credit is rolled out. But there is a range of ways the system could be improved to ensure that it does not collude with or exacerbate financial abuse. These include automatically paying Universal Credit to the main carer and making the payments more frequent than monthly. These changes, alongside ensuring that women fleeing violence are fast tracked to new claims and that joint claim processes include opportunities for confidential reporting, could help ensure that women experiencing abuse can be supported. Details: London: Trade Union Congress, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2015 at: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/UnequalTrappedControlled.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/UnequalTrappedControlled.pdf Shelf Number: 135547 Keywords: Credit Card Fraud Financial Abuse Financial Crimes Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Crimes Violence 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 Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: International Crisis Group Title: Women, Violence and Conflict in Pakistan Summary: Eight years into its democratic transition, violence against women is still endemic in Pakistan, amid a climate of impunity and state inaction. Discriminatory legislation and a dysfunctional criminal justice system have put women at grave risk. Targeted by violent extremists with an overt agenda of gender repression, women's security is especially threatened in the conflict zones in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). On 8 March, International Women's Day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif vowed that his government would take all necessary legislative and administrative steps to protect and empower women. If this pledge was in earnest, his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government should end institutionalised violence and discrimination against women, including by repealing unjust laws, countering extremist threats, particularly in KPK and FATA, and involving women and their specially relevant perspectives in design of state policies directly affecting their security, including strategies to deal with violent extremist groups. Women in the past were the principal victims of state policies to appease violent extremists. After democracy's return, there has been some progress, particularly through progressive legislation, much of it authored by committed women's rights activists in the federal and provincial legislatures, facilitated by their increased numbers in parliament. Yet, the best of laws will provide little protection so long as social attitudes toward women remain biased, police officers are not held accountable for failing to investigate gender-based crimes, the superior judiciary does not hold the subordinate judiciary accountable for failing to give justice to women survivors of violence, and discriminatory laws remain on the books. Laws, many remnants of General Zia-ul-Haq's Islamisation in the 1970s and 1980s, continue to deny women their constitutional right to gender equality and fuel religious intolerance and violence against them. Their access to justice and security will remain elusive so long as legal and administrative barriers to political and economic empowerment remain, particularly the Hudood Ordinances (1979), FATA's Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) (1901) and the Nizam-e-Adl (2009) in KPK's Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA). The government has a constitutional obligation and international commitments, including under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to combat gender inequality and remove such barriers to women's empowerment. Repealing discriminatory legislation and enforcing laws that protect women, including by ensuring that they have access to a gender-responsive police and courts, are essential to ending the impunity that promotes violence against women. The extent to which rights violations go unpunished is particularly alarming in FATA and KPK, where women are subjected to state-sanctioned discrimination, militant violence, religious extremism and sexual violence. Militants target women's rights activists, political leaders and development workers without consequences. The prevalence of informal justice mechanisms in many parts of Pakistan, particularly in Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, are also highly discriminatory toward women; and the government's indiscriminate military operations, which have displaced millions, have further aggravated the challenges they face in the conflict zones. In KPK and FATA, and indeed countrywide, women's enhanced meaningful presence in decision-making, including political participation as voters and in public office, will be central to sustainable reform. Pakistan should invest in their empowerment and reflect their priorities in all government policies, including counter-insurgency and peacebuilding efforts. All too often, women comprise a majority of both the intended victims of the insurgency and the unintended victims of the counter-insurgency response. National and provincial legislation to enhance protections for women is a step in the right direction, but much more is needed to safeguard them against violence and injustice and ultimately to consolidate Pakistan's democratic transition. Details: Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2015. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Asia Report N 265: Accessed May 21, 2015 at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/pakistan/265-women-violence-and-conflict-in-pakistan.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Pakistan URL: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/asia/south-asia/pakistan/265-women-violence-and-conflict-in-pakistan.pdf Shelf Number: 135746 Keywords: Extremist Groups Gender-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Meima, Yolanda Title: An evaluation of a New Zealand safe@home service: Using a crime prevention approach to enhance the safety and overall well-being for high risk victims of domestic violence Summary: Numerous women have left their homes in their attempt to stop the violence used against them by their partner and potentially saving their lives. Mothers often move into a safe place, taking their offspring with them. Despite the leavers being the victims or the ones who are wrongly harmed, leaving their homes often goes unchallenged and indeed, encouraged by others. Safe at home models work on the premise that victims of domestic violence should have the right to choose whether they want to remain in their homes, be able to do this safely and have the support of community and government organisations. Such models are informed by Routine Activity Theory (RAT), a crime prevention approach, vary in design and have been implemented and operating over recent decades in the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia. The safe@home service evaluated in this research is unique to New Zealand and has been provided since late 2008 by Safer Homes in New Zealand Everyday (Shine), a non-government agency that works to reduce domestic abuse. The study has two parts that include qualitative data and quantitative analysis. This project involved a review of over 100 pre and post-service questionnaires that clients of Shine's safe@home service completed prior to the service and within 1 - 3 months following the service, and interviews with 10 of these clients at least 12 months after the service. Sixty four clients' self-assessed pre and post-service questionnaires were fully completed and analysed, showing that 97% of these clients had substantial reductions in their level of fear; with equivalent improvements in their quality of life and whom reported major changes in many aspects of their lives. The data was then ranked and grouped according to those least and most satisfied with the service. Five clients from each group were the research participants and interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to identify, analyse and report on patterns or themes within the data collected from these in-depth semi-structured interviews. The interview data found that contrary to concerns in the literature regarding the safety for women who remain in their homes, the women and children in this study were able to continue to live free from violence in their homes. The interviews included the participants rating of their and their children's level of fear of their ex-partner experienced prior to the service and currently. Again there were huge reductions from pre-service levels, with the reduction continuing over the period from post-service levels right up to the time of the interview. Despite some on-going abuse by their former partners, previously successful attempts to break into their homes now proved fruitless. Other topics covered in this research study include their current quality of life and well-being, relationships with others, study and work, social activities and their future aspirations. A discussion about the role of counselling for the participants and their children is provided along with the influence of discourses as identified by the participants. Recommendations on how the Shine's safe@home service can be improved is based on the suggestions made by the participants and the research findings. Details: Auckland: UNITEC New Zealand, 2014. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 23, 2015 at: http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10652/2476/Yolandas%20Meima.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://unitec.researchbank.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10652/2476/Yolandas%20Meima.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 135758 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: De Mel, Neloufer Title: Broadening gender: Why masculinities Matter. Attitudes, practices and gender-based violence in four distrists of Sri Lanka Summary: CARE International Sri Lanka's 'Empowering Men to Engage and Redefine Gender Equality'(EMERGE) project is a pioneering effort that addresses persistent issues of gender inequality and GBV through the engagement of men. The emphasis of the EMERGE project is on working with men and boys to transform attitudes, perceptions and practices of gender inequality. Childhood experiences, attitudes about relations between men and women, intimate relationships, fatherhood/motherhood, health and wellbeing, awareness about policies were some of the key themes explored in this survey. Details: Colombo : Care International, 2013. 170p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2015 at: http://www.care.org/sites/default/files/documents/Broadening-Gender_Why-Masculinities-Matter.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Sri Lanka URL: http://www.care.org/sites/default/files/documents/Broadening-Gender_Why-Masculinities-Matter.pdf Shelf Number: 129968 Keywords: Family Violence Gender-Related Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kesete, Nisan Zerai Title: Destitution Domestic Violence Concession - Monitoring Research Report Summary: In the UK, many migrant women who are victims of domestic violence have insecure immigration status and some have the restriction of 'no recourse to public funds' even when they have a valid leave to stay in the county. The No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) rule is a condition attached to a residence permit in the UK, showing that a person who is subject to immigration control or without secure immigration status has no entitlement to most welfare benefits, tax credits or housing assistance measures that are paid by the state. This rule applies to many migrants including those on spousal or partner visas, people on student visas and their dependants, people on work visa and their dependants, refused asylum seekers and over-stayers. The NRPF restriction, therefore, has made it very difficult for many women who are victims of domestic violence to leave abusive situations. In most cases these women are forced to either remain in the abusive relationship or face destitution. Since 1992, Southall Black Sisters (SBS), a women's organisation working for and with ethnic minority women, have led an extensive national campaign calling for reforms to the immigration rules and the NRPF requirement so that women experiencing violence are not facing the stark choice between abuse, deportation and destitution. Following this campaign, in 1999, the Government announced a concession, the Domestic Violence rule, to allow those on spousal or partner visa and whose relationship has broken down as a result of domestic violence, to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if they can prove that the relationship actually broke down due to domestic violence. Although this concession was a positive step forward, in terms of solving the immigration side of the problem, it still did not address the problem of destitution as the women concerned continue to have to find ways of supporting themselves financially as they remain under the NRPF rule whilst applying and waiting for an ILR decision to be made. To address this problem the Government set up the Sojourner pilot project in November 2009, a project run by Eaves, to provide financial support to those fleeing domestic violence while applying for ILR under the DV rule. In April 2012, a new scheme, the Destitution Domestic Violence (DDV) Concession scheme replaced Sojourner, mainstreaming the financial support provided to those applying for ILR under the DV rule. Following the introduction of the DDV Concession scheme, Eaves obtained funding from Unbound Philanthropy to monitor the implementation of the scheme and to provide training to professionals who work with women using the Concession across the UK. The DDV Concession scheme monitoring research project focused on four key areas: - Regularising immigration status through the scheme - Accessing financial support and benefits through the scheme - The support needs of women and the organisations supporting them through the DDV Concession scheme - Providing recommendations for future policy and practice. Details: London: Eaves For Women, 2013. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://i2.cmsfiles.com/eaves/2013/12/DDV-Concession-Scheme-Monitoring-Report-Final-f14013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://i2.cmsfiles.com/eaves/2013/12/DDV-Concession-Scheme-Monitoring-Report-Final-f14013.pdf Shelf Number: 135891 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Immigration Policy Intimate Partner Violence Migrants Violence 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 Women Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Angiolini, Elish Title: Report of the Independent Review into The Investigation and Prosecution of Rape in London Summary: The review relates only to the service provided to complainants of rape and serious sexual offences who are supported by Sapphire investigation teams. Offences that are perpetrated against children within parent or carer relationships are within the remit of the Child Abuse Investigation Teams and fall outside the scope of this report. Serious sexual offences against children falling outside of parent or carer relationships are dealt with by Sapphire investigation teams. However, the remit for this review focusses on the response to adult complainants only as the specifics of managing child complainants demand a further and distinct skill set which was outwith the scope of this review. There are, therefore two sets of data. Appendix A relates to all allegations of rape and penetration which are investigated within the Metropolitan Police Service. Appendix B relates only to rape and penetration offences investigated by Sapphire investigation teams. Sapphire crime data will include complainants who are children. 2. The review took place in three distinct phases, - Phase 1. Benchmarking of current structures, service provision and performance of both the police and Crown Prosecution Service. - Phase 2. A review in London of a broad sample of police and Crown Prosecution Service case files with a particular emphasis on any attitudinal barriers that may 'prevent an effective criminal justice response'. - Phase 3. Consultation with panels of experts, practitioners and complainants of rape in order to identify how the service to complainants can be improved. Details: London: Metropolitan Police Service and Crown Prosecution Service, 2015. 161p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://content.met.police.uk/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Type&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3D%22494%2F967%2FDame+Elish+Angiolini+Rape+Review+2015%2C0.pdf%22&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1283963458477&ssbinary=true Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://content.met.police.uk/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheadername1=Content-Type&blobheadername2=Content-Disposition&blobheadervalue1=application%2Fpdf&blobheadervalue2=inline%3B+filename%3D%22494%2F967%2FDame+Elish+Ang Shelf Number: 135967 Keywords: Police Investigations Rape Sex Offenders Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: Angus, Christopher Title: Domestic and Family Violence Summary: Domestic and family violence, aptly described as "intimate brutality", is an all too common crime in NSW, as it is in Australia generally. Nowhere is free of this crime, no country, city or region. Owing to lack of reporting by victims its true prevalence is unknown, but existing statistics show that a significant proportion of Australians, primarily but not exclusively women, suffer violence at the hands of a partner. Tragically, according to Linda Burney, NSW Labor's Deputy Leader, in the western region of NSW the prevalence of domestic and family violence is "past a state of emergency". Reducing domestic and family violence is once again on the agenda in NSW and the rest of Australia. This is evident from the awarding of the 2015 Australian of the Year to Rosie Batty, herself a survivor of such violence. Some key findings in the paper include: - Nearly 1.93 million Australians over the age of 15 years have experienced violence at the hands of a current or previous partner; - In 2010, 69.2% of NSW domestic assault victims were female and 30.8% were male; - Domestic and family violence contributes to death, ill health and disability amongst women aged under 45 more than any other factor; and - The NSW economy lost $4.5 billion as a result of domestic and family violence in 2011. As in any public policy debate, a key issue relates to the question of resources. Good intentions and legal or administrative reforms are one thing. Will they be backed by sufficient resources for women's refuges, legal and referral services for victims, and educational programs for perpetrators? For victims of domestic and family violence there is an urgent need to act on the practical issues at stake. Details: Sydney: NSW Parliamentary Research Service, 2015. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper No. 5/2015: Accessed July 13, 2015 at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/F7B7BE950DA7A1D6CA257E3B00811722/$File/Domestic%20and%20Family%20Violence%20Briefing%20Paper.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/F7B7BE950DA7A1D6CA257E3B00811722/$File/Domestic%20and%20Family%20Violence%20Briefing%20Paper.pdf Shelf Number: 136015 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Wells, Lana Title: Preventing Domestic Violence in Alberta: A Cost Savings Perspective Summary: Recent studies show that Alberta has the fifth highest rate of police reported intimate partner violence and the second highest rate of self reported spousal violence in Canada, and despite a 2.3 percent decline over the last decade, the province's rate of self-reported domestic violence has stubbornly remained among the highest in Canada; rates of violence against women alone are 2.3 percentage points higher than the national average. In fact, every hour of every day, a woman in Alberta will undergo some form of interpersonal violence from an ex-partner or ex-spouse. Besides the devastating toll that domestic violence has on victims and their families, the ongoing cost to Albertans is significant. In the past five years alone it is estimated that over $600 million will have been spent on the provision of a few basic health and non health supports and that the majority of this cost ($521 million) is coming out of the pockets of Albertans in the form of tax dollars directed at the provision of services. Fortunately, investment in quality prevention and intervention initiatives can be very cost effective, returning as much as $20 for every dollar invested. Recent research on preventative programming in the context of domestic violence shows promising results in reducing incidents of self-reported domestic violence. The economic analysis of this preventative programming suggests that the benefits of providing the various types of programming outweighed the costs by as much as 6:1. The potential cost savings for the Alberta context are significant; the implementation of these preventative programs has been estimated to be approximately $9.6 million while generating net cost-benefits of over $54 million. Domestic violence is a persistent blight, and continues to have a significant impact on individuals and families in Alberta, but potent tools exist to fight it. This brief paper offers a cogent summary of its costs, and the benefits that could be reaped by investing in quality prevention and intervention programs, making it essential reading for policymakers and anyone else prepared to use them. Details: Calgary, AB: University of Calgary, School of Public Policy, 2012. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: SPP Research Papers, 2012: Accessed July 24, 2015 at: http://www.canadianwomen.org/sites/canadianwomen.org/files/PDF--domestic-violence-alberta.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Canada URL: http://www.canadianwomen.org/sites/canadianwomen.org/files/PDF--domestic-violence-alberta.pdf Shelf Number: 136148 Keywords: Cost-Benefit Analysis Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Bloomfield, Sinead Title: An outcome evaluation of the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) and Community Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP) Summary: Two Domestic Violence interventions were delivered by the National Probation Service: the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) and the Community Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP). This study evaluated the effectiveness of these two interventions in reducing three categories of reoffending (any offence, core violence and domestic violence) during a two year follow up period. The sample consisted of 6,695 offenders referred to either IDAP or CDVP between January 2002 and April 2007. A total of 4,537 had at least started IDAP or CDVP and formed the treatment group; a total of 2,158 had never started IDAP or CDVP and formed the control group. Key findings - The results indicated that both IDAP and CDVP were effective in reducing domestic violence and any reoffending in the two-year follow up period with small but significant effects; IDAP also produced significant small effects in reducing core violence reoffending. - A difference of 13.2 percentage points was observed between those who received treatment and those who did not for any reoffending across both programmes (13.3 for IDAP and 12.7 for CDVP). - A difference of 10.9 percentage points was observed for domestic violence reoffending across both programmes (11.0 for IDAP and 9.6 for CDVP). - A difference of 6.5 percentage points was observed for core violent reoffending across both programmes (7.1 for IDAP and 2.6 for CDVP, although the difference for CDVP was not significant). - For those participants who did go on to reoffend, those who received treatment took significantly longer to reoffend than the control group. - A difference of 1.3 months was observed between those who received treatment and those who did not for any reoffending across both programmes (1.3 months for IDAP and 1.8 for CDVP). - A difference of 0.9 months was observed for domestic violence reoffending across both programmes (0.9 months for IDAP and 1.8 months for CDVP). - A difference of 1.1 months was observed for core violent reoffending across both programmes (1.0 for IDAP and 0.9 for CDVP). Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449008/outcome-evaluation-idap-cdvp.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449008/outcome-evaluation-idap-cdvp.pdf Shelf Number: 136270 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Interventions Reoffending Violence Against Women

Author: Marroushi, Nadine Title: Violence against Women in Egypt: Prospects for improving police response Summary: During celebrations for Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's victory in the presidential race in June 2014, at least nine women were violently sexually assaulted by mobs of men in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Shortly after, Sisi made a statement in which he instructed the minister of interior to "vigorously enforce the law and take all necessary measures to combat sexual harassment". Within days of the president's statement, the Ministry of Interior (MOI) announced plans to expand nationally the Violence Against Women (VAW) Unit that had been established in the Ministry in mid-2013. This paper discusses the context and the political events that led to the establishment of the VAW unit, the unit's work since 2013 and the key challenges it faces, and the deeper institutional changes that are needed. The paper concludes with recommendations to the MOI for ways to improve Egypt's policing response to violence against women. Key recommendations include committing to ongoing high-level government support to the VAW unit; ensuring all police officers are trained to deal appropriately with VAW cases; increasing the representation of women in the police force; and adopting a wider set of reforms to ensure accountability and democratic governance in the security sector. Details: London: Saferworld, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/904-violence-against-women-in-egypt-prospects-for-improving-police-response Year: 2015 Country: Egypt URL: http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/904-violence-against-women-in-egypt-prospects-for-improving-police-response Shelf Number: 136276 Keywords: Police Response Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Fulu, E. Title: Why Do Some Men Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? Quantitative Findings from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific Summary: How do masculinities relate to men's perceptions and perpetrations of violence against women? What do these gendered norms, identities and practices mean for violence prevention? From 2010 to 2013, over 10,000 men and women across Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea were interviewed using the UN Multi-country Study on Men and Violence household survey to help answer these questions. The study derives from the Partners for Prevention (P4P) initiative, and focused on intimate partner violence and non-partner rape. The regional analysis found that between 26 and 80 percent of men reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner. The research shows that sexual and gender-based violence is not caused by individual men's beliefs and practices alone, but are situated within wider societal contexts characterised by gender inequalities and power imbalances between men and women, which women also play a role in maintaining. Work to prevent violence against women must reflect this by working at the individual, relationship, community and greater society levels. Recommendations on how the data supports violence prevention initiatives are as follows: - Change social norms related to the acceptability of violence and the subordination of women; - Promote non-violence masculinities oriented towards equality and respect; - Address child abuse and promote healthy families and nurturing, violence-free environments for children; - Work with young boys to address early ages of sexual violence perpetration; - Promote healthy sexuality for men and address male sexual entitlement; - End impunity for men who rape; - Develop interventions that respond to specific patterns of violence in each context. Details: Bangkok: UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and UNV, 2013. 121p. Source: Accessed August 13, 2015 at: http://www.partners4prevention.org/node/515 Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 131395 Keywords: Abusive Men Child Abuse and Neglect Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Robinson, Amanda Title: Development of the Priority Perpetrator Identification Tool (PPIT) for domestic abuse Summary: Our previous research into serial domestic abuse indicated the importance of shared multi-agency understanding when it comes to identification of and responses to the most serious forms of domestic abuse. Our last report, published in November 2014, questioned the prevailing assumption that serial abusers should be the focus of enhanced targeting and intervention, and instead recommended developing perpetrator-focussed responses that take into account serial alongside repeat and high-risk offending. Specifically, we recommended the development of a consistent definition and monitoring/flagging process for priority perpetrators. Informed by extensive experience and research indicating the efficacy of multi-agency responses to domestic abuse, we embarked on a project to create a Priority Perpetrator Identification Tool (PPIT), incorporating serial, repeat and high-risk offending into a single tool with input and agreement across relevant agencies (e.g., Police, Criminal Justice and Third Sector). The intention is for the PPIT to complement and draw upon other existing tools (e.g., DASH for victims, OASys and SARA for perpetrators) so that agencies can reliably identify those individuals whose offending behaviour requires priority action. The development of this tool represents the first stage of establishing a more robust identification and referral pathway for priority domestic abuse perpetrators in Wales. This report documents the development and consultation process which was undertaken January-March of this year to create the PPIT. Findings Based on the evidence collected from the consultation (n=15 participants in the stage one stakeholder event and n=25 participants in the stage two online survey), there appears to be a high level of support amongst both operational and strategic agency representatives (from a range of agencies in Wales and elsewhere in the UK), for a tool to assist with the identification of those committing the most serious and harmful forms of domestic abuse. It is noteworthy that an overwhelming majority of respondents felt that the ten items in the PPIT captured the most important aspects to consider, and the brief guidance accompanying the tool was largely fit-for-purpose. Despite the complexities of what is involved, the majority view is favourable to implementing the PPIT. Implications The PPIT is envisioned as an instrument to be used to trigger an intervention, rather than an intervention itself, and aims to support the identification of a commonly recognised priority cohort of individuals which will be the focus of the collective efforts all partners. Concept and planning work is already underway to address the 'what comes next' question raised by many of those involved in the consultation process. To maximise its efficacy and potential to be a reliable and useful tool for frontline use across a range of agencies, we recommend further testing of the PPIT. Further research is needed to assess the range of policy and practice implications likely to result from the implementation of the PPIT. Details: Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff Centre for Crime, Law and Justice, 2015. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2015 at: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/75006/1/Robinson%20%26%20Clancy%20%282015%29%20Development%20of%20the%20Priority%20Perpetrator%20Identification%20Tool%20%28PPIT%29%20for%20Domestic%20Abuse.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/75006/1/Robinson%20%26%20Clancy%20%282015%29%20Development%20of%20the%20Priority%20Perpetrator%20Identification%20Tool%20%28PPIT%29%20for%20Domestic%20Abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 136494 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Payton, Joanne Title: Motivating respect: A Welsh intervention into youth-perpetrated domestic abuse Summary: This report tackles the emerging issue of domestic abuse perpetrated by adolescents, explored through the experiences of Gwent Domestic Abuse Service (GDAS), a charity founded in 2003, providing support to both the perpetrators and victims of domestic abuse, delivered with a whole family approach. Domestic violence perpetrated by people under the age of 18 is an emerging problem, with violence and abuse directed towards parents and carers being a particularly prevalent but ignored issue, although violence against partners/ex-partners, siblings and peers are also found in Wales and may be under-recognised. So far, interventions to challenge abusive behaviour have overwhelmingly focussed upon adults. GDAS's pilot targeting young people is innovative, based on one-to-one encounters primarily using the techniques of Motivational Interviewing. These techniques are labour-intensive but allow for pro-active and tailored approach to young people's behavioural issues. GDAS's interventions are well-received by referring agencies and in much demand, particularly with regard to the emerging issue of the abuse of parents and carers in Wales. There is scope for development through securing reliable funding to underwrite and extend this much-needed service, and to provide additional in-house support to victims in line with GDAS's 'whole family' approach. Details: Cardiff, Wales: Cardiff University, 2015. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2015 at: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/72876/1/Payton%20%26%20Robinson%20%282015%29%20Motivating%20Respect.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://orca.cf.ac.uk/72876/1/Payton%20%26%20Robinson%20%282015%29%20Motivating%20Respect.pdf Shelf Number: 136495 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Juvenile Offenders Violence Against Women Violent Juvenile Offenders Youthful Offenders

Author: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Title: Screening for domestic violence during pregnancy: options for future reporting in the National Perinatal Data Collection Summary: Domestic violence (DV), defined in this paper as 'acts of violence that occur between people who have, or have had, an intimate relationship' is a leading preventable contributor to death, disability and illness for women of reproductive age (15 to 44 years). Pregnancy is as an important time for screening for DV. It presents an opportunity to identify DV, as many women will have contact with health-care services and professionals on a regular basis during the antenatal period. Estimates indicate that around 5% of women (aged 18 and over) experience violence during pregnancy from their previous or current partner. The risk of DV has been found to be higher in pregnant women and in the period following birth, posing serious health risks to both pregnant women and their babies. There is known under-reporting of DV due to its complex and sensitive nature (including patients' reluctance to report) and underidentification by health workers. Data on DV in pregnancy in Australia are currently poor and inconsistent across jurisdictions, with variations in what is collected and in methods of collection. An opportunity exists to collect higher quality data through the National Perinatal Data Collection (NPDC), which includes data about every woman who gives birth in Australia. These data are important for population level surveillance and for clinical care and outcomes; they can also contribute to researching the association of DV with other maternal and perinatal outcomes. Seeking to improve national data on DV in pregnancy is also timely, in light of the Prime Minister's Advisory Panel on Violence against Women, established in 2015. The AIHW's National Maternity Data Development Project (NMDDP) aims to enhance the collection of nationally consistent data in the NPDC. As part of the NMDDP, this paper was developed as a guide to the issues that need to be considered in deciding whether and how to collect DV data in the NPDC. The data development process included a literature review, investigation of current approaches in Australia, a discussion paper, a national workshop, and consultation with a working party. It was found that screening for DV - a process to identify victims of violence or abuse in order to offer interventions that can lead to beneficial outcomes - in the antenatal period already occurs in most Australian jurisdictions. This may be structured or unstructured, and the results of screening are not necessarily recorded in data systems. Potential approaches to obtaining national data in the NPDC include: - develop and implement a minimum set of standard questions, based on the questions currently in use across jurisdictions - seek to implement a nationally consistent screening approach by encouraging all midwives to use a recommended validated DV screening tool - maintain a flexible screening approach consistent with the National Antenatal Care Guidelines that enables screening in different ways for different populations. It is recommended that before national data standards are developed for the NPDC, pilot testing and further consultation be conducted to determine the best way to achieve high-quality data, while gaining acceptability among clinicians and mothers. Details: Canberra: AIHW, 2015. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 20, 2015 at: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129551954 Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=60129551954 Shelf Number: 136501 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Pregnant Women Violence Against Women

Author: Australia. Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Title: Domestic violence in Australia Summary: In 2013, the World Health Organisation found that more than one third of all women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence and that these findings show it is a 'global public health problem of epidemic proportions requiring urgent action'. In Australia, women are over-represented in intimate partner homicides. 89 women were killed by their current or former partner between 2008-10 which equates to nearly one woman every week. However, in 2015, the statistics to date shows that this number is increasing with two Australian women killed by domestic violence each week. Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) notes that data from the 2012 Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey shows that one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence and Australian women are most likely to experience physical and sexual violence in their home at the hands of a male current or ex-partner. The most commonly reported reason for seeking assistance from specialist homelessness services was domestic and family violence. A study of Victorian women demonstrated that domestic violence carries an enormous cost in terms of premature death and disability. As VicHealth stated: 'It is responsible for more preventable ill-health in Victorian women under the age of 45 than any other of the well-known risk factors, including high blood pressure, obesity and smoking'. In addition, more than one million children in Australia are affected by domestic violence which can leave them with serious emotional, psychological, social, behavioural and developmental consequences. The committee acknowledges that the cost of domestic and family violence is great in terms of lives lost, the effects on children, physical and mental health, employment, risk of homelessness and financial security. The economic cost is also substantial with a 2009 study by KPMG finding that violence against women, including domestic violence, cost the nation $13.6 billion and this was expected to reach $15.6 billion in 2021-22 if steps were not taken. The committee heard there are a broad and complex range of social and personal factors that can contribute to the incidence and severity of domestic and family violence. These include gender inequality, social norms and attitudes as well as exposure to violence, social isolation, relationship conflict, income, divorce or separation and the use of alcohol and drugs. The committee is particularly concerned by the statistic that alcohol is involved in up to 65 per cent of family violence incidents reported to police (see chapter 10). The terms of reference referred to the prevalence of domestic violence as it affects vulnerable groups including 'women living with a disability' and 'women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds'. The committee recognises these are not the only vulnerable groups which also include culturally and linguistically diverse, non-English speaking new and emerging migrant communities, people experiencing mental health issues, people in same sex relationships, transgender and intersex persons. The committee recognises that there is no silver bullet to stop domestic and family violence. Rather, a coherent, strategic and long term effort by all levels of governments and the community is required to take effective action. The committee heard the areas which will make a real difference are: - understanding the causes and effects of domestic violence (chapters 1 and 2) - the need for cultural change which involves prevention work to change attitudes and behaviours towards women (chapter 6); - a national framework and ensuring ongoing engagement with stakeholders (chapter 3); - early intervention measures (chapter 7); - effective data collection to ensure programs and policies for women, their children and men are evidence-based (chapters 4 and 5); - coordination of services (chapter 8); - more information sharing between stakeholders (chapter 8); - better legal responses/enforcement to hold perpetrators to account (chapter 9); - sufficient and appropriate crisis services (chapter 8); and - providing long term support to victims of domestic and family violence (chapter 10). Work in these areas is underway and it will take time to see the effects of this work flow through. The long term nature of this challenge is recognised in the National Plan to reduce Violence against Women and their Children which spans the period 2010-2022. Over the course of the inquiry the committee spoke to many people working in the sector, policy and law makers, victims, as well as people in the community who have been appalled at the unacceptable toll domestic and family violence has taken in women and children's lives. The committee was heartened by their view that there is the beginning of a genuine shift in attitudes on violence and also the will to fund, educate and resource the programs, services and victims of domestic and family violence. Details: Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2015. 208p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/resources/senate_finance_and_public_administration_references_committee/56741-domestic_violence_in_australia.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/resources/senate_finance_and_public_administration_references_committee/56741-domestic_violence_in_australia.pdf Shelf Number: 136572 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Family Violence Homicides Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Napier, Sarah Title: Who goes to prison for breaching an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order? An analysis of police narratives Summary: Aim: To identify the situational and offender characteristics associated with prison sentences for Apprehended Domestic Violence Order (ADVO) breaches. Method: Case narratives from police incident reports of ADVO breach incidents in NSW were analysed. Two samples were examined: (1) breach incidents where the offender involved was imprisoned (n=250) and (2) breach incidents where the offender involved received a non-custodial sentence (n=250). The nature of the breach and the characteristics of persons involved in these two breach samples were compared using descriptive data and logistic regression models. Results: The majority of ADVO breaches in both samples involved male to female offending in spousal/ex-spousal relationships, occurred in the victim's house and involved face-to-face contact. Compared with offenders in the non-prison group, a higher proportion of offenders who received a custodial penalty for the breach ADVO matter were male, Indigenous, had 5 or more prior court appearances (including prior offences for domestic violence (DV), assault and breach ADVO), had 3 or more prior prison penalties and had breached two or more conditions of their order. Breaches resulting in prison also had a higher proportion of matters involving physical assault, property damage, psychological aggression and parties who had a history of violence. After controlling for other factors, the following factors were independently associated with imprisonment for ADVO; the offender's gender, prior imprisonment, prior proven DV offence, history of violence, involvement of physical assault in the breach, victim/offender relationship and residing with the victim. Conclusion: The profile of offenders who receive imprisonment for a breach ADVO offence is significantly different from those who receive a non-custodial penalty for these offences. The nature of the breach and the circumstances surrounding the event also vary for matters where prison is imposed for an ADVO breach. Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2015. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue Paper no. 107: Accessed September 14, 2015 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/Report_Apprehended_Domestic_Violence_Order_bb107.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/Report_Apprehended_Domestic_Violence_Order_bb107.pdf Shelf Number: 136748 Keywords: Court Orders Domestic Violence Family Violence Restraining Orders Violence Against Women

Author: Smallwood, Emma Title: Stepping Stones: Legal barriers to economic equality after family violence Summary: Women's Legal Service Victoria has observed that there are legal and economic problems arising from family violence which result in serious financial hardship for women and, at present, there are no accessible legal remedies to these problems. We have researched the problems in the Stepping Stones project. This report contains the findings of the project and recommendations for solutions. In interviews with women, we explored the consequences of family violence on women's financial circumstances. We specifically directed our attention to systemic barriers women faced in their economic recovery. Common themes emerged from the interviews including: - A lack of police understanding of the financial consequences arising from family violence, and a lack of police action in stopping economic abuse. - The conditions included in intervention orders of the Magistrates' Court are largely unhelpful in preventing economic abuse. - Women who are victims of family violence often have to flee their home; this has serious financial implications and there is a major shortage of available housing for women. - Service providers such as energy retailers, telecommunication services and banks have low awareness of the difficulties faced by women experiencing family violence and are unhelpful when interacting with these customers. - The energy, telecommunications and banking industries insist on their right to enforce joint debts, even in circumstances of family violence. This places women and their financial recovery at risk. - Women have little knowledge of their legal and financial rights following violence and separation. This lack of knowledge can result in women staying in unsafe relationships. - Women who are involved in family law proceedings to resolve financial issues experience a lengthy and stressful process, and achieve outcomes that are often inequitable. Many women choose not to pursue financial settlements after relationship breakdown because of the particular barriers created by family violence. This causes further financial disadvantage for women. Perpetrators use joint debt to continue to perpetrate violence against women and there is no legal recourse to sever the joint liability. Although there are legal mechanisms available to address some of the problems women encounter, women's access to these mechanisms is hindered. There is potential to make better use of intervention orders in dealing with some of the debt and small property issues that arise. There are also existing mechanisms in the family law jurisdiction that could better assist women. Improving the accessibility of available legal remedies for family violence victims is key to economic equality. During our research it became clear that reform to: family law, the family violence legal system and the regulation of energy, telecommunications and credit is needed. This law and regulation reform needs to be coupled with the adoption of better policies by industry and government departments which: - recognise family violence - formally recognise intervention orders or family law orders that seek to address abusive behaviour, and - provide training to staff on the nature and impacts of family violence, including economic abuse. Implementing these system-wide changes will remove the financial and legal barriers to women achieving economic independence after family violence. Details: Melbourne: Women�s Legal Service Victoria, 2015. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2015 at: http://www.womenslegal.org.au/files/file/Stepping%20Stones%20Report(1).pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.womenslegal.org.au/files/file/Stepping%20Stones%20Report(1).pdf Shelf Number: 136858 Keywords: Family Violence Financial Abuse Intimate Partner Violence Violence 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 women Family violence Interpersonal Violence Opinion Survey Public Opinion Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Justice on Trial: Lessons from the Minova Rape case in the Democratic Republic of Congo Summary: In November 2012, thousands of defeated army troops rampaged through the small eastern town of Minova and neighboring villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, pillaging and raping as they went. It was one of the worst incidents of sexual violence in Congo in recent years. A year later, under intense international pressure, Congolese judicial authorities brought to trial 25 soldiers and 14 officers for war crimes before a domestic military court. The Minova rape trial raised high hopes and drew intense international scrutiny. It was seen as a key test for providing accountability for the pervasive sexual violence and other abuses that have plagued eastern Congo. Yet, despite massive international support, the proceedings failed to deliver justice: none of the high level commanders with overall responsibility for the troops in Minova were indicted and some of those who went to prison were convicted on questionable evidence without right to appeal. Justice on Trial is based on extensive interviews with military justice officials, lawyers, victims who testified, United Nations staff, and local activists, and analysis of public court documents. It examines the inner workings of the Congolese military justice system and highlights - through the shortcomings in this case - the barriers that often thwart effective justice for atrocities in Congolese courts, including insufficient expertise in handling grave international crimes, violations of fair trial rights, and an apparent unwillingness to pursue high-level commanders. The scale of serious crimes committed in Congo, and the limitations of the International Criminal Court, increase the burden on the Congolese justice system to develop the capacity and will to prosecute crimes competently, independently, and impartially. Details: New York: HRW, 2015. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2015 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/drc1015_4up_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Congo, Democratic Republic URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/drc1015_4up_0.pdf Shelf Number: 136972 Keywords: Criminal Trials Military Courts Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Goel, Rashmi Title: Women Who Kill Women Summary: This article focuses on the phenomenon of women who kill women in the context of India's dowry murders. Killing by females is rare, and killing of other females is rarer still. India's dowry deaths, where mothers-in-law are, next to husbands, the most accused and convicted, represents a unique opportunity to examine the mechanics around women who kill, especially in the context of a gender violence crime. The article examines both the roots of the dowry system and the current anti-dowry and dowry-violence legislation to demonstrate the implicit and accepted gender inequities within marriage that serve to under gird an overall system of female oppression within the marital relationship. This inequity is understood to be a positive aspect within marriage, but ironically negative within public Indian society. The article then considers various theories of agency and motivation from social science and feminist literature to answer why some women participate in oppressing other women in Indian society. Finally, the article notes some of the ways in which Indian courts are contributing to the oppressive power structure by limiting the application of the anti-dowry and dowry-violence laws. Details: Denver, CO: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: University of Denver Legal Studies Research Paper No. 15-22: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2668379 Year: 2015 Country: India URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2668379 Shelf Number: 136986 Keywords: Dowry Female Offenders Gender-Based Violence Homicides Marriage Violence Against Women Women Who Kill

Author: Woodward, Catherine Title: Policing Honour-Based Violence within the UK: The Importance of an Honour-Based Violence Risk Assessment Tool and the Validity of 'DASH' Summary: Although practised in some parts of the world for centuries, honour-based violence is a relatively new and unfamiliar concept for Western law enforcement. This unfamiliarity has hampered the UK police's ability to effectively protect honour-based violence victims. This paper contextualises this unfamiliarity by describing the origins, behaviours and characteristics of honour-based violence, and the impact this has had on UK policing, in order to argue that a competent honour-based violence risk assessment tool is fundamental to the effective policing of this crime. Drawing on evidence within academic literature, the current tool, known as 'DASH' (Richards, 2009), which is endorsed by the National Police Chiefs' Council and used by UK police forces to risk assess honour-based violence victims, is then critically analysed within this paper to ascertain whether it is fit to assess honour-based violence risk. The analysis reaches the conclusion that DASH is, in fact, not fit for this purpose and recommendations will be made to remedy this deficiency, along with wider suggestions for improving the UK police's ability to effectively protect honour-based violence victims. Details: Canterbury, UK: Canterbury Christ Church University, School of Law, Criminal Justice & Computing, 2015. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/theses/WOODWARD-honour-based-violence-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://library.college.police.uk/docs/theses/WOODWARD-honour-based-violence-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 135072 Keywords: Honor-Based Violence Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Karp, Aaron Title: Unheard and Uncounted: Violence against Women in India Summary: Violence against women, and the reluctance of authorities to deal with it, present a serious challenge to Indian society, law enforcement, and judicial affairs. Numerous incidents involving group rapes and rape and murder-such as the Nirbhaya case in New Delhi in 2012-have captured national and international attention. While domestic violence and public intimidation are familiar to women across India, statistics remain scarce and unreliable. A new Issue Brief from the Small Arms Survey's India Armed Violence Assessment project, Unheard and Uncounted: Violence against Women in India, discusses the prevalence of violence against women in India and the status of research to date. The Issue Brief finds: Underreporting appears to affect virtually all forms of violence against women in India, including rape. Estimates of the proportion of rapes in India reported to police range from 1 in 10 to 1 in 200. Such estimates suggest as many as several million rapes are unreported annually. A range of violent social practices, including selective abortion and foeticide, regional cultures of violence, and armed conflict, elevate the danger of violence in India, specifically against women. Improved monitoring and measurement of trends in violence against women are essential to improve policy-making and interventions for victims. Comprehensive police reform-including more police, including more women staff, who are dedicated to serving victims and are free of corruption-is essential for responding to violence against women. In addition to institutional reforms, social change is a key part of the solution to problems of violence against women in India, from changing attitudes towards women in general to assumptions about domestic relations. Details: Geneva, SWIT: Small Arms Survey, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: India Armed Violence Assessment Issue Brief, no. 5: Accessed October 26, 2015 at: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/IAVA-IB5-unheard-and-uncounted.pdf Year: 2015 Country: India URL: http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/G-Issue-briefs/IAVA-IB5-unheard-and-uncounted.pdf Shelf Number: 137056 Keywords: Domestic Violence Homicides Rape Violence Against Women

Author: Gulliver, Pauline Title: Risk assessment: What is it and how can it be applied in family violence? Summary: Key messages � Risk assessment must be considered as a piece in the wider puzzle of risk management. � Adequate services need to be provided for those considered at �less� risk, so they receive an appropriate response. This also reduces the imperative for service providers to escalate a case, in order to get help for a person. � Effective risk assessment and management needs to be grounded in an integrated response system. This needs to have: - Underlying principles which shape how practitioners respond. - Training for practitioners in the effective conduct of risk assessment and the effective communication of results. - Appropriate risk assessment tools should be selected, with monitoring to ensure they are used as intended and that they support risk management decision making. - Clarity of roles and responsibilities for all components of the system. � Co-location of professionals for risk management appears very beneficial to facilitate adequate communication. Co-location: - Enhances the development of a unique culture which supports increased trust and information sharing between professionals from different agencies. - Facilitates the process of risk management planning by reducing turnaround times and enhancing access to services. - Where effective colocation is not achievable, clear roles, responsibilities, communication strategies and a common culture around family violence must be developed to ensure a consistent response is provided. � Effective communication of risk, using common language, is vital to ensure all professionals understand how an estimation of risk was derived. - Training is required across government agencies to ensure there is a consistent understanding of family violence - including understanding definitions and patterns of violence. - To develop a common language, training should be shared across government agencies, rather than being delivered within agencies. � Effective risk management requires a lead agency to take responsibility for the implementation of planned activities. This lead agency also needs to be tasked with the responsibility of regularly reviewing risk in light of developments. - Agencies need to be aware of each other�s roles and responsibilities within the risk management system. - Where limitations exist within the family violence risk management system, external resourcing may be required to ensure all risks are effectively addressed. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 9: Accessed November 5, 2015 at: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-9-risk-assessment.pdf Year: 2015 Country: New Zealand URL: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-9-risk-assessment.pdf Shelf Number: 137198 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Family Violence (New Zealand) Intimate Partner Violence Risk Management Violence Against Women

Author: Cox, Peta Title: Sexual assault and domestic violence in the context of co-occurrence and re-victimisation: State of knowledge paper Summary: This state of knowledge paper examines the intersection between sexual assault and domestic violence, focusing on two forms of concurrent victimisation: re-victimisation (when a woman, over her lifetime, experiences both sexual assault and domestic violence) and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). The paper looks at the complexity of these experiences to identify the common impacts of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to critically examine how re-victimisation and IPSV can shift the ways in which we think about, and provide services for, women affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. Key findings include: - The lack of longitudinal studies of re-victimisation reduces our ability to make conclusions about causal factors or the nature of victimisation over time. - Much of the available research on IPSV and re-victimisation is unable to be extrapolated to findings about the general population, as it focuses on non-representative groups such women who were attending psychology clinics. - Research indicates that women who experience child sexual abuse (CSA) are more likely to experience IPSV than women who have not experienced CSA. Similarly, women who have experienced CSA are more likely to experience DV (not limited to sexual violence) in their adult relationships. - IPSV generally occurs in the context of other forms of violence and was often part of a larger pattern of coercive control in a relationship. IPSV should be considered a tactic of DV, and not a separate phenomenon. - Heteronormative beliefs and conservative gender norms were associated with acceptance and experience of sexual coercion for both men and women. - IPSV victims are less likely to seek help than victims of other forms of DV. - Drug and alcohol use may be a precursor, consequence or risk factor associated with IPSV and re-victimisation. Similarly, emotional distress and psychiatric conditions may increase a person's vulnerability to violence, place them in high risk contexts and/or may be a consequence of violence. - A wide range of communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and women with a disability, have discrete patterns of victimisation, including distinct behaviours and norms that may increase the risk of victimisation. - Normative understandings of what constitutes "real rape" affect how victims, perpetrators and bystanders interpret experiences of sexual assault. These norms particularly affect interpretations of IPSV incidents. - Both IPSV and re-victimisation had significant physical and mental health consequences. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: State of Knowledge Paper, Issue 13: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/co-occurrence-and-re-victimisation Shelf Number: 137316 Keywords: Family Violence Repeat Victimization Sex Crimes Sexual Abuse Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Violence Policy Center Title: When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2013 Homicide Data Summary: Intimate partner violence against women is all too common and takes many forms. The most serious is homicide by an intimate partner. Guns can easily turn domestic violence into domestic homicide. One federal study on homicide among intimate partners found that female intimate partners are more likely to be murdered with a firearm than all other means combined, concluding that "the figures demonstrate the importance of reducing access to firearms in households affected by IPV [intimate partner violence]." Guns are also often used in non-fatal domestic violence. A study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed gun use at home and concluded that "hostile gun displays against family members may be more common than gun use in self-defense, and that hostile gun displays are often acts of domestic violence directed against women." The U.S. Department of Justice has found that women are far more likely to be the victims of violent crimes committed by intimate partners than men, especially when a weapon is involved. Moreover, women are much more likely to be victimized at home than in any other place. A woman must consider the risks of having a gun in her home, whether she is in a domestic violence situation or not. While two thirds of women who own guns acquired them "primarily for protection against crime," the results of a California analysis show that "purchasing a handgun provides no protection against homicide among women and is associated with an increase in their risk for intimate partner homicide." A 2003 study about the risks of firearms in the home found that females living with a gun in the home were nearly three times more likely to be murdered than females with no gun in the home. Finally, another study reports, women who were murdered were more likely, not less likely, to have purchased a handgun in the three years prior to their deaths, again invalidating the idea that a handgun has a protective effect against homicide. While this study does not focus solely on domestic violence homicide or guns, it provides a stark reminder that domestic violence and guns make a deadly combination. Firearms are rarely used to kill criminals or stop crimes. Instead, they are all too often used to inflict harm on the very people they were intended to protect According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports, in 2013 there were only 270 justifiable homicides committed by private citizens. Of these, only 23 involved women killing men. Of those, only 13 involved firearms, with 11 of the 13 involving handguns. While firearms are at times used by private citizens to kill criminals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most common scenarios of lethal gun use in America in 2013, the most recent final data available, are suicide (21,175), homicide (11,208), or fatal unintentional injury (505). When Men Murder Women is an annual report prepared by the Violence Policy Center detailing the reality of homicides committed against females by single male offenders. The study analyzes the most recent Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The information used for this report is for the year 2013. Once again, this is the most recent data available. This is the first analysis of the 2013 data on female homicide victims to offer breakdowns of cases in the 10 states with the highest female victim/male offender homicide rates, and the first to rank the states by these rates. This study examines only those instances involving one female homicide victim and one male offender. This is the exact scenario-the lone male attacker and the vulnerable woman-that is often used to promote gun ownership among women. This is the 18th edition of When Men Murder Women. From 1996 to 2013, the rate of women murdered by men in single victim/single offender incidents dropped from 1.57 per 100,000 women in 1996 to 1.09 per 100,000 women in 2013, a decrease of 31 percent. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Institute, 2015. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137331 Keywords: Crime Statistics Family Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicide Intimate Partner Violence Murders Violence Against Women

Author: Vaughan, Cathy Title: Promoting community-led responses to violence against immigrant and refugee women in metropolitan and regional Australia: The ASPIRE Project: State of knowledge paper Summary: This state of knowledge paper examines a broad range of national and international research to present the current knowledge about family violence against immigrant and refugee women. While the paper identifies critical evidence on the topic, it acknowledges that much of the available literature has methodological issues, including incomplete and inconclusive prevalence data; small sample sizes; and conceptualising family violence in ways that are not recognised by immigrant and refugee communities. The paper finds: - Overall immigrant and refugee report similar forms of family violence as women from non-immigrant backgrounds, however there are some differences in the types of violence experienced and the structural contexts where it takes place. - The constraints produced by immigration policies are of significant concern, where women depend on perpetrators for economic security and residency rights. - Many immigrant and refugee women are motivated to resolve family violence without ending relationships and breaking up families, for reasons including immigration concerns and family and community pressures. - There is scant evidence that the increase in criminal justice responses to family violence, such as "mandatory arrest" and "pro-prosecution" approaches, are helpful for immigrant women, and may deter them from seeking assistance in crisis situations. The paper also identifies key gaps in literature on this issue, particularly in connection to the ways immigration policies, structural disadvantage and location interact with immigrant and refugee women's experiences of family violence. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS): 2015. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: State of Knowledge Paper: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/promoting-community-led-responses-violence-against-immigrant-and-refugee Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://anrows.org.au/publications/landscapes/promoting-community-led-responses-violence-against-immigrant-and-refugee Shelf Number: 137334 Keywords: Ethnic Groups Family Violence Immigrants Intimate Partner Violence Refugees Violence Against Women

Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Title: Access to Information, Violence against Women, and the Administration of Justice in the Americas Summary: The report aims to provide an introduction to the challenges faced by women in the Americas in gaining adequate access to State-controlled information on violence and discrimination. It also seeks to systematize the international standards that have been developed in the inter-American system on this subject, and to identify good practices in the region with regard to the application of and compliance with those standards. The right of access to information is closely related to the exercise of other human rights, and in that sense, the failure to comply with the obligations of respecting and guaranteeing women's free access to information can be understood to lead to various violations of their rights to live free from violence and discrimination. The IACHR has observed that even in States with institutionalized mechanisms for gathering, processing, and producing information on violence against women, often that information is not adequately disseminated. Likewise, the IACHR has noted that there is a widespread lack of coordination in the region between the various systems that coexist in the States for gathering and producing information, for example records kept by free legal aid offices, data collected by observatories on violence or discrimination, and mechanisms for compiling judicial statistics. With regard to the main challenges in access to public information on discrimination and violence, the IACHR has reported on a number of occasions that there are deficiencies in the availability, quality, and completeness of public information on violence and discrimination against women. These include the failure to gather complete information in the various State bodies on all the different types of violence and discrimination, as well as the failure to produce comprehensive statistics based on that information and to disaggregate the statistical information by factors such as sex, race, ethnicity, age, social status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and other criteria that would make it possible to appreciate the true incidence of violence and discrimination in specific groups of women. The importance of compiling data and producing statistics has been highlighted in the inter-American and the United Nations human rights systems as a fundamental mechanism for designing and evaluating public polices and prevention, assistance, and protection programs on violence and discrimination. Another priority challenge involves the effective implementation of international standards on access to information in the domestic sphere. In this regard, the IACHR has stated that although the vast majority of countries in the region have constitutional and/or legal regulations in place on this matter, concrete information about the practical implementation and effectiveness of those regulations is not available, which makes it difficult to evaluate the level of compliance with State obligations. Access to information in the realm of the administration of justice is an area of special interest for the IACHR. It presents a number of challenges in terms of guaranteeing access to information as a right that facilitates access to justice for women victims of violence and discrimination. In this context, the IACHR notes that the following are priority challenges: ensuring access by women and their family members to information on their pending violence or discrimination cases; the availability of appropriate and sufficient free legal aid services; and access to interpreters and information in other languages for women who do not speak the official State language, among other challenges. The IACHR underscores the importance of having public information on justice system operations, including data on the number of arrests, prosecutions, convictions, restraining orders, and judgments handed down; the amount of time it takes to decide cases; the gender makeup of the justice systems; the budgets allocated to judicial activities; and the internal accountability mechanisms. The Commission urges the Member States of the Organization of American States (OAS) to adopt measures to guarantee the availability of high-quality free legal aid services, the training of justice operators and other public employees who are involved with violence-related issues, and the implementation of action protocols for cases in which violence is imminent. The Commission also reiterates its willingness to work with the States in their efforts in this sphere of protection which is so essential for women to be able to fully exercise their rights. Details: Washington, DC: OAS, 2015. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Access-information.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South America URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/reports/pdfs/Access-information.pdf Shelf Number: 137363 Keywords: Discrimination Domestic Violence Gender-Related Violence Information Sharing Violence Against Women Violence Against Women, Prevention

Author: Pombo, Gabriela Title: Migrant Women and Gender Violence: Strategies and Perspectives for Interventions Summary: IOM Argentina has launched the English version of a manual originally produced in Spanish, Las Mujeres Migrantes y la Violencia de Genero - Aportes para la Reflexion y la Intervencion (Migrant Women and Gender Violence - Strategies and Perspectives for Interventions). The manual was developed under the framework of the project Promoting Human Rights of Migrants from a Gender Perspective, implemented by IOM Argentina in partnership with the Under-Secretariat of Social Advancement (Subsecretaria de Promocion Social, SPS) from the Ministry for Social Development of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires, with the support of the IOM Development Fund. The manual was produced as a training tool aimed at the teams of this agency regarding the social interventions with migrant women in the field of gender violence. Based on this experience, the distribution of the material at several governmental bodies and civil society organizations sought to further promote sensitization and awareness-raising among the community at large. Along these lines, the adaptation and translation of this product into English is intended to facilitate the dissemination of the matter globally, since it can be utilized by any public servant, civil society employee, or the staff of other organizations concerned with or providing assistance to migrant women undergoing situations of violence. It is the expectation of IOM Argentina that the material will be a valuable contribution in different contexts and geographical spaces. Details: Buenos Aires: International Organized for Migration; Buenos Aires Ciudad, 2015. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 8, 2016 at: http://argentina.iom.int/co/sites/default/files/publicaciones/Manual_OIM-ENG-web-23-11.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Argentina URL: http://argentina.iom.int/co/sites/default/files/publicaciones/Manual_OIM-ENG-web-23-11.pdf Shelf Number: 137439 Keywords: Gender-Related Violence Immigrants Migrants Violence Against Women

Author: Hooker, Leesa Title: Domestic and family violence and parenting: Mixed methods insights into impact and support needs: State of knowledge paper Summary: This paper examines the current state of knowledge on the impact of domestic and family violence (DFV) on parenting. It considers how often DFV occurs among parents; the impact of DFV on parenting; the methods and behaviours used by perpetrators to disrupt the mother-child relationship; and interventions used to strengthen and support a healthy mother-child relationship. The paper finds that approximately one third or more of parents in the general community experience DFV, but there is limited evidence on DFV among marginalised parent populations such as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), rural, disabled and same-sex parents. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, women and children suffer considerable DFV, but the true prevalence of abuse among parents is hard to determine due to a lack of reporting, limited screening for DFV, and methodological issues. Most evidence suggests that DFV during pregnancy can result in poor pregnancy outcomes and reduced attachment. It also impacts on an abused woman's ability to parent effectively; women will attend to their abusive partner's demands and needs, and control and discipline children to keep them safe. Attachments/relationships can improve over time, and parenting and child health outcomes also improve once DFV stops. There is limited information on the parenting style of abusive fathers, but researchers and victims have characterised them as authoritarian, under-involved, self-centred and manipulative. They aim to isolate, control and undermine women's authority to parent and have meaningful relationships with their children. The paper recommends supportive care for mothers experiencing DFV and their children as an alternative to reporting all DFV to child protection services. Home visiting programs have been shown to be effective in reducing child maltreatment, improving parenting skills and children's behaviour, but not necessarily effective in preventing or reducing DFV. New programs with an additional DFV focus are currently being assessed. Victims of abuse need more intense and targeted therapy; the paper recommends psychotherapeutic interventions with combined mother-child sessions as they have shown good results. Interventions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families show client satisfaction but are yet to show other effective outcomes. There are considerable gaps in Australian research on DFV and parenting. This paper recommends further research in areas including prevalence of DFV in diverse groups of parents; qualitative research on the experiences of motherhood and fatherhood in the context of DFV; and interventions measuring parenting and the parent-child relationship as primary outcomes, with larger, more representative samples. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes : State of knowledge: 01/2016) Accessed January 11, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/L1.16_1.8%20Parenting.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/L1.16_1.8%20Parenting.pdf Shelf Number: 137457 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Parenting Violence Against Women

Author: Jubb, Nadine Title: Regional Mapping Study of Women's Police Stations in Latin America Summary: For more than thirty years women's and feminist movements have mobilized throughout Latin America to end violence against women through strategies aimed at breaking the silence; changing the discriminatory social values and power structures that underlie violence against women; providing integral services; reforming and introducing laws; and achieving the recognition, defence and exercise of women's rights, particularly the right to live without violence. The movements have organized around various types of violence against women, however, here the focus is specifically on domestic violence perpetrated by (ex)intimate partners or (ex)spouses. In part due to this struggle, Latin American states have acquired obligations to guarantee women's rights through national laws, policies, and mechanisms, as well as regional and international conventions. Among the more specific commitments taken on so that these rights can be exercised are the Women's Police Stations (WPS): specialized police (or judicial) institutions whose purpose is to improve access to justice. The first WPS was inaugurated in 1985 in Brazil and there are now other similar institutions in the police and judiciary throughout the region. After almost 25 years of Women's Police Stations and almost fifteen years after signing the Inter-American Convention for the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of Violence against Women ("Convention of Belem do Para," 1994), it is now time to investigate the contributions of the WPS to Latin American women's access to justice so that they may exercise their right to a life free of violence and participate fully as citizens. We will examine their contributions in four countries with extensive and varied experience with the WPS: Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru. Before building a framework for this research, we must recognize that violence against women, especially domestic violence, continues to be one of the most deeply rooted problems facing the region. Although there is no prevalence data at the regional level, there is information at the national level (CIM-OAS, 2001) that indicates the following. In Nicaragua, a recent study revealed that 48% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship had suffered verbal or psychological abuse by their partner or ex-partner, 27% had suffered physical abuse, and 13% sexual abuse (ENDESA, 2007). In Ecuador, the ENDEMAIN survey (2004) found that 41% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship had suffered psychological violence and verbal abuse, 31% physical violence, and 12% sexual abuse. Prevalence data for Brazil and Peru was produced through the WHO Multi-Country Study (Garcia-Moreno, 2005), for one urban and one rural zone of each country. In the city of Sao Paulo, 41.9% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship had experienced emotional abuse by their intimate partner, 27.2% had experienced physical abuse, and 10.1% had suffered physical abuse. In Zona da Mata de Pernambuco (the entire province, except for the city of Recife), 48.8% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship had suffered emotional abuse from their intimate partners, 33.8% had experienced physical violence, and 14.3% sexual violence. In Peru, the same WHO study (Garcia-Moreno, 2005) found that in Lima, 57.8% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship had experienced emotional abuse from their husbands/partners, 48.6% had suffered physical abuse, and 22.5% sexual abuse. In the department of Cusco, 68.5% of women who had at one time been married or in a relationship reported that their husbands or partners had subjected them to emotional abuse, 61.0% had suffered physical violence, and 46.7% sexual violence. Since the 1980s, national, regional, and international frameworks have been created that recognize that violence against women is a violation of their rights and that the state has the obligation to ensure women's exercise of their rights and to put a stop to violence. There are several examples of this at an international level: the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW),1 the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (1993), and the Beijing Platform (1995). At the Latin American level there is also the Convention of Belem do Para (1994), which includes not only women's rights but also the state's duties with regards to preventing, punishing, and eradicating violence, and is legally binding on all the ratifying states, including the four included in this study. Recognition of these rights is an achievement of great magnitude, however it is just one step towards the final goal: eradication of violence against women. The next step is to ensure that the provisions set forth in those laws, treaties, and conventions are put into practice. There are already several mechanisms in place whose purpose is to get states to assume their responsibilities, some of which are directly linked to these instruments. For example, the periodic submission of reports by signatory states to the CEDAW Committee and on-site visits by the same Committee; there is also the Follow Up Mechanism to the Implementation of the Convention of Belem do Para (MESECVI) with its own commission of experts (CEVI Committee). There are also other instruments whose purpose is to reaffirm these obligations and define/recommend concrete steps to enforce these rights. In order to end the violence, these laws, treaties, mechanisms, etc. must form part of a holistic approach whose fundamental contribution is that any solution must go well beyond the classification and punishment of crimes. Based on a gender and power framework, the solution must ensure the transformation of gender-based values and power structures and other forms of oppression that give rise to violence against women. These transformations must take place within the family, in society, in organizations/institutions, and within the state itself, for example, by changing: (1) the false division between the public and private spheres imposed by the patriarchal system, which contributes to violence against women and the imposition of silence and (2) the discriminatory values sometimes applied by police and justice-sector operators. These changes must contribute to women knowing their rights and actively exercising their citizenship. Another fundamental aspect of this holistic approach is the need for collaboration and coordination among the various actors and relevant sectors, for example, in the judicial sector to facilitate the whole process, from pressing charges to a fair trial and sentence. There must also be a complete range of services at the local level and coordination among them to help women leave situations of violence. These services must comprise a broader legal scope, including not only criminal but also civil/family code issues (for example, child custody and divorce), as well as health care services, shelters, socio-economic support (to secure housing and/or work, vocational training, etc.), as well as specialized training for police and all other justice-sector operators. The Women's Police Stations (WPS) have been one of the most important and most significant mechanisms used in the police-judicial sector since the inauguration of the first WPS in the region in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1985. They were one of the first mechanisms or public policies established in some countries of the region in response to the demands of the women's and feminist movements. In fact, in some of the countries the WPS were inaugurated before the creation of specific domestic violence laws. Most of the WPS are specialized police stations, although in some cases they are justice administration entities, as in Ecuador. There are currently more than 400 WPS just in Brazil, while in Latin America in general, more than thirteen countries have some sort of specialized police and/or judicial service. The WPS models have varied from one country to another both historically as well as geographically. Today, the WPS continue to be one of the most important policies and are the main entry point for accessing justice, and some countries have adopted polices to continue increasing the amount of WPS. A holistic approach and a commitment to women exercising their rights are needed to analyze the contribution that Women's Police Stations (WPS) have made to access to justice, the elimination of violence, and the exercise of citizenship. Using this approach is of the utmost importance for various reasons. First, WPS statistics mainly highlight the amount of formal complaints received and the clearance rate, without delving into the specific procedures and services of the WPS and without forming part of a universal information system that includes the rest of the path to justice and the impact of the WPS on women's lives. Therefore very little is really known about these women beyond the existing data, as no information is collected from the perspective of the women themselves. We must recognize the WPS as both an end in and of itself, with respect to clearing a path towards justice, as well as a step towards achieving gender justice, eradicating violence, and women in situations of violence exercising their rights. Second, while on the one hand, the laws and other instruments and mechanisms for defending women's rights continue to be strengthened, on the other hand, there are other aspects of the current situation that threaten the exercise of these rights. One aspect of this situation is the debate regarding so-called "family values," which questions the rights won by women and other family members. Another aspect has to do with the dissolution of the separation of church and state, which historically has been one of the main characteristics of democratic regimes in general. Today, this division is being threatened by religious fundamentalism. A third element includes those aspects of globalization that make women and other members of society more vulnerable, thus exposing them to greater violence. Migrant workers are one example who, in many instances, have much less access to the police and the judicial system. Third, very little is known about the impact of the WPS on eradicating violence and on women exercising their rights. It is not clear how to distinguish the impact of the WPS from that of the judicial system and/or community networks. There is also very little information on how the current situation is affecting the WPS and the women who use their services. At the same time, there are studies that say that the most significant impact of the WPS has been in making violence more visible in society in general - which is fundamental - rather than a significant rise in the number of women who press charges and follow through the whole process until a judicial sentence is handed down, where the end result of that police-judicial process contributes directly to eliminating violence in their lives. One of the reasons for this are the meanings of gender that have been detected in WPS policies and in the attitudes of the police and justice-sector operators, ones which reproduce an approach based on family values, even though the purpose of the WPS is to defend women's rights. Another reason is the lack of integrated systems or networks to support women by providing accompaniment and other services that respond to their needs. Fourth, it is important to take advantage of the long and varied experiences of the WPS to collect and disseminate transformative practices by exchanging procedures, practices, and lessons learned among the countries as a contribution to social change. Although when the WPS were first set up there were some exchanges among the personnel and those in charge, there are currently very few sectoral and inter-sectoral exchanges among WPS operators from the different countries. This mapping study is the first step of a comparative regional study of Women's Police Stations that addresses access to justice for survivors of violence against women and the exercise and respect for their rights in order to make proposals for improving public policy in this sector. The investigation, as previously mentioned, will be carried out in four countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru. The overall study has several innovative aspects for analyzing the impact of the WPS. The basic element is the holistic gender and power approach. It is from this approach that the two main subjects of the study have been identified: the WPS and women in situations of violence; where women in situations of violence are placed in the centre of the analysis. This is to ensure that the research goes beyond a mere evaluation of whether the WPS are fulfilling their functions to analyze their impact on women's lives from their own perspectives. The purpose of this regional mapping study and the accompanying national ones is to set out the analytical framework for the research project as well as to collect and analyze existing studies on the WPS in the four countries, which will be used to support the design of the primary research. The present study will analyze the fundamental aspects of the WPS, with less attention to women in situations of violence due to the lack of information available. Details: Centro de Planificacion y Estudios Sociales, 2008. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2016 at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.558.8601&rep=rep1&type=pdf Year: 2008 Country: Latin America URL: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.558.8601&rep=rep1&type=pdf Shelf Number: 137572 Keywords: Violence Against Women

Author: Taylor, Annabel Title: Domestic and family violence protection orders in Australia: An investigation of information sharing and enforcement: State of knowledge paper Summary: This state of knowledge paper informs the empirical research to be undertaken to investigate the perspectives of key stakeholders of domestic violence protection order enforcement in Australia. The aims of this report are described and definitional issues are addressed at the outset in the Australian policy context. The priority of this issue to the Australian Government is also explored in this paper. A description of the methodology applied to this paper is followed by a comparative analysis of the legislation for enforcement of protection orders across Australia's states and territories. This section examines the implications of the varied responses to protection order enforcement. In order to recognise the pivotal role that the experience of victims plays in enforcement of Domestic Violence Protection Orders (DVPOs), the following section details victims' and victim advocates' perspectives of enforcement. These insights then inform the scope of literature reviewed on the role of police and magistrates and lawyers in enforcement. The review ends with a summary of the findings and their implications for an empirical study of protection order enforcement in Australia. This state of knowledge paper has five purposes which are to: 1. investigate the current knowledge about enforcement of DVPOs in Australia; 2. understand the legislation that underpins enforcement of DVPOs in Australia across jurisdictions; 3. scope the Australian research that has been undertaken on enforcement of protection orders; 4. explore the perspectives of victims and their advocates, police and magistrates and lawyers on enforcement of protection orders; and 5. understand the existing knowledge on information sharing related to protection orders, within and across agencies and across state borders. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes : State of knowledge: 16/2015): Accessed January 22, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/16_4.1%20Legal%20WEB_FINAL_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/16_4.1%20Legal%20WEB_FINAL_0.pdf Shelf Number: 137651 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protection Orders Violence Against Women

Author: Olsen, Anna Title: Existing knowledge, practice and responses to violence against women in Australian Indigenous communities: State of knowledge paper Summary: This paper is a comprehensive review of published literature to present the current state of knowledge, practice and responses to violence against women in Australian Indigenous communities. It was guided by the following questions: - What is known about violence against Indigenous women? - How do Indigenous women and communities see and experience violence against women (including how do they define family violence)? - What are the current responses (programs or approaches) to violence against women in Indigenous communities? - What are the Indigenous viewpoints on what works and what is needed? The review found that the cumulative nature of socio-economic disadvantage (such as personal, family and economic related stressors) and the lasting effects of colonisation are thought to be linked to violence against women in Indigenous communities. Any attempts to reduce violence in Indigenous communities requires a multi-faceted and holistic approach including efforts to improve the wider social, economic and health of Indigenous communities. Much of the grey literature contained information about Indigenous viewpoints on "what works" to prevent violence against women. Approaches to dealing effectively with violence, and which are valued by Indigenous communities, include cultural based leadership and governance, and programs focused on preventing the transfer of intergenerational trauma. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2016. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes : State of knowledge: 02/2016): Accessed at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/FINAL%2002.16_3.2%20AIATSIS%20Landscapes%20WEB.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/FINAL%2002.16_3.2%20AIATSIS%20Landscapes%20WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 137654 Keywords: Aboriginals Family Violence Indigenous Peoples Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mackay, Erin Title: Perpetrator interventions in Australia: Part one - Literature review. State of knowledge paper Summary: An Australian first, this state of knowledge paper maps the pathways and interventions for perpetrators of domestic/family violence and sexual assault through civil and criminal legal systems; and examines the responses and service systems currently available to DFV and sexual assault perpetrators in each jurisdiction. Violence against women is an insidious and entrenched problem in our society. In Australia, since the age of 15, one in six women has experienced physical violence by a current or former intimate partner and one in five women has experienced sexual violence (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). Nationwide, nearly one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner (Bryant & Cussen, 2015). With sexual assault and domestic violence still being significantly under reported, these statistics only provide a limited snapshot of the true number of women and children that have experienced violence and abuse (Marcus & Braaf, 2007; Gelb, 2007). This violence has devastating physical, emotional and psychological consequences for women and their children, as well as profound social and economic consequences for society. In Australia, the Commonwealth and state and territory governments have committed to the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan)(Council of Australian Governments [COAG], 2011). The National Plan was formulated around a vision that "Australian women and their children live free from violence in safe communities" (COAG, 2011, p. 10), and contains a number of national outcomes to be delivered by all governments over a 12-year period. This paper focuses on the sixth outcome of the National Plan, which is that "perpetrators stop their violence and are held to account" (COAG, 2011, p.29). The Second Action Plan (2013-16) of the National Plan contains action items directed towards supporting governments to implement high quality and consistent responses to perpetrators across systems (Australia. Department of Social Services, 2014). In particular, it focuses on improving the evidence-base and the quality of, and access to, perpetrator interventions. It identifies that systems including police, justice, corrections, and community services need to work together in consistent and integrated ways to increase the effectiveness of perpetrator interventions and stop perpetrators reoffending. In addition, the Commonwealth, state and territory governments have agreed to finalise a set of National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions during the life of the Second Action Plan (2013-16) of the National Plan. To support the Federal/state government collaborative efforts needed to achieve this, the Prime Minister announced in January 2015, that the issue of violence against women and their children, including the development of a set of national standards, would be elevated to COAG in 2015. COAG ministers agreed at their April 2015 meeting to consider a set of National Outcome Standards for Perpetrator Interventions (the National Standards) before the end of 2015. In this paper, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) contributes to strengthening the evidence base on perpetrator interventions by identifying the current "state of knowledge" on Australian perpetrator interventions for sexual assault and family/domestic violence. Part one of this paper identifies, synthesises and describes the large body of Australian and international academic and grey literature on specific perpetrator programs, with attention to the definition, history, development and effectiveness of perpetrator interventions for sexual assault and family/domestic violence. The vast literature on perpetrator intervention considered in part one largely considers perpetrator programs (see Terminology section below), however, programs are just one type of perpetrator intervention. In recognition of this, part two of this paper sets out perpetrator pathways through the civil and criminal legal system in all states and territories in Australia, providing an overview of key legislative and policy frameworks in each jurisdiction for both sexual assault and family/domestic violence, in addition to mapping several specific programs in each jurisdiction back against these pathways. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2015. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes: State of knowledge. Issue PP01/2015: Accessed January 26, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/_Landscapes%20Perpetrators%20Part%20ONE.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/_Landscapes%20Perpetrators%20Part%20ONE.pdf Shelf Number: 137659 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Interventions Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics Title: Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile, 2014 Summary: Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile is an annual report produced by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics under the Federal Family Violence Initiative. Since 1998, this annual report has provided the most current data on the nature and extent of family violence in Canada, as well as trends over time, and has been used to monitor changes that inform policy makers and the public. The layout of the Family Violence report has changed, and presents sections in a fact sheet format allowing readers to find data points quickly. Using 2014 police-reported data from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR) and Homicide Survey, each section contains detailed data tables accompanied by highlights of the key findings. This year's report also features an in-depth analysis of self-reported incidents of spousal violence, using data from the 2014 General Social Survey on victimization. This featured section examines the nature and prevalence of self-reported spousal violence in Canada. The analysis examines rates of spousal violence from 2004 to 2014, and because the information provided in this section is collected from individuals (self-reported), it includes incidents that were reported to police as well as those that were not. The featured section also provides analysis of the socio-demographic risk factors linked to spousal violence, the impacts and consequences for victims and the police reporting behaviour of victims. In this report, 'family' refers to relationships defined through blood, marriage, common-law partnership, foster care, or adoption; 'family violence' refers to violent criminal offences, where the perpetrator is a family member. Details: Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2016. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2016001/article/14303-eng.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Canada URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2016001/article/14303-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 137663 Keywords: Crime Statistics Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Legal Aid Network (LAN) Title: Justice Delayed, Justice Denied. Seeking Truth about Sexual Violence and War Crime Case in Burma. ((With a Special Focus on the Kawng Kha Case, in Kachin Land) Summary: Despite the so-called democratic transition taking place since 2010, Burma1 remains constitutionally under the control of the Armed Forces. However, our national democratic icon, democratic forces, some ethnic armed organizations, many NGOs -- especially GONGOs - and most of the international community are siding with or exercising a policy of appeasement with the power holders, without scrutinizing whether the source of their power emanates from the genuine will of the various ethnic nationalities and/or indigenous peoples. As a result, terms such as human dignity, human value, and particularly human rights have become empty rhetoric. Accountability is merely a political slogan, used by the incumbent President Thein Sein, the chairperson of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), since coming to office in 2011, but never implemented by any government institution in practice. The vicious circle of impunity continues, and, for the time being, seeking justice is an unpopular concept, voiced only by victims' communities. Against this background, a heinous crime against two young ethnic Kachin female volunteer teachers was committed on January 19, 2015, allegedly by the Myanmar soldiers of the ruling regime. Despite the fact that it has been almost ten months now, the perpetrators are still at large and no suspect has been identified by the police. Investigations carried out by the authorities have not focused on the victims, but have been one-sided, benefitting the perpetrators. The lack of reparative and restorative justice has led to delay and finally a denial of justice. The ominous silence around this case will become a catalyst for recurrence of gross human rights violations in the future. This preliminary report attempts to uncover the truth about this case, relating it to similar past incidents of war crimes, particularly sexual violence. It is also examined as to whether the state is held accountable for failure to provide protection for such heinous crimes and reparations to the victims, due to official state passivity. The government is also reminded of its obligations under domestic and international law. The victims of rape have commonly been non-Burman ethnic females, such as Shan, Karen, Kachin, Karenni, Palaung, etc. As such, the crimes can be categorized as having an ethnic nature. In many previous cases, even though victims were raped, they were not murdered. And even if they were murdered, they were not tortured. However, the Kawng Kha war crime case highlighted in this preliminary report is quite distinct. The victims were not only raped but also murdered. Worse, it was not an ordinary rape but a gang-rape. In addition, the victims were inhumanely and brutally tortured before they were murdered. As of now, nobody knows whether the victims were tortured by the perpetrators before or after being raped. As such, among the gross human rights violations inflicted on the various ethnic nationalities over the past decades, the Kawng Kha case constitutes one of the most heinous crime ever committed. Unfortunately, the ruling regime, albeit having the responsibility as the government, has not yet submitted any report specifically on this case to the Committee against Torture and to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which Burma has already acceded to. There are no independent institutions or professionals working with victims of sexual violence nor does there exist any effective law for protection of witnesses in Burma. In accordance with the 2008 Constitution of Burma, the Myanmar Armed Forces, led by the Commander-in-Chief - not the State President - primarily exercise executive power. In addition to the Police and other security institutions, the Judiciary is also subservient to the executive. This legal and institutional framework has exacerbated the situation of the victims, their families and their communities, whenever the culprits or suspects are army personnel or government authorities. In regard to sexual violence, a serious problem is that ethnic women victims, given social, geographical, financial and legal constraints, are unable even to file complaints; and, even if a complaint is filed, it is commonly rejected by the Judiciary or the local authorities. This paper explores the status of State Institutions, focusing on the Police Institution, from the aspect of institutional integrity as well as procedural justice, as underpinned by not only national laws, international human rights laws and humanitarian law, but also the Rule of Law. This paper also establishes the nexus between civil war and human rights violations and attempts to find a reasonable solution. Last, but not least, the role and responsibility of the international community is scrutinized from the perspective of promotion and protection of human rights in connection with the previous and current background scenario of Burma. Details: Chiang Mai, Thailand: Kachin Women's Association in Thailand, 2016. 90p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs21/KWAT-2016-01-Justice_Delayed_Justice_Denied-en-red.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Burma URL: http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs21/KWAT-2016-01-Justice_Delayed_Justice_Denied-en-red.pdf Shelf Number: 137666 Keywords: Human Rights Abuses Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women War Crimes

Author: Title: ReCharge Women's Technology Technology Safety, Legal Resources, Research and Training Summary: In 2013, the Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) conducted research examining how technology is being used by perpetrators to stalk and abuse women, as well as how these technologies may be used to support and improve women's safety. This research, titled SmartSafe, is one of the few studies conducted internationally on technology-facilitated stalking and abuse in the context of family violence. In 2015, DVRCV has collaborated with Women's Legal Services NSW and WESNET in a national women's technology safety project, funded by ACCAN, called ReCharge: Women's Technology Safety, Legal Resources, Research & Training. As part of this project, DVRCV conducted a national survey of technology-facilitated abuse drawing on the experience of family violence practitioners across Australia. In 2013, DVRCV conducted the first Australian study into the use of technology by perpetrators in the context of domestic violence. This Victorian-based study, called SmartSafe, utilised a multiple-methods approach and included two surveys: one with 152 domestic violence sector practitioners, and one with 46 women who had experienced domestic violence. The findings showed that the use of technology by perpetrators to stalk and abuse women was a significant emerging issue in Victoria. Details: Melbourne: SmartSafe, Domestic Violence Research Centre Victoria, 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 28, 2016 at: http://www.smartsafe.org.au/sites/default/files/National-study-findings-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.smartsafe.org.au/sites/default/files/National-study-findings-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 137695 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Online Victimization Stalking Violence Against Women

Author: Gutierrez, Luz Mendez Title: Clamor for Justice. Sexual Violence, Armed Conflict and Violent Land Dispossession Summary: Clamor for Justice: Sexual Violence, Armed Conflict and Violent Land Dispossession is grounded in the lives of Maya Q'eqchi women from the communities of Sepur Zarco and Lote Ocho, in the Polochic Valley of Guatemala. It is one of the book's many virtues that we encounter them not through the abstraction "women victims of sexual violence," but through the particularity of their own voices, their experiences, their ideas. Their ideas, the alliances they forge, their creative strategizing to wrest justice from legal systems that have never treated them or the crimes committed against them seriously: these are at the heart of Clamor for Justice. At a time when the international policy community calls for an "end to impunity," but lacks both adequate conceptions of how to achieve it and sufficient political will to transform rhetoric into institutional practice, this book opens our eyes and offers inspiration. The innovative legal strategies pioneered by the women of Sepur Zarco, Lote Ocho and their allies open new pathways to justice, not only for these Q'eqchi women, but potentially for women in many other parts of the world. We need these models, and Clamor for Justice importantly works to spread the word. Details: Guatemala: Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Accion Psicosocial, 2015. 176p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2016 at: http://genderandsecurity.org/sites/default/files/Clamor_for_Justice_Guatemala.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Guatemala URL: http://genderandsecurity.org/sites/default/files/Clamor_for_Justice_Guatemala.pdf Shelf Number: 137757 Keywords: Conflict Related Violence Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Karen Women's Organisation (KWO) Title: Salt in the Wound: Outcomes and SGBV Cases in the Karen refugee camps, 2011-13 Summary: The report documents the results of research into the justice outcomes of 289 cases of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in the seven Karen-majority refugee camps located along the Thai-Burma border. The results of our research are staggering, and provide ample evidence for the need for change. In the vast majority (80%) of all the SGBV cases in six of the seven camps, women received inadequate justice responses. Even in cases of sexual violence, including rape, we found that there were very weak responses by the judicial systems. The inadequate justice outcomes include perpetrators just signing an agreement to say that they won't do it again (usually with no follow up to ensure that they don't), or paying a small fine to the authorities (usually with zero compensation for the victim) or almost no action at all by authorities. This is not good enough for crimes of violence. Details: Burma: KWO, 2015. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2016 at: https://karenwomen.org/2015/11/24/kwo-new-report-salt-in-the-wound/ Year: 2015 Country: Burma URL: https://karenwomen.org/2015/11/24/kwo-new-report-salt-in-the-wound/ Shelf Number: 137819 Keywords: Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Levine, Amanda Rachel Title: Coercive Control and Physical Violence at the Onset of Dating Relationships: A Prospective Longitudinal Study Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been suggested as a consequence of coercive control (CC), a pattern of demands placed on a romantic partner, threats about what will occur if the demands are not met (e.g., IPV), and surveillance to ensure that demands have been met (Dutton & Goodman, 2005). This hypothesis has yet to be examined among dating couples, and little is known about how CC and physical violence arise in dating relationships. The current study had three main objectives: (a) to determine the way in which CC and IPV change over time in newly established dating relationships, (b) to examine the influence of CC and physical violence on each other, and (c) to obtain qualitative information on individuals' own experiences with and beliefs about CC. An online survey about CC and physical violence in participants' own relationships was completed at three two-month intervals (baseline and 2- and 4-month follow-ups) by 165 women who had been dating their romantic partners for two months or less. On average, CC occurred at a rate significantly different from zero at the first time point, whereas physical violence did not, providing some support for CC as a precursor to violence. As well, CC decreased over time, suggesting that once a culture of CC had been established, tactics of CC may not need to be used as frequently. Despite many participants describing CC and intimate partner violence (IPV) as part of the same phenomenon, measurement of each of the constructs at a given time point did not significantly predict subsequent occurrences of the other construct. A common theme that emerged among participants' accounts of CC and IPV in their own relationship was the role of jealousy as a precursor to both IPV and CC. This study was one of the first to examine participants' experiences of relationship processes (such as CC and IPV) at the very beginning of a dating relationship. Results suggest that the relation between CC and IPV is quite complex, and further studies that include other related variables in the model, such as jealousy and trust, are recommended. Details: Windsor, ONT: University of Windsor, 2015. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 9, 2016 at: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6495&context=etd Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6495&context=etd Shelf Number: 137821 Keywords: Dating Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Victoria Legal Aid Title: Characteristics of respondents charged with breach of family violence intervention orders Summary: Breaches of family violence intervention orders are one of the fastest growing offences in Victoria, so understanding who breaches and why, is important for agencies that provide services to both respondents and applicants. This paper identifies the common characteristics of respondents who receive legal assistance when charged with breach of a family violence intervention order. It also analyses the characteristics of clients who have received legal assistance multiple times when charged with breaching a family violence order. The paper reinforces the need to ensure: - people charged with breaches receive appropriate legal advice - orders are tailored to the circumstances of each client - that we make appropriate referrals to other agencies, including non-legal agencies if necessary. Providing appropriate legal advice and support may help increase the rate of compliance with family violence intervention orders, reduce recidivism and increase safety for victims. Details: Melbourne: Victoria Legal Aid, 2016. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2016 at: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/research-and-analysis/characteristics-of-respondents-charged-with-breach-of-family-violence-intervention-orders Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/what-we-do/research-and-analysis/characteristics-of-respondents-charged-with-breach-of-family-violence-intervention-orders Shelf Number: 138167 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protection Orders Violence Against Women

Author: On, Miriam Lum Title: Examination of the health outcomes of intimate partner violence against women: State of knowledge paper Summary: This paper systematically reviews evidence on the health outcomes for women in Australia experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), noting that causal pathways are complex and subject to a rapidly growing body of knowledge. It also describes current data sources on the prevalence of IPV and possible ways to address the gap in exposure data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The paper will inform the inputs required to produce estimates of IPV's burden of disease estimates in Australia. These findings will be released as a Horizons report later this year. Based on forty-three studies found to have sufficient evidence to be potential inputs for the disease burden calculations, there is strong evidence that women in Australia who experience IPV have an increased risk of depression, pregnancy termination and homicide. There was also a possible increased risk for anxiety, premature birth and low birth weight, cardiovascular conditions and self-harm. The evidence found the impact of exposure to IPV on alcohol and drug use disorders was bi-directional, and risk should be carefully interpreted. The paper identified a number of research gaps that could inform future research on the health outcomes of women who experience IPV. Where there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate causality (between IPV and health outcomes), there may be potential for further analysis of existing datasets to derive measures of association, and to use direct evidence based on existing datasets for health outcomes such as non-fatal injuries. The health outcomes from emotional abuse are an emerging area for further exploration, due to the availability of exposure data (independent of physical and sexual violence) collected in the Australian Bureau of Statistics' 2012 Personal Safety Survey. Details: Alexandria, NSW: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2016. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Landscapes : State of knowledge: 03/2016): Accessed March 30, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/160324_1.7%20Burden%20of%20Disease%20FINAL.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/160324_1.7%20Burden%20of%20Disease%20FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 138473 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Bueno, Cruz Caridad Title: A Knife Hidden in Roses: Development and Gender Violence in the Dominican Republic Summary: On September 30, 2012, Jonathan Torres stabbed his wife, Miguelina Martinez, fifty-two times in a beauty salon in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Ms. Martinez, 33 years-old, went to the district attorney's office eighteen times in the two weeks prior to her murder to report that because of her husband's violent threats she left her home. He killed her because she no longer wanted to be with him; the knife he used was hidden in a bouquet of roses. This dissertation interrogates the state of development and gender violence in the Dominican Republic. The first chapter examines the implications of racial, gender, and class stratification on the economic and social opportunities of low-income women, predominantly of African descent, working in the export processing zones and as domestic workers. The second chapter explores the correlation between women's economic, political, and social characteristics and the incidence domestic violence using data from the Demographic and Health Survey. Further, I test which model - the household bargaining model (HBM) or the male backlash model (MBM) - best explains gender violence. I find that the HBM better predicts physical violence, while the MBM better predicts sexual violence. However, when I disaggregate asset-poor women and asset-rich women, I find that the HBM is more adept at explaining gender violence for asset-rich women and the MBM for asset-poor women The third chapter explores the role of women's and men's endogenous preferences on the justifications of gender violence. In both the female and male specifications, there is a positive correlation between men making more decisions and the justification of gender violence. Women that support gender equity are less likely to justify gender violence; while husbands that are less gender progressive are more likely to justify gender violence. Based on my findings, I conclude that the Dominican government's economic policies of the last thirty years are the knife hidden in the government' roses or rhetoric of human development and women's rights. To promote human development and foster women's rights, the Dominican government must embark on a new trajectory focused on human capital formation and a more equitable distribution of income, wealth, and power. Details: Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts - Amherst, 2013. 191p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 30, 2016 at: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1842&context=open_access_dissertations Year: 2013 Country: Dominican Republic URL: http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1842&context=open_access_dissertations Shelf Number: 138485 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence Socioeconomic Conditions and Crime Violence Against Women

Author: European Parliament. Directorate-General for Internal Policies. Policy Department C Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs Title: The Issue of Violence Against Women in the European Union Summary: This study provides an update of the 2011 study on the Issue of Violence against women in the European Union. The different forms and interrelated factors of violence against women are examined. The study also provides an overview of the current international and European political and legal framework on violence against women. Other issues such as the difficulty of the monitoring and gathering of data, the protection of victims, and the prevention of violence against women are also discussed. Details: Brussels: European Parliament, 2016. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/556931/IPOL_STU(2016)556931_EN.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/556931/IPOL_STU(2016)556931_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 138506 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Gender-Related Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Women's League of Burma Title: "If they had hope, they would speak": The ongoing use of state sponsored sexual violence in Burma's ethnic communities Summary: Burma Army soldiers continue to engage in acts of sexual violence on a widespread scale, and women and human rights defenders in ethnic communities face harassment and persecution, the Women's League of Burma (WLB) said in a new report published today to coincide with International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. To achieve sustainable peace and help safeguard the rights of ethnic women, the government of Burma must immediately stop its military offensives in the ethnic areas, pull back its troops and begin political dialogue with the ethnic armed groups towards genuine federalism. The WLB's new report, 'If they had hope, they would speak': The ongoing use of state-sponsored sexual violence in Burma's ethnic communities', highlights 118 incidences of gang-rape, rape, and attempted sexual assault that have been documented in Burma since 2010, in both ceasefire and non-ceasefire areas. This number is believed to be a fraction of the actual number of cases that have taken place. These abuses-which are widespread and systematic-must be investigated, and may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international criminal law Details: Chiang Mai, Thailand: Women's League of Burma, 2014. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 8, 2016 at: http://womenofburma.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/VAW_Iftheyhadhope_TheywouldSpeak_English.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Burma URL: http://womenofburma.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/VAW_Iftheyhadhope_TheywouldSpeak_English.pdf Shelf Number: 138603 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Watson, Joy Title: The role of the state in addressing sexual violence: Assessing policing service delivery challenges faced by victims of sexual offences Summary: The focus of this policy paper will be to look at the role of the state in addressing sexual violence in public and private spaces. Specifically, the focus will be on the policy provisions in terms of service delivery to sexual offences victims in terms of policing and health services and how these services are currently being provided. The paper begins by discussing the prevalence of violence against women globally and in South Africa. It then examines the South African state's response to gender-based violence and the gendered nature of the state's response to addressing violence against women. The paper further examines the response of the criminal justice system, and assesses the service delivery challenges faced by victims of sexual offences at the hands of the police and broader criminal justice system, and the intersection of this with healthcare provision. The paper concludes by making recommendations on how to address these challenges. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: APCOF Policy Paper no. 13: Accessed April 13, 2016 at: http://www.apcof.org/files/9762_APCOF_Brief13.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.apcof.org/files/9762_APCOF_Brief13.pdf Shelf Number: 138648 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Americans for Responsible Solutions Title: Commonsense Solutions: State Laws to Address Gun Violence Against Women Summary: The vast majority of American gun owners are responsible and abide by the law. However, guns do not belong in the hands of domestic abusers and other people known to violently target women or others in relationships. When an abuser has access to firearms, the victim is 500 percent more likely to be murdered. Unfortunately, the federal laws intended to reduce domestic abusers' access to guns are filled with loopholes. These federal provisions do not apply to many known abusers, and states have sometimes struggled to effectively enforce these laws even when they do apply. The result is a constant stream of news reports about women and others killed by abusers with guns. States must take action to prevent further tragedies. This report provides a series of proposals that state legislators should consider enacting in their states to help protect women and families in abusive situations. These policies go beyond current federal law, but have been proposed in Congress. Details: Washington, DC: Americans for Responsible Solutions, 2014. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: http://smartgunlaws.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Commonsense-Solutions-State-Laws-to-Address-Gun-Violence-Against-Women.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://smartgunlaws.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Commonsense-Solutions-State-Laws-to-Address-Gun-Violence-Against-Women.pdf Shelf Number: 139045 Keywords: Gender-Specific Responses Gun Policy Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Violence Against Women

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Smartphone Data: Information and Issues Regarding Surreptitious Tracking Apps That Can Facilitate Stalking Summary: GAO found that the majority of the reviewed websites for smartphone tracking applications (apps) marketed their products to parents or employers to track the location of their children or employees, respectively, or to monitor them in other ways, such as intercepting their smartphone communications. Several tracking apps were marketed to individuals for the purpose of tracking or intercepting the communications of an intimate partner to determine if that partner was cheating. About one-third of the websites marketed their tracking apps as surreptitious, specifically to track the location and intercept the smartphone communications of children, employees, or intimate partners without their knowledge or consent. The key concerns of the stakeholders with whom GAO spoke-including domestic violence groups, privacy groups, and academics-were questions about: (1) the applicability of current federal laws to the manufacture, sale, and use of surreptitious tracking apps; (2) the limited enforcement of current laws; and (3) the need for additional education about tracking apps. GAO found that some federal laws apply or potentially apply to smartphone tracking apps, particularly those that surreptitiously intercept communications such as e-mails or texts, but may not apply to some instances involving surreptitiously tracking location. Statutes that may be applicable to surreptitious tracking apps, depending on the circumstances of their sale or use, are statutes related to wiretapping, unfair or deceptive trade practices, computer fraud, and stalking. Stakeholders also expressed concerns over what they perceived to be limited enforcement of laws related to tracking apps and stalking. Some of these stakeholders believed it was important to prosecute companies that manufacture surreptitious tracking apps and market them for the purpose of spying. Domestic violence groups stated that additional education of law enforcement officials and consumers about how to protect against, detect, and remove tracking apps is needed. The federal government has undertaken educational, enforcement, and legislative efforts to protect individuals from the use of surreptitious tracking apps, but stakeholders differed over whether current federal laws need to be strengthened to combat stalking. Educational efforts by the Department of Justice (DOJ) have included funding for the Stalking Resource Center, which trains law enforcement officers, victim service professionals, policymakers, and researchers on the use of technology in stalking. With regard to enforcement, DOJ has prosecuted a manufacturer and an individual under the federal wiretap statute for the manufacture or use of a surreptitious tracking app. Some stakeholders believed the federal wiretap statute should be amended to explicitly include the interception of location data and DOJ has proposed amending the statute to allow for the forfeiture of proceeds from the sale of smartphone tracking apps and to make the sale of such apps a predicate offense for money laundering. Stakeholders differed in their opinions on the applicability and strengths of the relevant federal laws and the need for legislative action. Some industry stakeholders were concerned that legislative actions could be overly broad and harm legitimate uses of tracking apps. However, stakeholders generally agreed that location data can be highly personal information and are deserving of privacy protections. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/676738.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/676738.pdf Shelf Number: 139047 Keywords: Domestic Violence Online Communications Smartphones Stalking Violence Against Women

Author: Bobonis, Gustavo J. Title: Conditional Cash Transfers for Women and Spousal Violence: Evidence of the Long-Term Relationship from the Oportunidades Program in Rural Mexico Summary: This paper provides evidence of the long-term relationship between male-to-female spousal violence and the Oportunidades conditional cash transfer program. It uses data from three nationally representative surveys that include detailed information on the prevalence of spousal abuse and threats of violence against women. Constructing comparable groups of beneficiary and non-beneficiary households within each village to minimize potential selection biases, the present study finds that, in contrast to the short-run estimates, physical and emotional abuse rates over the long term do not differ significantly between existing beneficiary and non-beneficiary couples. The paper examines possible causes for the difference, most importantly, the role that marital selection and the diffusion of norms rejecting intimate partner violence may play in explaining these effects. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, 2015. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: IDB WORKING PAPER SERIES No IDB-WP-632: Accessed May 18, 2016 at: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/7267/ICS_WP_Conditional_Cash_Transfers_for_Women_and_Spousal_Violence.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2015 Country: Mexico URL: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/7267/ICS_WP_Conditional_Cash_Transfers_for_Women_and_Spousal_Violence.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 139077 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Spouse Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Rosay, Andre B. Title: Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women and Men: 2010 Findings From the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey Summary: This report examines the prevalence of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men, using a large nationally representative sample from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). More specifically, it provides estimates of sexual violence, physical violence by intimate partners, stalking, and psychological aggression by intimate partners. It also provides estimates of interracial and intraracial victimizations and briefly examines the impact of violence. Results should be used to raise awareness and understanding about violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey The NISVS was launched in 2010 by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of the National Institute of Justice and the Department of Defense. This survey provides detailed information about sexual violence, physical violence by an intimate partner, stalking, and psychological aggression by an intimate partner. The analysis in this report is based on two of the samples that were included in the 2010 NISVS - the general population sample and the American Indian and Alaska Native over-sample. These two samples provide information from 2,473 adult women and 1,505 adult men who identified themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native, alone or in combination with another racial group. Most women (83 percent) and most men (79 percent) were affiliated or enrolled with a tribe or village. For both women and men, more than half (54 percent for both) had lived within reservation boundaries or in an Alaska Native village in the past year. The NISVS has important limitations: Only certain types of victimizations were included, the survey was only administered by phone, and it was not conducted in any indigenous languages. As with other victimization surveys, estimates may be impacted by recall errors and by the continuing stigma associated with disclosing victimizations. Some estimates have large margins of error. Despite these limitations, the survey also has important strengths: It uses behaviorally specific questions and it was administered to a large, nationally representative sample. The survey results provide the most thorough assessment on the extent of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2016. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249736.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/249736.pdf Shelf Number: 139150 Keywords: American Indians Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Native Americans Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence 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 Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Victim Services Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Murdolo, Adele Title: Key Issues in Working with Men from Immigrant and Refugee Communites in Preventing Violence Against Women Summary: This report ...explores the key issues in working with men from immigrant and refugee communities in Australia to prevent violence against women. It applies a feminist intersectional approach to the question of men's engagement and examines a range of issues that need to be considered in the development of primary prevention engagement strategies for immigrant and refugee men. The report is divided into four sections. Section 1 outlines the context for engaging immigrant and refugee men in violence prevention and describes the need to apply a feminist intersectional approach. Section 2 discusses the ways in which immigrant and refugee men negotiate their conception of their masculinities during migration and settlement. Migration, employment-related difficulties and discrimination impact on immigrant and refugee men's sense of gendered identity. The diversity of immigrant and refugee men's responses to migration-related challenges should be accounted for in violence prevention programs. Violence against women is endemic across Australian communities and cultures. While marginalised women experience a heightened vulnerability to gendered violence, there is insufficient evidence that any one culture or community, migrant or otherwise, is more or less violent than any other. However, in media and popular culture, immigrant and refugee men and cultures are represented as being more 'traditional', oppressive to women and as having greater tendency to commit violence against women. Conversely, immigrant and refugee women are portrayed as more oppressed, passive and lacking in agency. In this regard, Section 3 examines conceptions of 'culture' as it relates to immigrant and refugee men and highlights the need to adapt a complex understanding of 'culture in order to re-frame our understandings of immigrant and refugee men's capacity to prevent violence. Section 4 outlines key strategies for engaging immigrant and refugee men in prevention. Immigrant and refugee men should be engaged in violence prevention through the leadership of women. Valuing, fostering and harnessing immigrant and refugee women's feminist activism and leadership boosts gender equity within immigrant and refugee communities. In addition, direct participation strategies aimed at men should be framed within a global human rights and social justice perspective, convey positive, concrete and meaningful messages, and be aimed at achieving long-term, gender-transformative gains and solutions. Importantly, developing and implementing strategies to engage immigrant and refugee men should focus on cultural specificity (as opposed to difference), which takes into account different men's relative spheres of influence within and across cultures. Although the report identifies promising and culturally appropriate practices and approaches, it is important to note that there is an extremely limited evidence base to draw from to make accurate assertions about the most effective ways of engaging immigrant and refugee men in violence prevention in Australia. Further research and evaluation, conducted along-side violence prevention efforts, are essential. Details: White Ribbon Australia, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: White Ribbon Research Series: Accessed June 9, 2016 at: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/100-WR_Research_Paper_V7.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/uploads/media/100-WR_Research_Paper_V7.pdf Shelf Number: 139352 Keywords: Abusive Men Gender-Related Violence Immigrants Masculinities Refugees Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Gulliver, Pauline Title: Understanding research on risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence Summary: Key messages - Conceptual models guide the exploration of risk and protective factors. - Conceptual models help us to organise our thoughts and identify relationships between the different risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence, and other forms of violence. - Some conceptual models (such as the ecological model) have helped to expand our understanding of the wider societal and community factors that impact on violence experience. - Consistent findings at the international level have allowed the identification of a common set of factors that are strongly associated with violence experience, but these are not the only factors that influence the likelihood of violence occurring. - There are some challenges involved with measuring some risk or protective factors - Most of the research identifying risk and protective factors for intimate partner violence collect information at only one point in time. The result is that it is difficult to establish whether factors that are related to violence experience caused the violence or are a result of experiencing the violence (or both). - While, the use of controlling behaviours is strongly associated with violence experience, behaviours can mean different things to different people. It is important to understand the context of an abuser's behaviour in order to fully understanding the meaning. - There is no "one true cause" of intimate partner violence. - Violence is typically the outcome of the interaction of many different factors. - Individual, relationship, community, social and cultural factors work together to enhance or reduce the likelihood of violence being perpetrated or experienced. - Violence is a behaviour which is governed by choice. Decisions and subsequent actions are influenced by societal attitudes about what is considered acceptable behaviour. - A comprehensive, multi-pronged approach is required to address intimate partner violence as well as other forms of family violence in New Zealand. - Lessons can be learned from systematic approaches to addressing other problem behaviour patterns. For example, addressing the road toll required: - Investment in infrastructure - Legislation to reduce risk - Social marketing campaigns - Improvements in safety design - Swift and sure punishment where laws were broken - Increased resourcing at high risk periods - Consistent and adequate funding over a sustained period of time - To optimise the likelihood of success a long-term investment in policy, infrastructure and communities is required. This needs to be supported by an overall strategic government framework for addressing IPV. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2016. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 10: Accessed June 11, 2016 at: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-10.pdf Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-10.pdf Shelf Number: 139397 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence (New Zealand) Intimate Partner Violence Risk Management Violence Against Women

Author: Hartley, Carolyn Copps Title: The Longer-Term Influence of Civil Legal Services on Battered Women Summary: Civil legal services are an under-recognized and under-studied response to intimate partner violence (IPV). We conducted a two-year, panel study of how the receipt of civil legal services provided by Iowa Legal Aid (ILA), influences safety, psychological well-being and economic self-sufficiency outcomes for women who experienced IPV residing in metro and non-metro communities in Iowa. We also examined the impact of the quality of the attorney-client relationship on women's sense of empowerment on these outcomes. The research questions (RQs) that guided our study were: 1) What is the direct relationship between civil legal services and revictimzation, psychological well-being, and economic self-sufficiency for women who experience IPV?, 2) Does the quality of the attorney-client relationship mediate the relationship between civil legal services and women's sense of empowerment?, 3) Does women's sense of empowerment mediate the relation between civil legal services on the study outcomes?, and 4) Are there differences in the relationship between the type of civil legal services received and outcomes for women residing in metro and non-metro communities? Details: Final report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2016. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249879.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/249879.pdf Shelf Number: 139412 Keywords: Battered Women Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Legal Aid Re-victimization Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Savic, Marijana, ed. Title: Local Communities in the Fight against Human Trafficking Summary: Publication Local communities in the fight against human trafficking is produced within the homonymous project, that was designed and implemented by the organization Atina, in partnership with Novi Sad's Humanitarian Centre, and in cooperation with the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Team of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, with the financial support of the European Union, Office for Cooperation with Civil Society of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, and German Federal Government through the "Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH". The project is motivated by the need to strengthen the role of civil society organizations in decision-making process and, more specifically, their competence to monitor local strategies and action plans relevant to the field of human trafficking; empowering relevant stakeholders for intersectoral partnerships in order to provide support to vulnerable groups, and strengthening vulnerable groups to participate in decision-making process. Enabling better understanding of the protection of victims and prevention of human trafficking in the context of the reform of local social security system, the research should contribute to achieving these goals. In other words, the research has been fueled by recent changes in the area of human trafficking and in the area of social protection - a growing need to increase capacity and find answers to problems of the protection of victims and prevention of human trafficking at the level of local community, starting from local public policies, to everyday practice within disparate sectors. Research will continue to serve as a basis for improving local response to human trafficking and the networking of actors, working in the field of protection of vulnerable groups, in seven cities/municipalities involved in the project - Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Vranje, Nis, Novi Sad, Subotica, Sremska Mitrovica. The research activities include the analysis of relevant documents in the field of international standards, national legislative and strategic framework, as well as relevant local strategies and action plans in the field of social protection, that are of importance for human trafficking. The second segment of the research was carried out with professionals who have experience in direct work on protection of groups that are particularly vulnerable to the phenomenon of human trafficking, as well as in creating local policies. Details: Belgrade: Citizens' Association for Combat against Trafficking in Human Beings and all Forms of Violence against Women - Atina, 2013. 174p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2016 at: http://atina.org.rs/sites/default/files/Local%20communities%20publikacija.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Serbia and Montenegro URL: http://atina.org.rs/sites/default/files/Local%20communities%20publikacija.pdf Shelf Number: 139664 Keywords: Human Trafficking Violence Against Women

Author: Mackay, Erin Title: Perpetrator interventions in Australia: part two - Perpetrator pathways and mapping. State of Knowledge paper Summary: An Australian first, this state of knowledge paper maps the pathways and interventions for perpetrators of domestic/family violence and sexual assault through civil and criminal legal systems; and examines the responses and service systems currently available to DFV and sexual assault perpetrators in each jurisdiction. The paper finds there is a need for extensive further research on what works and for whom in the Australian context. Four key areas for further investigation were identified: 1) systems effectiveness; 2) effectiveness of interventions; 3) models to address diversity of perpetrators; and 4) interventions developed by, with, and for Indigenous communities. These four strategic research themes will guide the development of the ANROWS Perpetrator Interventions Research Program. In early 2016 ANROWS will call for applications for research grants under the Perpetrator Interventions Research Stream. Subscribe to receive updates on research grants, as well as other ANROWS news. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2015. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/_Landscapes%20Perpetrators%20Part%20TWO_rotated%20(1).pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/_Landscapes%20Perpetrators%20Part%20TWO_rotated%20(1).pdf Shelf Number: 139807 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Family Violence Interventions Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "I Was Sold": Abuse and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Oman Summary: More than 130,000 migrant women work in households in Oman. Most come from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia. They cook, clean, and care for children and the elderly. While some earn decent salaries and work in good conditions, others find themselves trapped in abusive situations, their plight hidden behind closed doors. Based on interviews with 59 female domestic workers, lawyers, embassy officials, and others, "I Was Sold": Abuse and Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers in Oman documents how Oman's laws and policies fail to provide for migrant domestic workers' rights or safety and enable employers to retaliate against workers who flee abuse. Domestic workers described a wide range of abuses, such as employers confiscating their passports, not paying their full salaries, forcing them to work excessive hours without breaks or days off, or denying them adequate food and living conditions. Some said their employers physically abused them; a few described sexual abuse. In some cases, workers described abuses amounting to forced labor or trafficking. In the face of these abuses, migrant domestic workers have little recourse. Like its Gulf neighbors, Oman maintains an immigrant labor system (known as kafala) that punishes workers who leave their employers or change jobs without their employers' consent. In addition, the country's labor law excludes domestic workers from its protections. Human Rights Watch calls on Oman to reform these laws and policies in order to afford all migrant domestic workers protections in line with international standards. The government should also thoroughly investigate abuses against domestic workers and prosecute those responsible. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/oman0716web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Asia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/oman0716web.pdf Shelf Number: 139839 Keywords: Domestic Workers (Oman) Human Rights Abuses Migrant Workers Violence Against Women

Author: American Civil Liberties Union. Women's Rights Project Title: Silenced: How Nuisance Ordinances Punish Crime Victims in New York Summary: Housing security and access to effective emergency and police assistance are fundamental elements of creating safe and vibrant communities. For victims of domestic violence, housing and police access can take on even more importance, as they are often integral to escaping life-threatening violence and living free from abuse. However, municipalities across the country are increasingly enacting laws that penalize tenants and property owners based on police response or criminal activity occurring on a property. These laws - typically called nuisance ordinances, crime free ordinances, or disorderly house laws - deter crime victims from reporting crime and frequently lead to evictions or other harmful penalties for victims who do call 911 in an emergency. Details: New York: ACLU Women's Rights Project, 2015. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 26, 2016 at: https://www.aclu.org/report/silenced-how-nuisance-ordinances-punish-crime-victims-new-york Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://www.aclu.org/report/silenced-how-nuisance-ordinances-punish-crime-victims-new-york Shelf Number: 139861 Keywords: Disorderly Conduct Housing Nuisance Behaviors and Disorders Nuisance Ordinances Violence Against Women

Author: Dao The Duc Title: 'Teach the wife when she first arrives': Trajectories and pathways into violence and non-violent masculinities in Hue Citiy and Phu Xuyen district, Viet Nam Summary: This life history qualitative study explores men's trajectories and pathways into gendered beliefs, attitudes and practices in Viet Nam, and how this relates to men's perceptions and practices of violence. Details: Hanoi: Partners for Prevention, 2012. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2016 at: http://www.partners4prevention.org/sites/default/files/resources/qualitative_study_on_masculinities_gbv_eng.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Vietnam URL: http://www.partners4prevention.org/sites/default/files/resources/qualitative_study_on_masculinities_gbv_eng.pdf Shelf Number: 130034 Keywords: Abusive Men Family Violence Masculinity Violence Against Women

Author: Rosay, Andre B. Title: Documentation for Analysis of Violence Against American and Alaska Native Women and Men - 2010 Findings From the National Intimate Partner And Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) by the National Institute of Justice Summary: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) includes eight victimization sections (psychological aggression [PA], coercive control and entrapment [CCE], physical violence [PV], elder abuse - psychological aggression [EPA], elder abuse - coercive control and entrapment [ECCE], elder abuse - physical violence [EPV], stalking [S], and sexual violence [SV]). This document summarizes the structure of the NISVS data and explains how analysis files were created from the original data files provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All of the NISVS analyses by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) should be replicable with the following documentation. Chapter 1 provides an overview of this technical report, and describes the sequence of tasks that NIJ performed to create composites from the original data files. A broad overview on the structure of the NISVS data is then presented in Chapter 2 (additional information is available in CDC documents). More specifically, Chapter 2 provides a summary of (a) how CDC variable names were changed to a simpler structure and (b) perpetrator identifiers can be tracked from question to question, and across sections. Chapter 3 provides an overview of how data were extracted, merged, checked, and cleaned in each victimization section (PA to SV). An overview on sampling and weighting is provided in Chapter 4 (additional information is available in RTI documents). Specific details for each section of the NISVS survey are then provided in Chapters 5 through 12. Chapter 13 provides a detailed summary of data cleaning. Respondent level files are created in Chapter 14 and perpetrator level files are created in Chapters 15 through 17. Chapter 18 provides an overview of the stalking follow‐up questions. Victimization estimates are then computed in Chapter 19. An overview of the sexual violence follow‐up section is presented in Chapter 20. Chapter 21 provides an overview of the general follow‐up section, Chapter 22 provides an overview of the intimate partner section, Chapter 23 provides an overview of the respondent characteristics section, and Chapter 24 provides an overview of the health section. Final data files are then created and documented in Chapter 25. Final codebooks are available separately (see Appendix B and C). Chapter 26 provides documentation for all tables and figures in the full report of violence against American Indian and Alaska Native women and men. All syntax files are included in Appendix A. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2016. 392p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250087.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250087.pdf Shelf Number: 140067 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Stalking Victimization Surveys Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Luedke, Alicia, Compiler Title: The Other War: Gang Rape in Somaliland Summary: The Horn of Africa has for decades struggled with chronic occurrences of civil conflict, fragile state structures and tribal and ethnic affiliations opposed to states' modern obligations. The situation for women and girls in the Horn of Africa continues to be characterized by systematic victimization, subordination and their subjection to violence. In contrast to the intentions of limiting women and girls' opportunities and appearances, they are aiming at capitalizing the small space and opportunities they are gaining, leading to their engagement and presence in public life. This report outlines Somaliland's historical development and the clan structures existing in Somaliland. It furthermore sheds light on Somaliland's plural legal system and reflects upon it from a women's rights perspective. It touches upon the existing engendered gerontocracy and the accompanying assumptions of gender roles and realities influencing the lives of women and girls in Somaliland, as well as looking at notions of gender relations and male youth ideologies, particularly highlighting youth frustration with the limitations of the traditional system and the weak of modern statuary legal scheme. The report aims at revealing the layers of sociocultural controversy between the global concepts and praxis of women's rights and their presence in the public sphere and the inherited images of women's subordination. Those aspects are part and parcel of the phenomeon of sexual violence, and in particular multiple perpetrator sexual abuse, in Somaliland. The specific socio-historic and cultural background of Somaliland's clan based system, as well as its plural legal systems are necessary to understand and display the full scope of factors influencing on such cruel instances of sexual violence. The report highlights how the static gender roles imposed by culture and religion are central in putting women and girls further at risk and gives insight into environments and drivers motivating perpetrators of sexual gender based violence to commit such crimes. This report has the objective of raising awareness and strengthening civil society and government efforts to address gang rape in Somaliland. The aim is especially to take a look at the absence of justice, impunity for perpetrators and challenges encountered by Somaliland male and female youth. Details: Kampala- Uganda: Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2016 at: http://www.sihanet.org/sites/default/files/resource-download/The%20Other%20War%20-%20Gangrape%20in%20Somalialand%20SIHA%20Network.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Somalia URL: http://www.sihanet.org/sites/default/files/resource-download/The%20Other%20War%20-%20Gangrape%20in%20Somalialand%20SIHA%20Network.pdf Shelf Number: 140065 Keywords: Conflict-Related Violence Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women Title: Femicide in Armenia: A Silent Epidemic Summary: Published by the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, this report records the death of women killed by intimate partners and family members and sheds light on the manifestations of gender-related killings and acts of violence that are uniquely experienced by women in Armenia. We choose to use the term femicide in this report as opposed to the more gender-neutral term homicide, which overlooks the unique systems of inequality and oppression that women face. Domestic homicides in Armenia are largely carried out by men, and in the rare instances that they are carried out by women against male intimate partners, it is often in self defense. Thus, the gendered context and impact of domestic abuse warrants its own unique category. Details: s.l.: Coalition to Stop Violence Against Women, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2016 at: http://coalitionagainstviolence.org/en/femicide-en/ Year: 2016 Country: Armenia URL: http://coalitionagainstviolence.org/en/femicide-en/ Shelf Number: 140109 Keywords: Domestic Violence Femicide Gender-Related Violence Homicide Intimate-Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Somasekhar, Sripriya Title: Summary: Migration is a complex process undertaken for a wide range of reasons. To leave the country of ones birth to settle in another is likely to involve disruption to existing family and community relationships, reassessing ones culture of origin, reassessing ones identity and "fitting in" with a host culture. For many migrants, relative poverty, isolation, racism and prejudice are additional challenges and often, obtaining permanent resident status is far from straight forward. For these sorts of reasons, immigrant women who experience domestic violence face particular challenges over and above those faced by women from the dominant host culture. Although there is a field of international literature which identifies immigrant-specific factors that trigger or maintain domestic violence, there is little such research in New Zealand and none which specifically focuses on Indian women immigrants. This research is positioned within a view of domestic violence in India being a socio-cultural issue cutting across all castes, social classes and religions. The research increases awareness of cultural perspectives that foster violence and abuse, and investigates how the process of migration affects Indian women's attempts to navigate their safety in the context of New Zealand. In particular, it reveals the barriers that Indian immigrant woman experiencing domestic violence face in seeking help, paying particular attention to the socio- cultural aspects of the Indian Diaspora in New Zealand. There were two phases to the data collection- semi- structured face-to-face interviews with key informants in India and New Zealand and case studies of Indian migrant women who experience domestic violence. The key findings suggest that patriarchal attitudes and a sense of male entitlement are pivotal in perpetuating and tolerating domestic violence. In-laws are heavily implicated in the abuse (emotional, physical and financial) of women. This includes continued dowry demands after the wedding. Women reported isolation as an integral aspect of power and control exercised by their spouse in a host country. This and the shame they might bring upon their family and community were key reasons for not seeking help. Uncertain immigration status of women hindered reporting domestic violence. Although some community members were helpful, too often the Indian migrant community colluded with the abuser and/or were tolerant of domestic violence. Indian migrant women were sometimes out-manoeuvred by their partners in the family court by using 'orders preventing removal' of children. Even after women left the abusive relationship, they were emotionally abused by the partner using their children. Culturally safe practices are paramount to ensure women are not further victimized when they approach services. Details: Hamilton, New Zealand: University of Waikato, 2016. 316p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 26, 2016 at: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/10592 Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/10592 Shelf Number: 140457 Keywords: Abused Wives Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Gillespie, Terry Title: Honour based violence and the Multi-Age Approach in Nottingham Response of local agencies to honour based violence Summary: The focus of the research was to gain an understanding of the current levels of HBV in Nottingham and the nature of the multi-agency response. The main aim of the research was to gain an understanding of practitioners' work with a range of issues relating to honour based violence (HBV) within partnership agencies. The revised Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Action Plan published by the government in 2010 (Home Office, 2010) gave precedence to a co-ordinated approach to ending all forms of violence against women including HBV and forced marriage. There is a paucity of empirical research on HBV, which Gill (2011) argues is under-researched. The current literature on honour based violence demonstrates a lack of agreement regarding the definition of keys terms. It has been argued that there has been an emphasis on traditional male 'honour' which often overlooks violence that is used as a means of control over women. Therefore, Gill (2011) argues in favour of a radical departure from such 'semantic struggles', '...the notion of HBV should be overthrown entirely...the problem should be seen as a specific manifestation of VAW' (Gill, 2011, p. 219, cited in Idriss and Abbas). We address the debate on definitions of HBV in Section Two of this report. Both primary and secondary research methods were adopted for this study in order to gain an understanding of how practitioners work locally and within the context of current legislative and policy underpinnings. The primary research took the form of semi-structured interviews which were conducted with representatives from the Police, Nottingham City Council, local domestic abuse and HBV support networks, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Nottingham City Care, Domestic Abuse Support Unit (DASU) and a family law barrister. Key findings from the research: - There were significant issues concerning the recording of HBV at a local level. It was found that HBV is often not recorded separately from other domestic abuse. - There was an effective use of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) (monitoring high risk cases of domestic abuse) with cases of HBV. - Many practitioners had received some basic training on domestic abuse (DA) and HBV but most felt more was needed, particularly in relation to HBV. - It was felt that greater awareness needs to be raised amongst communities, for example, through the education of young people in schools and colleges. - The research highlighted the importance of partnership working in order to continue to provide support for survivors of HBV. - There were levels of uncertainty about how the Coalition Government's restructuring of local authority spending could affect frontline services. Recent government campaigns, endorsed in the views expressed by the participants in this study, focus on the importance attached to classifying cases as honour based (Home Office, 2011). For example, it was found from the primary research that there is a need to respond differently to these crimes and to identify a range of risks to the survivors, their friends and family. It is believed this is only possible when they are being flagged separately from other cases of domestic abuse and that practitioners are trained to identify these cases. This topical research has highlighted the need for a better understanding of the nature of HBV and the importance of multi-agency working to provide effective support for survivors. It has also raised questions about the prevention and detection of such cases and the sanctions imposed by the criminal justice system. However, the latter was not a key focus of the study and it is suggested in the Conclusion to this report that this could be an area for future research Details: Nottingham, UK: Nottingham Trent University, 2011. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 28, 2016 at: http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/16032/1/203829_FinalElectronicHBVReportDec2011%20converted.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/16032/1/203829_FinalElectronicHBVReportDec2011%20converted.pdf Shelf Number: 146162 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender-Related Violence Honor-Based Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Thornton, Sara Title: Predicting Serious Domestic Assaults and Murder in the Thames Valley Summary: Thames Valley Police uses a risk assessment model to identify those cases of domestic violence where the risk of future harm is high. This study looked at all the cases on serious domestic assault and murder between 2007 and 2009 to establish how accurate the risk assessments had been in predicting the serious harm. In 55% of cases there was no prior recorded contact with the police. In only five out of 118 cases was the case assessed as high risk. Effectively there was an 80% false negative rate. In the same period 1740 other victims were assessed as high risk arguably resulting in a 99% false positive rate. A case control study was carried out to try to identify any risk factors that marked out those offenders who committed the most serious domestic assaults from other violent offenders. The case control study found that those who committed serious domestic assault and murder were less criminogenic than the risk pool of all violent offenders - contrary to the central hypothesis of escalating violence. The study also found that male offenders who committed serious domestic assaults were more than three times likely to be suicidal than other violent offenders. Details: Cambridge, UK: Wolfson College, University of Cambridge, 2011. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 17, 2016 at: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/alumni/theses/Thornton,%20S.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.crim.cam.ac.uk/alumni/theses/Thornton,%20S.pdf Shelf Number: 145094 Keywords: Domestic Violence Homicide Intimate Partner Violence Prediction Risk Assessment Violence Against Women

Author: Macleod, Jan Title: Challenging Men's Demand for Prostitution in Scotland: A Research Report Based on Interviews with 110 Men Who Bought Women in Prostitution Summary: Public awareness of prostitution as a human rights issue has grown in recent years, along with an understanding of the harm resulting from sexual exploitation as commercial enterprise. There is also recognition of the need to understand prostitution in its cultural contexts, and the need to understand the social structures and the psychological articulation of misogyny that stimulates and sustains prostitution as a social institution. The authors of this research report realise that although it is essential to address the urgent mental and physical needs of women and children during prostitution and after their escape, it is also imperative to address men's demand for prostitution which is at the root of the problem. Acceptance of prostitution is one of a cluster of harmful attitudes that encourage and justify violence against women. Violent behaviours against women have been associated with attitudes that promote men's belief that they are entitled to sexual access to women, that they are superior to women, and that they are licensed as sexual aggressors. Men who use women in prostitution strongly endorse such attitudes toward women (Cotton et al., 2002, Farley et al., 1998). There has been considerable debate in Scotland on how best to address prostitution and other commercial sexual exploitation, including what is euphemistically termed adult entertainment. The Routes Out of Prostitution Partnership and other projects that have challenged prostitution in Glasgow in the past decade have been informed by an understanding of prostitution as commercial sexual exploitation and as a form of violence against women. Prevention of prostitution is a key aim of this work. The findings of this research will contribute to an understanding of and strategies for challenging men's demand for prostitution. Details: Glasgow: Women's Support Project, 2008. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 21, 2016 at: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/ChallengingDemandScotland.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prostitutionresearch.com/ChallengingDemandScotland.pdf Shelf Number: 110473 Keywords: Human Rights Prostitutes Prostitution Sex Workers Violence Against Women

Author: Darkwah, Akosua K. Title: Beyond Domestic Violence Laws: Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Protection Services in Ghana Summary: This research reviews the response to Domestic Violence in Africa, focusing in on Ghana, and asks 'What are women's experiences and perceptions of protection services provided to survivors of domestic violence in Ghana?' based on interviews at a shelter in Accra. In the first part of the paper, particular attention is given to the different ways in which the institutional model has been developed in Africa in general and in Ghana in particular. We analyse the particular process through which domestic violence appeared on the public agenda in each individual country. We also pay attention to the various evidence-based research studies available on the impact of various preventive, punitive and protective components of domestic violence legislation. In the respective case studies, attention will shift to focus on the ways in which the model of protection is designed in each country and the range of protection services that are offered to survivors of domestic violence. We will then explore the concrete experiences of women who are survivors of domestic violence. Being one of the central institutions to provide protection to survivors, the shelter is the main unit of analysis in the research. Details: Lima, Peru: ELLA (Evidence and Lessons from Latin America), 2016. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Regional Evidence Papers; Accessed October 27, 2016 at: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/REP_CEGENSA-_Beyond-Domestic-Violence-Laws.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ghana URL: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/REP_CEGENSA-_Beyond-Domestic-Violence-Laws.pdf Shelf Number: 145013 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence 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 Women Domestic Violence Economic Conditions Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Ayre, Julie Title: Examination of the burden of disease of intimate partner violence against women in 2011: final report Summary: Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) has serious health outcomes for Australian women and their children, and its prevention is a recognised national priority. Burden of disease studies measure the combined impact of living with illness and injury (non-fatal burden) and dying prematurely (fatal burden) on a population. This report estimated the amount of burden that could have been avoided if no adult women in Australia in 2011 had been exposed to IPV during their lifetime. This "attributable burden" is reported in terms of total, non-fatal and fatal burden. This report extends results from the Australian Burden of Disease Study 2011 (ABDS 2011) to produce detailed estimates of the health burden due to exposure to IPV that are specific to Australian women in 2011. Of note, this report also includes estimates of attributable burden using a broader definition of IPV than used in the ABDS 2011, one that includes non-cohabiting partners as well as partner emotional abuse Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2016. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: ANROWS Horizons, Issue 06/2016: Accessed November 3, 2016 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bod_horizons_issue_6_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bod_horizons_issue_6_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 144994 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Webster, Kim Title: A preventable burden: Measuring and addressing he prevalence and health impacts of intimate partner violence in Australian women: Key findings and future directions Summary: Intimate partner violence, including violence in both cohabiting and non-cohabiting relationships and emotional abuse: - is prevalent-affecting one in three women since the age of 15. One in four women have experienced violence or abuse from a cohabiting partner. If we only consider physical and sexual violence, then one in six women have experienced at least one incident of violence by a cohabiting partner; - has serious impacts for women's health-contributing to a range of negative health outcomes, including poor mental health, problems during pregnancy and birth, alcohol and illicit drug use, suicide, injuries and homicide; -contributes an estimated 5.1 percent to the disease burden in Australian women aged 18-44 years and 2.2% of the burden in women of all ages; - contributes more to the burden than any other risk factor in women aged 18-44 years, more than well known risk factors like tobacco use, high cholesterol or use of illicit drugs; is estimated to contribute five times more to the burden of disease among Indigenous than non-Indigenous women; - is estimated to make a larger contribution than any other risk factor to the gap in the burden between Indigenous and non-Indigenous women aged 18-44 years; and - has serious consequences for the development and wellbeing of children living with violence. There has been no decrease in the prevalence or health burden of intimate partner violence since both were last measured in Australia. Intimate partner violence and its health impacts are preventable. The health burden of intimate partner violence can be reduced by: - supporting women and children's long-term recovery in the aftermath of violence; - responding to violence to stop it occurring again; - intervening when there are early warning signs of violence; and - preventing violence from occurring in the first place by addressing known root causes. Because experiencing intimate partner violence increases the risk of health problems, to substantially reduce the health burden, it will be necessary to prevent new cases of violence. This will require a greater emphasis on early intervention and primary prevention to stop violence from occurring in the first place. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/28%2010%2016%20BOD%20Compass.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/s3fs-public/28%2010%2016%20BOD%20Compass.pdf Shelf Number: 146293 Keywords: Domestic Violence Health Services Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Marcotte, Dave E. Title: Sexual Violence, Title IX and Women's College Enrollment Summary: Sexual violence has long been a problem on college campuses, yet federal policies to protect students have largely been ineffectual. Spurred by student grievances, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights recently began investigating how sexual assault cases were handled at a number of institutions under the Title IX provisions of the Education Amendments of 1972. These investigations focus attention on specific colleges' responses to cases of sexual violence and raise the specter that these institutions may fail to properly investigate allegations or punish perpetrators. In this paper, we examine the implications of these investigations on college enrollment, particularly for women. We combine institution-level panel data on enrollment by age and gender, with information on Title IX investigations to study changes in women's college enrollment. We estimate that enrollment of women at colleges under Title IX investigation declined by 16 to 22 percent. The declines are consistent with both declining matriculation and retention of female students. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2016. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 10345: Accessed November 16, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10345.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10345.pdf Shelf Number: 141190 Keywords: Campus Crime Colleges and Universities Sexual Assaults Sexual Violence Violence against Women

Author: Lachenal, Cecile Title: Beyond Domestic Violence Laws in Latin America: Challenges for Protection Services for Survivors Summary: This research reviews the response to Domestic Violence in Latin America, focusing in on Mexico, and uses a series of in-depth interviews with survivors of domestic violence living in a shelter in Mexico City, to review their experience of the protection services that they received. The feminist and human rights movements in the Latin America Region have made public the discussion of violence against women as a social and multifaceted problem embedded in the private, public and collective spheres. Violence against women perpetuates gender gaps, highlighting the vulnerable situation of exclusion women face. In response, Latin American countries have put in place a variety of legislative and institutional mechanisms inspired by the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women (Belem Do Para Convention), the first binding regional treaty that proposes a liberal and individualistic approach to dealing with violence against women, and establishes a variety of measures that states should adopt to prevent, protect and sanction this phenomenon. This study uses a series of in-depth interviews with survivors of domestic violence living in a Mexico City shelter, as well as with its staff, to analyse how survivors experience protection services. Although it only covers one shelter and thus constitutes only a partial analysis, it represents an innovative effort to understand a protection model from the perspective of the survivors. We look at the trajectory of survivors from the moment they decided to seek help from the institutions, to the period at the shelter itself, and finally the period after which they have left the shelter. Details: Mexico: Fundar, Centre of Analysis and Research, 2016. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Regional Evidence Papers: Accessed November 22, 2016 at: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20160414-Fundar_Domestic-Violence-REP.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Latin America URL: http://ella.practicalaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20160414-Fundar_Domestic-Violence-REP.pdf Shelf Number: 147905 Keywords: Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Laws Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Australia. Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Title: Domestic Violence and Gender Inequality Summary: Referral 1.1 On 25 November 2015 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the committee) for inquiry and report by 24 August 2016: (a) the role of gender inequality in all spheres of life in contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence; (b) the role of gender stereotypes in contributing to cultural conditions which support domestic violence, including, but not limited to, messages conveyed to children and young people in: (i) the marketing of toys and other products, (ii) education, and (iii) entertainment; (c) the role of government initiatives at every level in addressing the underlying causes of domestic violence, including the commitments under, or related to, the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children; and (d) any other related matters.1 1.2 The inquiry was not completed when the Senate and the House of Representatives were dissolved on 9 May 2016 for a general election on 2 July 2016. When Parliament resumed, the committee recommended to the Senate that the inquiry be re-referred in the 45th Parliament with a reporting date of 24 November 2016. This recommendation was agreed by the Senate.2 The committee has decided to report early. Previous committee inquiry 1.3 During the 44th Parliament, from June 2014, the committee undertook a comprehensive inquiry into domestic violence, reporting on 20 August 2015. The committee does not intend to replicate that inquiry but to focus on the issue of gender inequality as per the terms of reference. The committee's previous report is available from the committee website. Conduct of the inquiry 1.4 The committee advertised the inquiry on its website. In addition, the committee invited submissions from individuals, organisations and government departments by 31 March 2016, although the committee accepted submissions after this date. 1.5 The committee received 76 public submissions. A list of individuals and organisations which made public submissions, together with other information authorised for publication by the committee, is at Appendix 1. 1.6 Submissions may be accessed through the committee website at: www.aph.gov.au/senate_fpa. Acknowledgements 1.7 The committee thanks those individuals and organisations who made submissions, The terms of reference for this present inquiry focus on specific aspects of that discussion. This committee has been asked in particular to inquire into and report on: (a) the role of gender inequality in all spheres of life in contributing to the prevalence of domestic violence Details: Canberra: The Senate Committee, 2016. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 22, 2016 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/dv_and_gender_inequilty_report_nov_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/dv_and_gender_inequilty_report_nov_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 147906 Keywords: Domestic Violence Gender Inequality Gender-Related Violence Interpersonal Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Papageorge, Nicholas W. Title: Health, Human Capital and Domestic Violence Summary: We study the impact of health shocks on domestic violence and illicit drug use. We argue that health is a form of human capital that shifts incentives for risky behaviors, such as drug use, and also changes options outside of violent relationships. To estimate causal effects, we examine chronically ill women before and after a medical breakthrough and exploit differences in these women's health prior to the breakthrough. We show evidence that health improvements induced by the breakthrough reduced domestic violence and illicit drug use. Our findings provide support for the idea that health improvements can have far-reaching implications for costly social problems. The policy relevance of our findings is compounded by the fact that both domestic violence and illicit drug use are social problems often seen as frustratingly impervious to interventions. One possible reason is that the common factors that drive them, such underlying health or labor market human capital, are themselves very persistent over time. Our study provides a unique test of this hypothesis by examining what happens when factors underlying violence or drug use exogenously shift due to a medical technological advancement. Our findings suggest that both violence and drug use could be reduced by improving women's access to better healthcare. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2016. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series, no. 22887: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22887 Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.nber.org/papers/w22887 Shelf Number: 147927 Keywords: Domestic Violence Healthcare Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Gutierrez, Italo A. Title: The Effect of Civil Conflict on Domestic Violence The Case of Peru Summary: We study the effect of women's exposure to civil conflict violent events during childhood and early teenage years on the probability that they will experience domestic violence in their marriages as adults. In particular, we investigate the case of the internal conflict in Peru during the 1980s and early 1990s, and its effect on the incidence of domestic violence between 2004 and 2012. We find that female exposure to conflict violence increases their later risk of being a perpetrator and a victim of domestic violence. The average effects for women affected by the conflict are small, although they mask important heterogeneities as some regions were affected by the conflict more severely than others. The effects are substantial for women in the highest categories of exposure. We also find evidence that a potential mechanism through which exposure to the conflict affects domestic violence in the long-term is normalization of the use of violence. Women more exposed to conflict violent events are more likely to justify the use of violence against women and more likely to stay in a violent relationship. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2016. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper: Accessed December 8, 2016 at: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/WR1100/WR1168/RAND_WR1168.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Peru URL: http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/working_papers/WR1100/WR1168/RAND_WR1168.pdf Shelf Number: 140358 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: La Mattina, Giulia Title: Civil Conflict, Sex Ratio and Intimate Partner Violence in Rwanda Summary: This paper examines the long-term impact of civil conflict on intimate partner violence and women’s decision-making power using post-genocide data from Rwanda. Household survey data collected 11 years after the genocide indicate that women who became married after the genocide experienced significantly increased intimate partner violence and decreased decision-making power relative to women who became married before. The effect was greater for women in localities with high genocide intensity. I find that variation in the marriage market sex ratio across localities and over time explains part of the effect of the genocide on intimate partner violence. Details: Brighton, UK: Households in Conflict Network, Institute of Development Studies, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: HiCN Working Paper 175: Accessed December 8, 2016 at: http://www.hicn.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HiCN-WP-175.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Rwanda URL: http://www.hicn.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/HiCN-WP-175.pdf Shelf Number: 146145 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mitra-Kahn, Trishima Title: Invisible women, invisible violence: Understanding and improving data on the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for diverse groups of women: State of knowledge paper Summary: Women from all cultures, ages and socio-economic groups are affected by domestic and family violence and sexual assault, but the extent, nature and impact is not evenly distributed across communities in Australia. Women from diverse backgrounds are disproportionally affected by violence. The differential nature and effects of this violence is often compounded by various forms of marginalisation for diverse groups of women such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse and women with disability. Invisible women, invisible violence establishes the state of knowledge about the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault among women from diverse groups. Reviewing existing knowledge and data on the experiences of violence and identifying key gaps in data as they relate to diverse women, it also affirms the more complex message that, while we know there is disproportionate impact, the exact nature and scale of this difference is extremely difficult to quantify. Despite not knowing the exact quantum of the violence, there is significant evidence that expressions of violence in these communities are distinct, and that these differences require considered and specific service and policy responses, for which data that is coherent, accessible, relevant and accurate is needed. This paper finds there are challenges within the Australian research and data landscapes in understanding the experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault for the diverse groups. Four key gaps in information in the current Australian research landscape were identified: · Limitations in quantitative evidence on the prevalence and perpetration of violence; · The complexity and specificity of violence; · Multiple, intersecting barriers to reporting violence and accessing appropriate services and; · "Diversity within diversity" the intersections of identity and disadvantage. In the process of mapping the current Australian data landscape, this paper identified that while a wide range of data are currently being collected administratively and via surveys, there are limitations of individual data sources and across the Australian data landscape as a whole. The analysis identified the following five key data gaps as they relate to the diverse experiences of domestic and family violence and sexual assault: 1) Design and methodological gaps in data sources; 2) Definitional complexities within data sources; 3) Gaps in the quality of existing data sources; 4) Gaps in recording and reporting of data; and 5) Gaps in the leveraging of existing data for the creation of new statistical information. This project provides 36 options for enhancing Australia's domestic and family violence and sexual assault data landscape in the short to medium term. Options for improvement range in cost from under $250,000 to several million dollars and provide both discrete and ongoing improvements. While each option provides valuable enhancements to the data landscape, decisions regarding which options to progress will always reflect complex policy and budgetary considerations and, as such, may or may not align with these suggestions. A long term commitment to fit-for-purpose data collection and analysis through the implementation of the Foundation for a "National Data Collection and Reporting Framework for family, domestic and sexual violence" (DCRF) is also crucial to ensuring systemic change and improvement in policy and practice. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: ANROWS Landscapes: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/DiversityData_UPDATED191216.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://media.aomx.com/anrows.org.au/DiversityData_UPDATED191216.pdf Shelf Number: 147777 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Sexual Assaults Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Sharp-Jeffs, Nicola Title: Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) Case Analysis Summary: This report is our contribution to fully highlight the learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews as most of us recognise the need for national, regional and local work required to embed a true coordinated community response (CCR) to domestic abuse. Broadly, much of these findings fall into two categories. There are findings which could be characterised as implementation gaps. They are failures or missed opportunities where we understand the best practice but fail to implement it. In other areas such as mental health, adult child to family abuse, adult safeguarding practice and issues such as support for carers, more work is required to establish better, safer and more appropriate ways of working. And much of these findings are underpinned by a lack of fundamental understanding of coercive control, a lack of focus on the perpetrator and the need for more professional curiosity in thinking beyond basic policy and procedure…..” Details: s.l.: Standing Together Against Domestic Violence, 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/sites/default/files/docs/STADV_DHR_Report_Final.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.standingtogether.org.uk/sites/default/files/docs/STADV_DHR_Report_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 147772 Keywords: Domestic Homicide Domestic Violence Homicides Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Police Executive Research Forum Title: Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Summary: On August 4, 2015, law enforcement executives and officers, crime victim advocates, academics, and other subject matter experts convened to discuss a draft of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence publication and to share promising practices and to develop effective strategies for serving victims of these crimes. The guidance in that publication aims to reflect and further the partnership between the DOJ and law enforcement executives, line officers, and supervisors, who work to uphold the civil and human rights of the communities they serve. Sexual assault and domestic violence constitute a significant portion of total violent crime, but two out of three victims of such offenses do not seek law enforcement assistance. It is incumbent upon law enforcement agencies to provide support for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence who wish to pursue criminal charges, and agencies should create an environment in which victims feel comfortable and respected. Law enforcement agencies are usually a crime victim's first point of contact with the larger criminal justice system, so they have a responsibility to establish their legitimacy with victims. Women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have been disproportionately affected by crimes of sexual assault and domestic violence, and unde-renforcement of such offenses can constitute a gender-based bias on the part of law enforcement agencies. This bias can be avoided with thoughtful and informed policy development, high-quality training, strong leadership, and established accountability measures. The DOJ released Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias in Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence on December 15, 2015 with the support and input of state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies; advocates and experts in the field of domestic violence and sexual assault; and public service agencies and stakeholders. A replica of that document is included at end of this publication, and a related fact sheet is available online. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2016. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: https://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-w0796-pub.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-w0796-pub.pdf Shelf Number: 147771 Keywords: Bias Domestic Violence Gender-Related Bias Sexual Assault Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: African American Policy Forum Title: Say Her Name: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women Summary: In 2015 alone, at least six Black women have been killed by or after encounters with police. For instance, just before Freddie Gray's case grabbed national attention, police killed unarmed Mya Hall "a Black transgender woman" on the outskirts of Baltimore. Alleged to be driving a stolen car, Hall took a wrong turn onto NSA property and was shot to death by officers after the car crashed into the security gate and a police cruiser. No action has been taken to date with respect to the officers responsible for her death. In April, police fatally shot Alexia Christian while she was being handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser. And in March in Ventura, California, police officers shot and killed Meagan Hockaday - a young mother of three - within 20 seconds of entering her home in response to a domestic disturbance. Say Her Name responds to increasing calls for attention to police violence against Black women by offering a resource to help ensure that Black women's stories are integrated into demands for justice, policy responses to police violence, and media representations of victims and survivors of police brutality. The brief concludes with recommendations for engaging communities in conversation and advocacy around Black women's experiences of police violence, considering race and gender in policy initiatives to combat state violence, and adopting policies to end sexual abuse and harassment by police officers. Details: New York: African American Policy Forum, 2015. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f20d90e4b0b80451158d8c/t/55a810d7e4b058f342f55873/1437077719984/AAPF_SMN_Brief_full_singles.compressed.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53f20d90e4b0b80451158d8c/t/55a810d7e4b058f342f55873/1437077719984/AAPF_SMN_Brief_full_singles.compressed.pdf Shelf Number: 146005 Keywords: African Americans Deadly Force Minorities Police Brutality Police Misconduct Police Use of Force Violence Against Women

Author: Stavrou, Efty Title: Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Australia: related factors and help-seeking behaviours Summary: Aim: To determine which factors were associated with (1) female experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), (2) female reporting of physical or sexual assault by an intimate partner to the police and (3) females seeking help and support after experiencing IPV. Method: Women who experienced violence from an intimate partner in the two years prior to participating in the ABS Personal Safety Survey 2012 (PSS) were compared with women who reported never having experienced any violence. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine which factors including socio-demographic, financial stress, social connectedness, abuse before the age of 15 and emotional abuse by a partner were related to experiences of IPV. In order to ascertain which factors were related to help-seeking behaviours, multilevel regression models were used on a subsample of females whose most recent incident of violence in the last two years was perpetrated by an intimate partner. Results: The risk of IPV varies greatly across the community. Factors associated with a higher risk of IPV included being younger, Australian-born, having a long-term health condition, lacking social support, experiencing financial stress, having previously been a victim of child abuse and having experienced emotional abuse by an intimate partner. Where the most recent incident of physical or sexual assault in the last two years was perpetrated by an intimate partner, less than one in three assaults were reported to the police. Intimate partner assaults were less likely to be reported to the police if the perpetrator was still a current partner of the victim at the time of the interview, the assault was sexual (not physical) and if the victim perceived the assault was "not a crime" or "not serious enough". Having a physical injury after the incident was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting the assault to the police. Where the most recent incident of violence (assaults and threats) was perpetrated by an intimate partner, a counsellor or social worker was consulted after 30% of all incidents. Conclusion: Efforts to prevent IPV and improve services and supports for IPV victims should focus on women who experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous partner, sole parents, women who lack social supports, women experiencing financial stress, women who have experienced abuse as a child and women with a disability or long-term health condition. Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice Number 200: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Intimate-partner-violence-against-women-in-Australia-CJB200.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Intimate-partner-violence-against-women-in-Australia-CJB200.pdf Shelf Number: 147297 Keywords: Domestic Violence Emotional Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Jaitman, Laura Title: The Costs of Crime and Violence: New Evidence and Insights in Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: This publication is the first to provide a comprehensive, systematic, and rigorous analysis of the costs of crime in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main challenges in the region are addressed: the social cost of homicides, private and public spending on security, the penitentiary crisis, violence against women, organized crime, and cybercrime. The volume estimates that the direct cost of crime for 17 LAC countries in 2010-2014 is, on average, 3.5 percent of the region's GDP, twice as much as in the developed world. It also provides a detailed analysis of the costs of crime in Brazil by state, as well as an examination of the geographical distribution and drivers of crime in the most dangerous subregions: the Northern Triangle in Central America and the Caribbean. The situation in terms of violence against women and cybercrime is assessed: the region is lagging behind to confront these new and old crimes. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, 2017. 129p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/8133/The-Costs-of-Crime-and-Violence-New-Evidence-and-Insights-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf?sequence=7 Year: 2017 Country: Latin America URL: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/8133/The-Costs-of-Crime-and-Violence-New-Evidence-and-Insights-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf?sequence=7 Shelf Number: 141203 Keywords: Costs of Crime Costs of Criminal Justice Cybercrime Economics of Crime Homicides Organized Crime Prisons Violence Against Women Violent Crime

Author: Klein, Andrew R. Title: Practical Implications of Current Domestic Violence Research for Probation Officers and Administrators Summary: This booklet looks at the recent research on intimate partner violence and analyzes what it reveals that probation officers and administrators should know to do their jobs better in terms of completing PSI for defendants convicted of intimate partner violence, supervising abusers on their caseloads, and dealing with the victims of these abusers on probation and victims who have also ended up on probation caseloads. Although much of the research is not focused directly on probation, what it tells us about abusers, victims and the responses of law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts directly bears on probation. Other research reviewed looked specifically at probation’s response to IPV. Although the title of this booklet refers to “domestic violence (DV),” this term has come to mean different things over the past few decades. In the following text, we are focusing specifically on “intimate partner violence (IPV),” that is physical assaults, terroristic threats, stalking, sexual abuse and other criminal abuse by current and former spouses, boy/girl-friends, and dating couples, not intra-family violence (other than marital), child abuse, or abuse among members of the same household. However, some of the research reviewed lumped DV and IPV together or failed to define whether the study included non-intimates. For this reason, we use the term “DV” when the study was clearly not limited to IPV only or when we when the precise relationships included were not defined. It should be noted, for example, that many of the criminal justice related studies define DV consistent with state statutes and state statutes vary in terms of relationships and criminal behaviors covered. Notwithstanding this, despite the broader focus of DV than just IPV, most of the subjects in DV studies are, in fact, intimate partners so the "DV" research substantially overlaps with what we are specifically interested in and helps inform our specific area of interest. Details: Minneapolis: Battered Women’s Justice Project, 2015. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 24, 2017 at: http://www.bwjp.org/assets/documents/pdfs/practical_implications_of_current_domestic_violence_research_for_probation_officers_and_administrators.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.bwjp.org/assets/documents/pdfs/practical_implications_of_current_domestic_violence_research_for_probation_officers_and_administrators.pdf Shelf Number: 141215 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Probation Officers Violence Against Women

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Sexual Assault: Better Resource Management Needed to Improve Prevention and Response in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve Summary: The Army National Guard (Guard) and Army Reserve (Reserve) have implemented sexual assault prevention and response programs, but face challenges in areas such as staffing, budget management, and investigation timeliness that may hinder program implementation. Staffing: The Guard and the Reserve have staffed their sexual assault prevention and response programs, but their use of full-time and collateral-duty personnel has produced sizeable workload disparities. For example, the Guard allots two full-time staff to each state and territory, which provides Rhode Island—a state with about 2,000 soldiers—the same number of staff as Texas, which has about 18,600 soldiers. Similar imbalances exist in the Reserve, with one full-time staff at one command responsible for about 9,000 soldiers located in 16 different states, while the one full-time staff member at another command is responsible for 300 soldiers in 4 states. Officials said that collateral-duty personnel are used to mitigate workload disparities, but these positions are not always filled in the Guard, and the Reserve does not know the number filled. Without evaluating their staffing structures, the Army does not know the extent of such issues and their effect. Budget Management: The Guard has developed budget guidance on the use of funds but has not effectively communicated it to program staff, and the Reserve has not developed or distributed this guidance to its staff. Thus, Guard and Reserve program staff do not have information needed to develop their budget allocations and help ensure the efficient use of program funds. Investigation Timeliness: Data on Guard cases investigated by its Office of Complex Administrative Investigations (OCI) in fiscal year 2015 show that 57 percent, or 45 of 79 cases, took 6 to 9 months to complete; 39 percent, or 31 of 79 cases, took 3 to 6 months; and the remaining 4 percent (3 of 79 cases) took longer than 9 months. According to OCI officials, investigations take longer to complete because OCI does not have enough personnel to handle its growing caseload, which more than doubled from 2014 to 2015. The Army and the Guard have not reassessed OCI's resources since the increase in investigation requests to help ensure it has the staff needed to complete investigations within 3 weeks, as required by OCI guidance. Eligibility for follow-up or long-term health-care services paid for or provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) varies based on a Guard or Reserve victim's duty status at the time of an assault. Victims in the Guard and Reserve must go through a process, known as a line of duty determination, to determine their eligibility for care. The Guard has established an expedited process for making a determination within 72 hours of the process being initiated. However, the Reserve's process is lengthy, and in prior work GAO found that 80 percent of these determinations were overdue. Reserve officials said they plan to include an expedited process in the new Army regulation that is being drafted; however, Reserve officials did not provide details about the planned process or documentation about how it would be implemented. Without an expedited process to provide more timely decisions, sexual assault victims in the Reserve may continue to pay for their care up front, or else face delayed access to care. Why GAO Did This Study Sexual assault in the Army is often discussed in terms of its incidence among active-duty forces. Sexual assault is a crime that similarly confronts the more than 550,000 members who collectively serve in the Guard and Reserve, who together reported 604 sexual assault incidents in fiscal year 2015; however, sexual assault is generally an underreported crime. Congress included a provision in statute for GAO to review sexual assault prevention and response in the Army's reserve components. This report addresses the extent to which (1) the Guard and Reserve face any challenges implementing programs to prevent and respond to sexual assault; and (2) medical and mental health-care services are available to victims in the Guard and Reserve. GAO reviewed DOD and Army policies; administered two web-based surveys; conducted site visits to four installations; and interviewed officials. What GAO Recommends GAO is making six recommendations, including that DOD evaluate program staffing structure, communicate and develop budget guidance, assess the Guard's investigation timeliness and resources, and develop an expedited process for determining Reserve eligibility for healthcare services. DOD concurred with three recommendations partially concurred with two, and did not concur with assessing Guard investigation timeliness, stating that the Army has limited authority over OCI. GAO continues to believe that actions are needed to fully address the two recommendations, and redirected the OCI recommendation to the Guard, as recommended by DOD. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2017. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-17-217: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/683046.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/683046.pdf Shelf Number: 141229 Keywords: Army Military Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Tasmania. Department of Justice, Sentencing Advisory Council. Title: Sentencing of Adult Family Violence Offenders Summary: This Report provides advice on the sentencing of adult family violence offenders in Tasmania and includes consideration of the range and adequacy of sentencing options and support programs available and the role of specialist family violence lists or courts in dealing with family violence matters. The request to the Sentencing Advisory Council was made by the then Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Hon Brian Wightman MP in October 2013. The Council was not required to provide recommendations but instead the Report offers a number of observations about current sentencing practices for family violence offences. Details: Hobart: Sentencing Advisory Council, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Final Report no. 5: Accessed March 3, 2017 at: http://www.sentencingcouncil.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/333324/SAC_-_family_violence_report_-_corrected_accessible_version_for_web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.sentencingcouncil.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/333324/SAC_-_family_violence_report_-_corrected_accessible_version_for_web.pdf Shelf Number: 141304 Keywords: Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Sentencing Violence Against Women Violent Offenders

Author: AMES Australia Title: Violence against women in CALD communities. Understandings and actions to prevent violence against women in CALD communities Summary: The problem of violence against women (VAW) was first raised by the Australian women's movement in the 1970s. Due largely to those efforts it has now been accepted as a key public policy concern in Australia. To date the focus has been on establishing service systems designed to respond to the needs of women who have experienced violence and to prevent violence from reoccurring. While the potential to prevent the problem in the first place has been well understood, until recently this has been an aspirational goal. However, given both the continuing prevalence of the problem and its serious health, social and economic consequences, there is increasing recognition of the need to turn attention to preventing violence against women (PVAW) before it occurs. There is now a broad consensus among women's services, governments, non-government organisations and community leaders that VAW is serious and unacceptable, and that prevention of this violence requires a continuum of interlinked and interdependent approaches. These include responses to women affected by violence to limit its consequences and prevent violence from reoccurring, intervening early with high-risk individuals, and efforts to prevent violence from occurring in the first place. The latter - preventing violence before it occurs (sometimes referred to as primary prevention) is the focus of this report. Australia's commitment to PVAW is encapsulated in the National plan to prevent violence against women and their children 2010-2022 (the National Plan), to which all state and territory governments are signatories. Australia was the first country to develop a comprehensive approach to PVAW, with the Australian Government establishing two new centres to support the implementation of this plan: Our Watch and Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS). Progress is being monitored through a range of mechanisms including the Personal Safety Survey (PSS), designed to monitor the experience of violence, and the National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS), designed to gauge the extent of cultural support for violence and the factors underpinning it in the Australian community. To date, action to PVAW has focused largely on the community as a whole, with minimal attention being paid to addressing factors relevant to particular groups. The risk of such "universal" approaches - when not accompanied by efforts to tailor strategies to the needs and contexts of particular groups - is that the gains made in prevention may not be shared equally In the development of the National Plan, two challenges were identified. The first of these was the need to strengthen commitment to the primary prevention of VAW. The second was ensuring that efforts in primary prevention are extended to meet the needs of specific sub-populations, including culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Almost half of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas (ABS 2013a). We are a nation proud of our cultural diversity and have developed legislation and policies to ensure that all citizens are provided with equal opportunities, rights and entitlements. Among these is the right of women to live free from violence and the fear of violence. Extending efforts to PVAW in CALD communities is critical to ensuring that this right is realised. This document summarises the outcomes of a project focusing on the primary prevention of VAW in CALD communities. Based on community consultation and research it identifies issues that need to be considered when working with CALD communities to PVAW and recommends future actions for consideration. Details: Melbourne: AMES Australia, 2017. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2017 at: https://www.ames.net.au/files/file/Research/20832%20AMES%20Actions%20Report%20Web.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.ames.net.au/files/file/Research/20832%20AMES%20Actions%20Report%20Web.pdf Shelf Number: 141341 Keywords: Domestic Violence Ethnic Minorities Family Violence Immigrants Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Human Trafficking: Action Needed to Identify the Number of Native American Victims Receiving Federally-funded Services Summary: All four federal agencies that investigate or prosecute human trafficking in Indian country-the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Attorneys' Offices (USAO) 0 are required to record in their case management systems whether a human trafficking offense was involved in the case. With the exception of ICE, these agencies are also required to record in their case management systems whether the crime took place in Indian country. ICE officials explained that the agency does not record this information because, unlike BIA and the FBI, ICE is not generally involved in criminal investigations in Indian country. Typically, ICE would only conduct an investigation in Indian country if specifically invited by a tribe to do so. Further, with the exception of BIA, these agencies do not require their agents or attorneys to collect or record Native American status of victims in their cases due to concerns about victim privacy and lack of relevance of the victim's race to the substance of the investigation or prosecution. The Departments of Justice (DOJ), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Homeland Security (DHS) administered at least 50 grant programs from fiscal years 2013 through 2016 that could help address Native American human trafficking. For example, 21 of these grant programs, which were administered by DOJ and HHS, could be used to provide services to Native American human trafficking victims. However, the total number of Native American victims who received services under these grant programs is unknown. HHS is developing a data collection tool that grantees can use to report information on human trafficking victims served, including Native American status of victims. DOJ's Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) requires grantees to report Native American status of victims served, but not by type of crime. DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) do not require grantees to collect and report Native American status of victims served. However, in fiscal year 2017, OVC began providing recipients of human trafficking - specific grant programs the option to report the race or Native American status of victims served. While Native American status may not generally be a factor for determining whether a victim can receive services, it may be a factor for determining how best to assist this particular demographic. According to the 2013-2017 Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking in the United States, expanding human trafficking data collection and research efforts for Native Americans and other vulnerable populations is an area for improvement for the federal government. Additionally, Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government states that quality information should be used to achieve objectives based on relevant data from reliable sources. Without collecting data on the Native American status of victims served, federal agencies will not know the extent to which they are achieving government-wide strategic goals to provide and improve services to vulnerable populations, including Native American human trafficking victims. Why GAO Did This Study Human trafficking-the exploitation of a person typically through force, fraud, or coercion for such purposes as forced labor, involuntary servitude or commercial sex-is occurring in the United States. Traffickers seek out persons perceived to be vulnerable. Native Americans (i.e., American Indians or Alaska Natives) are considered to be a vulnerable population. DOJ, DHS, and the Department of the Interior investigate human trafficking crimes. Primarily, DOJ and HHS provide grants to fund victim services. GAO was asked to examine Native American human trafficking. This report focuses on federal efforts to address human trafficking, including the extent to which (1) agencies collect and maintain data on investigations and prosecutions of human trafficking in Indian country or of Native Americans regardless of location and (2) federal grant programs are available to help address such trafficking, and how many Native American trafficking victims have received assistance through these programs. GAO reviewed human trafficking investigation and prosecution data from fiscal years 2013 to 2016; reviewed solicitations for human trafficking-related grant programs; and interviewed grant program officials. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that DOJ require its grantees to report the number of human trafficking victims served and, as appropriate, the Native American status of those victims. DOJ partially concurred with the recommendation. GAO clarified the recommendation and maintains action is needed. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2017. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-17-325: Accessed April 8, 2017 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/683805.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/690/683805.pdf Shelf Number: 144752 Keywords: American Indians Forced Labor Human Trafficking Native Americans Sexual Exploitation Victims of Human Trafficking Violence Against Women

Author: Smith, Emma Jane Title: 'Violence can mean a lot of things can't it?' An exploration of responses to harm associated with indoor sex work in Scotland Summary: The association of violence with sex work has been widely documented within research and policy. This thesis provides a critique and development of such perspectives. Framed from a qualitative approach, it extends current research which has offered limited insight into the realities of how violence is experienced and responded to by sex workers and agencies involved in the provision of support to sex workers. In this way, the research develops beyond a presumption and narrow understanding of violence/harm in sex work to consider how sex workers and service providers experience, define, and thus construct their responses to harm. Findings from the data indicate variation amongst participants in their responses to harm associated with sex work, with experiences of violence or supporting violence and relationships and interactions between sex workers and service providers being important factors in how these responses are constructed. Both sex workers and service providers, however, recognised and understood associations of sex work with violence and victimisation, and related attempts to encourage individuals to cease or limit involvement in sex work, although this may not apply or be appropriate to all experiences of sex work and sex workers. The thesis contends that in order to gain an informed understanding of, and develop responses to, harm associated with sex work, it is important to consider the diversity of existing experiences of sex work. This should include alternative understandings and experiences of harm that are not limited to, or focused on, violence within sex work, as informed by the experiences of different sex workers. In doing so, there is the potential to better understand and accommodate a range of sex workers' experiences, needs and interests in ways that do not impact on sex workers' safety, or contribute to continued stigmatisation or exclusion, where some sex workers do not identify with a view of their work as harmful, or wish to exit sex work. Consequently this could aid the provision and development of services that respect and offer support where required, for different experiences of sex work amongst sex workers. Details: Stirling, UK: University of Stirling, 2015. 327p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed April 22, 2017 at: http://dspace.stir.ac.uk/handle/1893/23515#.WPtO__nyvcs Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://dspace.stir.ac.uk/handle/1893/23515#.WPtO__nyvcs Shelf Number: 145148 Keywords: Prostitutes Prostitution Sex Workers Violence Against Women

Author: Australian Human Rights Commission Title: Australian study tour report - Visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women 2012 Summary: From 10-20 April 2012, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, including its causes and consequences, Ms Rashida Manjoo, undertook a study tour in Australia. The study tour was co-hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Government (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)). The objectives of the study tour included: - gathering information on violence against women, its causes and consequences, from government and non-governmental organisations, including women's organisations; - gathering information on culture and violence against women in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; and - identifying strategies to eliminate all forms of violence against women and its causes, and remedy its consequences. Although the Special Rapporteur had highlighted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and communities as a particular focus of her visit, the study tour was structured to enable her to meet a cross-section of organisations and individual women. The tour encompassed meetings with the Federal Attorney-General, federal, state and territory government representatives, service providers, business representatives, academics and community representatives, including representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities from both urban and rural areas, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, women with disability, women of diverse sex, sexuality and/or gender, young women, and older women. In the course of the study tour, 27 roundtables, meetings and site visits were held across four states and territories, including: - Sydney, New South Wales - Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia - Alice Springs, Northern Territory - Melbourne, Victoria - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Key issues Violence against women as a human rights issue - The failure to articulate violence against women as a human rights issue was a common concern in discussions. - The National Plan recognises the right to live safe and free from violence and this should also inform the implementation of the National Plan. - Where governments fail to address the issue in human rights terms it can lead to an inappropriate and inadequate response by government and state agencies with long-term social and economic consequences. -It was frequently noted that discrimination against women is a cause and consequence of violence against women. The risks of 'mainstreaming' and the need to ensure specificity and intersectionality in plans, programs and services addressing violence against women - 'Mainstreaming' violence against women programs results in a formal rather than substantive equality approach to program design and content. - Men's programs can often divert essential resources from critical women's services. - Integrating the specific needs of women with disability, women from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or migrant and refugee communities into plans, programs and services aimed at the prevention and redress of violence against women is essential to effective outcomes. - The lack of recognition of the impact of intersectional discrimination based on sex, race, disability, and sex/gender identity on violence against women, often undermines the utility or effectiveness of plans and programs aimed at reducing violence. - The absence of integration of the role and impact of cultural, political, social historical and inter-generational trauma in understanding and addressing violence against women leads to simplistic justifications of violence and one-size-fits-all formulations of programs that lack requisite cultural and psychological training components. Effective program design and service delivery require comprehensive consultation, adequate funding, appropriate coordination and regular monitoring and evaluation - The disconnection between government plans, programs and projects aimed at preventing, addressing and reducing violence against women and the needs of women 'on the ground' is a manifestation of: " an inadequate meaningful and effective consultation with women, particularly in the implementation of the National Plan; - a lack of dedicated, sustainable resources and funding models for both preventative and response based services (which recognise the long-term, protracted nature of the crisis rather than short-term, quick-fix approaches); - a lack of service providers transferring skills and building capacity within communities who are well-positioned to deliver effective services; and - a lack of regular monitoring and evaluation of programs, in particular the lack of independent monitoring and evaluation of the National Plan, and of service providers to inform programs; this is exacerbated by the lack of disaggregated data and analysis. - Although many state governments have developed impressive integrated (cross-departmental) models to address and prevent violence against women, there was a concern around the lack of coordinated implementation of the National Plan, within and across governments. - In the absence of the Council of Australia Governments (COAG) first three-year implementation plan, the execution of the National Plan to date has been ad-hoc and implemented without adequate consultation. - The need for governments across all jurisdictions to demonstrate their leadership to addressing violence against women and fully commit to the effective implementation of the National Plan was repeatedly noted. - There is a need for central focal points within government to address violence against women and ensure cross-departmental or integrated development of programs. For example: - the lack of adequate housing and homelessness arose as a constant issue, especially within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities: dire over-crowding exposes children to violence and alcohol/substance abuse and early sexualisation due to lack of privacy; limited opportunities for learning and playing exist; refuges meet a limited short-term need, but are unable to effectively provide follow-up services; - workplace/industrial relations and health departments need to work collaboratively on the long-term impact (physical and emotional) of domestic violence in workplaces; and - the lack of gender-specific correctional facilities gives rise to women prisoners (often victims with a history of domestic violence) being held in maximum security prisons with male prisoners leading to an increased risk of abuse. Impacts of violence against women on children - Although the study tour had a specific focus on women experiencing violence, the immediate and long-term impact of violence on children - both as victims and observers - was a key issue of discussions. Educational initiatives (the development of healthy and respectful relationships) were seen as important, but the urgent need to address impact meant that crisis services were under considerable and increasing pressure and prevention strategies are, consequently, under-resourced. Details: Sydney: The Commission, 2012. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2017 at: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/UNSRVAW%202012%20Web%20Version.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/document/publication/UNSRVAW%202012%20Web%20Version.pdf Shelf Number: 145155 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Human Rights Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Munyo, Ignacio Title: The Effects of Real Exchange Rate Fluctuations on the Gender Wage Gap and Domestic Violence in Uruguay Summary: In this paper, we bring to light the experiences resulting from the significant depreciation of the Uruguayan real exchange rate between 2002 and 2003, followed by an equally considerable appreciation between 2004 and 2010. We explore the link between these fluctuations and the incidence of domestic violence taking place in Uruguay. The real exchange rate is a measure of the relative price between tradable and nontradable goods. While men are traditionally employed in tradable industries, such as manufacturing, women are more likely to work in nontradable industries, such as the service sector. A change in the real exchange rate, therefore, can affect the potential wages of men differently from those of women. In line with the models that represent household bargaining, an increase in the real exchange rate can generate an increase in the bargaining power of men relative to that of women within the household. We present evidence that it raises the frequency of domestic violence. This holds true in rich and poor areas of the city. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: IDB WORKING PAPER SERIES No. IDB-WP-618 : Accessed May 1, 2017 at: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/7211/ICS_WP_Effects_Real_Exchange_Rate_Fluctuations_on_Gender_Wage_Gap_and_Domestic_Violence_Uruguay.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2015 Country: Uruguay URL: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/7211/ICS_WP_Effects_Real_Exchange_Rate_Fluctuations_on_Gender_Wage_Gap_and_Domestic_Violence_Uruguay.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 145222 Keywords: Domestic Violence Economics of Crime Poverty and Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Smith, Sharon G. Title: The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. 2010-2012 State Report Summary: Sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence are important public health problems that have an enormous and long term physical and mental health impact on victims. These types of violence often occur early in the lifespan of victims, and for most subtypes, women and racial and ethnic minorities are most affected. While our knowledge about sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence victimization has improved over the years, we still lack information on state-level prevalence estimates and the characteristics of the violence (e.g., type of perpetrator) at the state level. State-level data are important because they help to understand the burden of these problems at the state level and can inform state efforts to prevent and respond to these problems. This is the first report to offer this information at the state-level. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) is an ongoing, national random-digit-dial (RDD) telephone survey on sexual violence (SV), stalking, and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. Data, representative of the U.S. non-institutionalized adult population, are collected from the non-institutionalized English - and Spanish-speaking U.S. population aged 18 or older using a dual-frame sampling strategy that includes landlines and cell phones. NISVS provides national and state-level estimates of these types of violence, collecting data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The primary objectives of this report are to describe at the national and state levels: - The prevalence and characteristics of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence; - The impact of violence experienced by an intimate partner; - The prevalence of these forms of violence experienced as minors; - The health conditions associated with these forms of violence. This report uses the NISVS data years of 2010-2012 to produce national and state victimization estimates. All of the estimates provided in the text are from the aggregated 2010-2012 data because this combined dataset provides the greatest number of reliable estimates at the national and state levels. National estimates for the most recent data year, 2012, are included as a point of reference and can be found in Appendix A. Estimates in this report are based on data from completed interviews conducted between January 2010 and December 2012. An interview is defined as completed if the participant provided responses to the questions for demographics, general health, and all violence victimization sections. The relative standard error (RSE), which is a measure of an estimate's statistical reliability, was calculated for all estimates in this report. If the RSE was greater than 30%, the estimate was considered unreliable and is not reported. The case count was also considered; if the estimate was based on a numerator - 20, the estimate is also not reported. We have provided estimates for the 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC). In our descriptions of the findings, when there are reliable estimates for fewer than all states and DC, we have indicated the number of states with reliable estimates and counted DC as a state, for a total of 51. Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017. 272p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2017 at: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-StateReportBook.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-StateReportBook.pdf Shelf Number: 145521 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Stalking Victimization Surveys Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Gulesci, Selim Title: Forced Migration and Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence: Evidence from Turkey Summary: I explore the long-term effects of internal displacement caused by the Kurdish-Turkish conflict on women's attitudes towards domestic violence. Using the Turkish Demographic and Health Survey, I show that forced migrants are more likely to view domestic violence as acceptable. As suggestive evidence, I use data from applicants to a women's shelter and show that forced migrant women endure violence for longer and of greater intensity before deciding to seek assistance. I discuss possible mechanisms through which forced migration may affect migrants' attitudes towards domestic violence. Details: Helsinki: United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research, 2017. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: WIDER Working Paper 2017/110: Accessed May 24, 2017 at: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2017-110.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Turkey URL: https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/wp2017-110.pdf Shelf Number: 145751 Keywords: Domestic Violence Forced Migration Immigrants Migrants Violence Against Women

Author: Vigurs, Carol Title: The Impact of Domestic Violence perpetrator Programmes on Victim and Criminal Justice Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Reviews of Research Evidence Summary: Systematic reviews draw together all of the available evidence in a particular area. Where a number of systematic reviews already exist relating to a similar topic, it is possible to synthesis the findings contained in those systematic reviews in what is known as a 'review of reviews'. A systematic map of criminal justice interventions for domestic violence identified that a number of systematic reviews have already been published in relation to programmes aimed at perpetrators of domestic violence. It wasn't necessary therefore, to carry out a new systematic review in this area so instead, the evidence contained within these existing systematic reviews was examined and synthesised in a review of reviews. The review of reviews found that the evidence relating to domestic violence perpetrator programmes was inconclusive in terms of whether they were effective or not. There was evidence however, to suggest that programmes that paid attention to a person's readiness and motivation to change had some positive effects. In order to look more closely at what impact motivation enhancing techniques really had on domestic violence perpetrators, an in-depth review of primary studies on motivational enhancement was carried out. The results showed that motivation enhancing interventions, used as adjuncts to perpetrator programmes helped to reduce domestic violence recidivism. Details: London: UK College of Policing, 2016. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: WHAT WORKS: CRIME REDUCTION SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SERIESL Accessed May 24, 2017 at: http://whatworks.college.police.uk/Research/Systematic_Review_Series/Pages/DA_perp_prog.aspx Year: 145754 Country: International URL: http://whatworks.college.police.uk/Research/Systematic_Review_Series/Pages/DA_perp_prog.aspx Shelf Number: 2016 Keywords: Abusive Men Domestic Violence Evidence-Based Programs Violence Against Women

Author: Mills, Elizabeth Title: Turning the Tide: The Role of Collective Action for Addressing Structural and Gender-based Violence in South Africa Summary: The case study discussed in this Evidence Report explores the value and limitations of collective action in challenging the community, political, social and economic institutions that reinforce harmful masculinities and gender norms related to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). As such, the concept of structural violence is used to locate SGBV in a social, economic and political context that draws histories of entrenched inequalities in South Africa into the present. The research findings reinforce a relational and constructed understanding of gender emphasising that gender norms can be reconfigured and positively transformed. We argue that this transformation can be catalysed through networked and multidimensional strategies of collective action that engage the personal agency of men and women and their interpersonal relationships at multiple levels and across boundaries of social class, race and gender. This collectivity needs to be conscious of and engaged with the structural inequalities that deeply influence trajectories of change. Citizens and civil society must work with the institutions - political, religious, social and economic - that reinforce structural violence in order to ensure their accountability in ending SGBV. Details: Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 2015. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Evidence Report No. 118: Accessed May 27, 2017 at: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/5858/ER118_TurningtheTide.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2015 Country: South Africa URL: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/5858/ER118_TurningtheTide.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 145830 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Inequality Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Kaspiew, Rae Title: Domestic and family violence and parenting: Mixed methods insights into impact and support needs: Final report Summary: The Domestic and Family Violence and Parenting program is an extensive mixed method project that examines the impact of inter-parental conflict (IPC) and domestic and family violence (DFV) on parenting and parent-child relationships. It makes a unique contribution by bringing together evidence on a diversity of Australian populations, life-course stages, and experiences of IPC and DFV. The research captures the experiences and impacts on fathers, mothers, and children at varying ages and stages of development and independence. This has enabled identification of important issues that are shared or differ across gender and family structure. The results illustrate the impacts of IPC and DFV that affect a large number of families, as well as the experiences of those who have undergone highly challenging and traumatic circumstances. The research findings have significant police and practice implications at a range of levels, including: - Women who engage with services against a background of DFV have a number of complex material and psychosocial needs. - If women are not already engaged with a specialist DFV service, then such a referral is usually necessary. - It is likely that women and their children are experiencing ongoing abuse unless contact with the perpetrator has ceased and other safety measures to prevent abuse are available (e.g. being legally permitted to live at an undisclosed address to prevent stalking). - Women may need assistance and referral in relation to financial and housing needs, including being informed about the availability of Financial Wellbeing and Capability services and Financial Counselling. - Women and their children may be experiencing physical and emotional consequences from DFV and abuse and may need long-term therapeutic assistance. - Mothers may need referrals to programs and services that will support the restoration of parenting capacity from a perspective of understanding the dynamics of DFV, including programs that offer services to mothers and children together. Children may also need assistance separately. - Where relationships between fathers and children are being maintained, fathers may need referral to services in relation to parenting. Where this is occurring, the wellbeing and safety of children need to be monitored. - Service providers should be alert to the fact that their services and other types of services and agencies may be used in a pattern of systems abuse. Staff, including legal professionals, should be trained to recognise this and provide appropriate advice and referrals where this is occurring. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2017. 228p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2017 at: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Parenting_Horizons_FINAL.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Parenting_Horizons_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 146480 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Family Violence Parenting Violence Against Women

Author: Loveland, Jennifer E. Title: The Relationships Among Different Traits of Masculinity and Intimate Partner Violence Summary: Research has shown that distinct yet overlapping concepts of dominance, hostility towards women, and sexism - all indices of masculinity - influence the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV), although the mechanisms are unclear. This paper seeks to explore the relationship between these individual-level trait measures of masculinity and two aspects of IPV, physical violence and coercive control. With inconsistent findings and the limited study of clinical populations, further examination of these concepts may provide increased understanding of the mechanisms behind IPV perpetration. Results will provide a greater understanding of the complexity of this violence in order to better assist individuals experiencing IPV. Details: New York: City University of New York, 2017. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 21, 2017 at: http://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2185/ Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2185/ Shelf Number: 146791 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Masculinity Violence Against Women

Author: Harvey, Shannon Title: Not worth reporting: women's experiences of alcohol, drugs and sexual violence Summary: Dominant narratives around the links between sexual violence and alcohol or other drug use are often problematic, if not outright victim-blaming. This includes public awareness campaigns that seek to limit women's freedom of movement and expression through advice to limit drinking or take taxis home from bars, through to jury attitudes that result in women being seen as less "reliable" witnesses in court if they were intoxicated at the time of the offence. Nevertheless, it seems clear that perpetrators are often predatory and do target vulnerabilities, with a third of survivors who report being raped to the Metropolitan Police Service also reporting that they had taken substances prior to the attack, and one in six reporting having a mental health problem (Stanko, 2011). While it is an offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to administer a substance with the intent of incapacitating someone in order to sexually assault them, the law is less clear when survivors have knowingly consumed drugs and/or alcohol. The prosecution must demonstrate that the survivor lacked 'capacity to consent' through intoxication, and while judgements have suggested that the law provides clear guidance on capacity (R v Bree [2007] EWCA 256), survivors who were intoxicated at the time they were raped continue to face being labelled as unreliable witnesses, both by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), jurors (Wenger & Bornstein, 2006) and the public (Opinion Matters, 2007; ICM, 2005). AVA's primary purpose in undertaking this research project was to seek the views of survivors themselves on this sensitive topic, and in particular, to investigate the relevance of the concept of "capacity to consent" to survivors. In order to achieve this, we employed a mixed methods approach, comprising: a. A literature review investigating how the use of alcohol or other drugs is understood to impact on "capacity to consent" to sexual activity. b. Two online questionnaires. One questionnaire was targeted at practitioners working with survivors of sexual violence, to which 123 people completed more than the initial eligibility questions. The second survey was targeted at survivors of sexual violence to ascertain whether either they or the perpetrator had consumed alcohol or other drugs prior to the assault. 167 people responded to the survivor questionnaire, and the answers from 76 respondents were used in the analysis. Other respondents were either ineligible or only completed the demographic questions. c. One-to-one interviews. 21 survey respondents provided contact details, of which six participated in an interview with a researcher. Details: London: AVA (Against Violence & Abuse), 2014. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2017 at: https://avaproject.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Not-worth-reporting-Full-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://avaproject.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Not-worth-reporting-Full-report.pdf Shelf Number: 136998 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mills, Elizabeth Title: 'They Call Me Warrior': The Legacy of Conflict and the Struggle to End Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Sierra Leone Summary: A relatively small country with just over 6 million people, Sierra Leone has been the focus of considerable public and policy attention because of the recent Ebola epidemic and, before that, the decade-long civil war. Given the concern with finding ways to 'build Sierra Leone differently' in the post-Ebola context, this paper considers some of the legacies of the country's history. It focuses on gender and the emergence of a dynamic network of actors that reveal not only the country's history of violence but also its capacity for 'rebuilding differently' to foster resilience and create long-term social transformation. During the war, from 1991 to 2002, an estimated 50,000 people were killed and more than 500,000 were forced to flee their homes to escape violence. Statistics can never sufficiently capture the horror of the war, but they can indicate the extent to which multiple forms of violence permeated people's lives. The legacy of violence is equally difficult to quantify but, as we found in our fieldwork in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2015, it is woven into people's everyday lives, and particularly in their sense of trust in each other and in formal and informal institutions. This report focuses on one particularly pernicious form of violence - sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) - as it is, and was, experienced by men and women. The impact of the war and the country's transition to democracy surfaces in lesser known ways too; in this paper we describe how networks of actors emerged in refugee camps and coalesced around a shared struggle to transform harmful gender relations and end violence. Based on fieldwork with these actors, we outline some of the social, economic and infrastructural challenges they face in their work to collectively foster gender equality and end SGBV. According to the activists we engaged with in Sierra Leone, the challenge of addressing SGBV has sometimes been exacerbated by a limited conception of development, which too often assumes that models for social and economic 'progress' can be imported and implanted into highly complex contexts. Far greater attention therefore needs to be paid to local specificity, to the effects of sexual and gender violence on all genders, and to the recommendations made by those people and organisations working to create sustained and positive change in these complex contexts. The findings of this study speak to this complexity and are organised, first, around the factors that underpin SGBV and, second, around the key actors working to transform harmful gender dynamics through collective action. Details: Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies (IDS), 2015. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Evidence Report no. 155: Accessed August 26, 2017 at: https://www.ids.ac.uk/publication/they-call-me-warrior-the-legacy-of-conflict-and-the-struggle-to-end-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-in-sierra-leone Year: 2015 Country: Sierra Leone URL: https://www.ids.ac.uk/publication/they-call-me-warrior-the-legacy-of-conflict-and-the-struggle-to-end-sexual-and-gender-based-violence-in-sierra-leone Shelf Number: 137053 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Shahrokh, Thea Title: MASVAW Movement Mapping Report: Movement Mapping and Critical Reflection with Activists of the Men's Action to Stop Violence Against Women (MASVAW) Campaign, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, August 2014 Summary: Engaging men and boys in addressing gender-based violence has grown in attention over the past 20 years. However, the emerging field predominantly focuses on the issues as a problem of individuals, neglecting the role of the institutions and policies that shape norms of gender inequality and perpetuate violent power asymmetries between men and women in people's everyday lives (Cornwall, Edstrom and Grieg 2011). Men's engagement in addressing GBV has therefore tended to be relatively depoliticised, focusing predominantly on individuals' attitude and behaviour change, and less on accountability of the structures that uphold patriarchal power relations and male supremacy, such as macroeconomic policies and the governance cultures of many formal and informal institutions. This movement mapping report thus introduces a collaborative research project between the Centre for Health and Social Justice (CHSJ), India, their local activist partners in the Men's Action to Stop Violence Against Women (MASVAW) campaign and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) to explore the effectiveness of men's collective action in addressing GBV. CHSJ is working across India on the issue of mobilising men to transform discriminatory norms into those based on equity, equality and gender justice to ensure the fundamental human rights of all people. The research is premised on the notion that challenging patriarchy and working towards gender equality must include working with men and boys to understand their privileges as well as the co-option, coercion and subjugation that they also face within a patriarchal system. In turn, we aim to improve understanding and knowledge of the changing roles of men in addressing GBV and how and why collective action holds possibilities as an effective strategy to support this in the Indian context. This research is exploring the actors, strategies, challenges, collaborations and pathways for future engagement of the MASVAW campaign that works across the state of Uttar Pradesh. Details: Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: IDS Evidence Report 107: Accessed September 9, 2017 at: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/5733/ER107_MASVAWMovementMappingReport.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2015 Country: India URL: https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/5733/ER107_MASVAWMovementMappingReport.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 147199 Keywords: Abusive Men Family Violence Gender-Related Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Lachenal, Cecile Title: Women's Political Representation as Key to Implementing Domestic Violence Laws: An Analysis of Ghana and Mexico Summary: Since the 1990s, over one hundred countries have passed domestic violence legislation in response to calls from the international community to that effect. Mexico and Ghana are two such countries. Having passed these laws, however, Mexico and Ghana have taken quite divergent paths during implementation. Mexico's protective services for survivors of domestic violence are far more comprehensive than those in Ghana. 72 shelters have been established where survivors can access coordinated legal, medical, psychological, training and financial support. In addition, both state and non-state actors work together to deliver these services with funding from the government and international sources. Ghana, on the other hand, has only set up two shelters and while some support services are provided, they are not always available. Furthermore, Ghana relies very heavily on international donor agencies for funding to execute its domestic violence programmes. This presents a challenge because donor agencies focus more heavily on advocacy work than on service provision. With a focus on the delivery of protection services, this paper explores the factors that shaped the contrasting outcomes of the implementation of domestic violence legislation in Ghana and Mexico. We argue that differing levels of gender institutionalisation in the two countries explain these divergent outcomes. We explain gender institutionalisation as the ability of female politicians to fully operationalise women's human rights. Countries that have high levels of gender institutionalisation go beyond passing bills to ensure implementation. Such governments demonstrate the political commitment required to put in place the institutional and financial frameworks that make the implementation of social legislation possible. Mexico, we argue, has higher levels of gender institutionalisation than Ghana. The Mexican government has set up a number of institutions with a specific focus on addressing domestic violence issues from a human rights perspective. Ghana, on the other hand, has established fewer institutions. Mexico also has the added advantage of providing state funds to these institutions which enables them implement the national law on domestic violence. Levels of gender institutionalisation, we argue, depend primarily on the proportion of female parliamentary representatives in each country; with Mexico demonstrating a much higher level of symbolic and substantive female representation in parliament than Ghana. In 2007, when the domestic violence law was passed, 23.2% of parliamentarians in Mexico were women. Beyond this symbolic representation, female parliamentarians have also ensured substantive representation of women's interests in legislative processes. This is evident in two ways. First, these women entered into a pact in which they agreed to vote in favour of laws that benefited women, regardless of their personal political persuasions. Secondly, they worked in collaboration with the Gender Equality Commission to push for gender budgeting to be introduced into government systems. This led to the allocation of state funds to the various institutions that had been put in charge of implementing the domestic violence law. Ghana, on the other hand, has far fewer female representatives in parliament. In percentage terms, the number has hovered around 10% since the return to democratic rule in 1992. These women have been unable to translate their presence in parliament into substantive gains for Ghanaian women so far as domestic violence issues are concerned. Based on our findings about the Mexican experience, we make three recommendations for Ghana and other countries interested in implementing domestic violence laws. First, we argue for the development of policies and programmes to ensure increased representation of women in parliament. Second, we advocate for civil society organisations to work with female parliamentarians to improve the substantive representation of women's issues in parliament. Finally, we recommend gender budgeting be integrated into government systems at national and regional levels Details: Mexico: Fundar, Centre of Analysis and Research, 2017. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Comparative Evidence Paper: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: http://fundar.org.mx/mexico/pdf/CEPwomens.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://fundar.org.mx/mexico/pdf/CEPwomens.pdf Shelf Number: 147252 Keywords: Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Laws Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Lewis-Charp, Heather Title: Strengthening Cultural Competency in California's Domestic Violence Field for High-Need, Underserved Populations Summary: In 2012, The Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF)'s program area Blue Shield Against Violence (BSAV) launched a project called "Strengthening Cultural Competency in California's Domestic Violence Field for High-Need, Underserved Populations" (BSAV CC) to support and promote promising culturally competent practices within the domestic violence field. BSCF enlisted RDP Consulting (RDP) to manage the $2.6 million initiative and to provide capacity-building services, and provided two-year grants to 17 community partners across the state of California. The BSAV CC Project specifically sought to support domestic violence-related outreach to Tribal communities, African Americans, and recent immigrant populations. Social Policy Research Associates (SPR) received a grant from BSCF to support the learning and evaluation of this project. Over the two years of the evaluation, SPR conducted 78 phone interviews with community partners, RDP consultants, project-level evaluators, and field leaders. SPR also conducted one-day visits to 11 programs -visits that included interviews with executive directors, board members, outreach staff, key program partners, and clients. Finally, SPR attended project convenings and events, reviewed project documentation (e.g., proposals, reports), and administered two rounds of a social networking survey to all community partners. This Final Report highlights the outcomes of the two-year evaluation, at both the organizational and field levels. Details: Oakland, CA: Social Policy Research Associates, 2014. 1-8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2017 at: https://www.blueshieldcafoundation.org/sites/default/files/u9/CC_Eval_Report_Final_July_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.blueshieldcafoundation.org/sites/default/files/u9/CC_Eval_Report_Final_July_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 147345 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Minority Groups Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Sviatschi, Maria Micaela Title: Essays on Human Capital, Labor and Development Economics Summary: This dissertation contains four essays on human capital, labor and development economics. The first two chapters study how exposure to particular labor markets during childhood determines the formation of industry-specific human capital generating longterm consequences in terms of adult criminal behavior, labor outcomes and state legitimacy. The third chapter explores how criminal capital developed during childhood can be exported to other locations generating spillover effects on human capital accumulation. Finally, the last chapter studies how improving access to justice for women affects children's outcomes. Chapter 1, "Making a Narco: Childhood Exposure to Illegal Labor Markets and Criminal Life Paths", shows that exposing children to illegal labor markets makes them more likely to be criminals as adults. I exploit the timing of a large anti-drug policy in Colombia that shifted cocaine production to locations in Peru that were well-suited to growing coca. In these areas, children harvest coca leaves and transport processed cocaine. Using variation across locations, years, and cohorts, combined with administrative data on the universe of individuals in prison in Peru, affected children are 30% more likely to be incarcerated for violent and drug-related crimes as adults. The biggest impacts on adult criminality are seen among children who experienced high coca prices in their early teens, the age when child labor responds the most. No effect is found for individuals that grow up working in places where the coca produced goes primarily to the legal sector, implying that it is the accumulation of human capital specific to the illegal industry that fosters criminal careers. As children involved in the illegal industry learn how to navigate outside the rule of law, they also lose trust in government institutions. However, consistent with a model of parental incentives for human capital investments in children, the rollout of a conditional cash transfer program that encourages schooling mitigates the ef- fects of exposure to illegal industries. Finally, I show how the program can be targeted by taking into account the geographic distribution of coca suitability and spatial spillovers. Overall, this paper takes a first step towards understanding how criminals are formed by unpacking the way in which crime-specific human capital is developed at the expense of formal human capital in "bad locations." While my first chapter focuses on low-skilled labor and criminal capital, my second chapter studies the expansion of high-skilled labor markets. In Chapter 2, "Long-term Effects of Temporary Labor Demand: Free Trade Zones, Female Education and Marriage Market Outcomes in the Dominican Republic", I exploit the sudden and massive growth of female factory jobs in free trade zones (FTZs) in the Dominican Republic in the 1990s, and subsequent decline in the 2000s, to provide the first evidence that even relatively brief episodes of preferential trade treatments for export industries may have permanent effects on human capital levels and female empowerment. Focusing on a sample of provinces that established FTZs and exploiting variation in the opening of zones and age of women at the time of opening, I show that the FTZs' openings led to a large and very robust increase in girls' education. The effect persists after a decline in FTZs' jobs in the 2000s following the end of a trade agreement with the U.S. and an increase in competition from Asia. The reason appears to be that the increase in some girls' education changed marriage markets: girls whose education increased due to the FTZs' openings married later, had better matches with more stable marriages, gave birth later, and had children who were more likely to survive infancy. In sum, the evidence in this paper indicates that labor markets can improve female outcomes in developing countries through general equilibrium effects in the education and marriage markets. Another question I address in my dissertation is whether criminal capital developed during childhood can be exported to other locations. In the first chapter, I find that individuals take skills related to the illegal drug industry with them when they move to other districts, even when they move to districts without significant illegal industries. Chapter 3, "Exporting Criminal Capital: The Effect of U.S. Deportations on Gang Expansion and Human Capital in Central America", provides new evidence on how an increase in criminal capital due to deportations from the US affects human capital investments in El Salvador. In 1996, the U.S. Illegal Immigration Responsibility Act drastically increased the number of criminal deportations. In particular, the leaders of large gangs in Los Angeles were sent back to their countries. In addition to having a direct effect, the arrival of individuals bringing criminal skills and connections may have generated important spillover effects. We exploit this policy to look at the impact that deportation policies and the subsequent arrival of criminal capital to El Salvador had on several educational and economic outcomes. Using the 1996 policy and geographical variation in the exact location and delimitation of different gang groups, we find that criminal deportations led to large increase in crime and decrease in human capital accumulation for children living in these areas. Overall, this project helps to understand one of the reasons why El Salvador is among the world's most violent peacetime countries. Understanding these effects is crucial for public policy to successfully incorporate deported criminals back into society. While my work in the Dominican Republic and the previous literature has shown that increasing the returns to education for women incentivizes schooling, there is little evidence on how domestic violence affects human capital development and whether improving access to institutions for women can address these issues. During my field work in rural areas of Peru, I found that institutions do not usually address the problems facing women or ethnic and religious minorities. For example, the police do very little to stop domestic violence. Moreover, in many cases, women do not even trust these institutions enough to report these issues. Chapter 4, "Inter-Generational Impacts of Improving Access to Justice for Women: Evidence from Peru", exploits the introduction of women's justice centers (WJCs) in Peru to provide causal estimates on the effects of improving access to justice for women and children. Our empirical approach uses variation over time in the distance from schools and households to the nearest WJC together with province- by-year fixed effects. After the opening of WJC, we find that primary school enrollment increases at schools that are within a 1km radius of a WJC and the effect decreases with distance. In addition, we also find that primary school second graders have better test scores in reading and mathematics. Moreover, we find that children in primary school living in household's located near a WJC are more likely to attend school, to pass a grade and they are also less likely to drop out of school. We also provide some evidence that these improvements might be driven by an increase in the bargaining power of women inside the household and decrease in domestic violence. In sum, the evidence in this paper shows that providing access to justice for women can be a powerful tool to reduce domestic violence and increase education of children, suggesting a positive inter-generational benefit. Details: New York: Columbia University, 2017. 243p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 20, 2017 at: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:nk98sf7m24 Year: 2017 Country: South America URL: https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/catalog/ac:nk98sf7m24 Shelf Number: 147415 Keywords: Child Labor Cocaine Drug Policy Economics of Crime Gangs Illegal Drugs Illegal Immigrants Illegal Industries Labor Markets Violence Against Women

Author: Wendt, Sarah Title: Seeking help for domestic and family violence: Exploring regional, rural, and remote women's coping experiences: Final report Summary: This report presents the results of a qualitative study examining the experiences of women seeking help for domestic and family violence who live in regional, rural, and remote areas in Australia. The study contributes to the limited evidence on how geographical and social isolation shapes women's coping with and decisions to seek assistance for domestic and family violence, and their efforts to live safely. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2017. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Research report: Accessed October 3, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/106901/apo-nid106901-430811.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/106901/apo-nid106901-430811.pdf Shelf Number: 147532 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Rural Areas Victim Services Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Title: Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview Summary: In late 2013, the Commissioner of the RCMP initiated an RCMP-led study of reported incidents of missing and murdered Aboriginal women across all police jurisdictions in Canada. This report summarizes that effort and will guide Canadian Police operational decision-making on a solid foundation. It will mean more targeted crime prevention, better community engagement and enhanced accountability for criminal investigations. It will also assist operational planning from the detachment to national level. In sum, it reveals the following: Police-recorded incidents of Aboriginal female homicides and unresolved missing Aboriginal females in this review total 1,181 - 164 missing and 1,017 homicide victims. There are 225 unsolved cases of either missing or murdered Aboriginal females: 105 missing for more than 30 days as of November 4, 2013, whose cause of disappearance was categorized at the time as "unknown" or "foul play suspected" and 120 unsolved homicides between 1980 and 2012. The total indicates that Aboriginal women are over-represented among Canada's murdered and missing women. There are similarities across all female homicides. Most homicides were committed by men and most of the perpetrators knew their victims - whether as an acquaintance or a spouse. The majority of all female homicides are solved (close to 90%) and there is little difference in solve rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal victims. This report concludes that the total number of murdered and missing Aboriginal females exceeds previous public estimates. This total significantly contributes to the RCMP's understanding of this challenge, but it represents only a first step. It is the RCMP's intent to work with the originating agencies responsible for the data herein to release as much of it as possible to stakeholders. Already, the data on missing Aboriginal women has been shared with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR), which will be liaising with policing partners to publish additional cases on the Canada's Missing website. Ultimately, the goal is to make information more widely available after appropriate vetting. While this matter is without question a policing concern, it is also a much broader societal challenge. The collation of this data was completed by the RCMP and the assessments and conclusions herein are those of the RCMP alone. The report would not have been possible without the support and contribution of the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics at Statistics Canada. As with any effort of such magnitude, this report needs to be caveated with a certain amount of error and imprecision. This is for a number of reasons: the period of time over which data was collected was extensive; collection by investigators means data is susceptible to human error and interpretation; inconsistency of collection of variables over the review period and across multiple data sources; and, finally, definitional challenges. Details: Ottawa: RCMP, 2014. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2017 at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/460/original/0cbd8968a049aa0b44d343e76b4a9478.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/460/original/0cbd8968a049aa0b44d343e76b4a9478.pdf Shelf Number: 147550 Keywords: Aboriginals Crime Statistics Homicides Missing Persons Murders Violence Against Women

Author: Royal Canadian Mounted Police Title: Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: 2015 Update to the National Operational Overview Summary: In May 2014, the RCMP released Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: A National Operational Overview. The 2015 report provides updated statistics and analysis on new cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women that have occurred since then, and addresses the investigative, procedural and preventative strides that the RCMP has taken in meeting the "Next Steps" outlined in the 2014 Overview. Some of the key findings in this update include the following: There was a 9.3% reduction in the number of unsolved Aboriginal female homicides and "suspicious" missing person cases from the 2014 Overview (225 cases to 204 cases) across all police jurisdictions. In 2013 and 2014 within RCMP jurisdictions, there were 32 Aboriginal female homicide cases. The proportion of Aboriginal female homicide victims within RCMP jurisdictions in 2013 and 2014 is consistent with levels of the past decade. The overall solve rate for female homicides in RCMP jurisdictions for 2013 and 2014 was 82%. Homicides of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women had similar solve rates of 81% and 83%. RCMP homicide data from 2013 and 2014 shows a strong nexus to family violence. Female victims, regardless of ethnicity, are most frequently killed by men within their own homes and communities. As of April 2015, for all police jurisdictions in Canada, there were 174 missing Aboriginal female cases. This represents 10% of the 1,750 missing females reported on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC). Eleven additional Aboriginal women have been identified as missing since the 2014 Overview was conducted. Parallel to the findings of the 2014 Overview in which most homicide victims had a previous relationship with the offender, the 2013 and 2014 RCMP data reveals that the offender was known to the victim in 100% of the solved homicides of Aboriginal women in RCMP jurisdictions, and in 93% of cases of solved homicides of non-Aboriginal women. Violence within family relationships is a key factor in homicides of women, and has prompted the RCMP to focus intervention and prevention efforts on familial and spousal violence. The RCMP remains committed to ensuring the reduction and prevention of violence against Aboriginal women. However, the RCMP is only one partner among many government and non-government organizations (NGOs), social service agencies, health professionals and citizens who must align their efforts to reduce the high rates of violent victimization experienced by Aboriginal women. Violence in our communities is a societal concern for Canada that goes beyond the responsibility of law enforcement, government and social services. While the safety of Canada's citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, is everyone's responsibility, communities play a vital role in developing and leading solutions. Aboriginal communities need to be included in working partnerships that will collectively focus on how best to approach challenges and find solutions that will enhance the safety and security of everyone. Since the release of the 2014 Overview, there has been significant advancement of public understanding and awareness of the issue of violence against Aboriginal women. However, this update shows that Aboriginal women continue to be over-represented among Canada's murdered and missing women. Details: Ottawa: RCMP, 2015. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2017 at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/455/original/c3561a284cfbb9c244bef57750941439.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/wam/media/455/original/c3561a284cfbb9c244bef57750941439.pdf Shelf Number: 147551 Keywords: Aboriginals Crime Statistics Homicides Missing Persons Murders Violence Against Women

Author: O'Brien, Mary Title: Connecting to Safety and Stability: Domestic Violence Needs Assessment of Chicago Summary: Domestic violence is pervasive, dangerous, and impacts individuals and communities throughout our state. It is estimated that more than 2 million Illinoisans have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. A new report, released today, examines its prevalence in Chicago and what needs to be done to better serve survivors. In Connecting to Safety and Stability: Domestic Violence Needs Assessment of Chicago, Heartland Alliance's Social IMPACT Research Center, documents the existing domestic violence response system in Chicago, highlights the gaps that need to be filled, and makes recommendations to strengthen the existing response system and better meet survivors' needs. The report found that: Domestic violence occurs throughout the city, but there is disparate access to services for survivors. While national data suggests that women of color experience domestic violence at a higher rate than their white counterparts, available domestic violence services are predominantly located in majority white communities and/or higher-income communities. Locally, the communities with some of the highest rates of domestic crimes have the least physical access to domestic violence services. This means that too many individuals who need to access these critical services cannot get to them or have a much more difficult time doing so. The state budget impasse significantly impacted providers that offer services to survivors of domestic violence. Among service providers that primarily serve survivors of domestic violence, 65% reported that they have limited referral partners as a result of the state budget impasse, 47% have tapped into cash reserves, 41% have had to reduce staff, and 35% have tapped into lines of credit. Survivors use the services that are currently offered by domestic violence service organizations. In 2016, 10,194 survivors received services from Chicago-based providers. Service providers in Chicago are consistently operating at or over capacity. Additional support is needed for policies and programs that address the long-term needs of survivors, including policies that address poverty and economic needs. In 2016, 43.8% of survivors had a monthly income of $500 or less. In addition to this demonstrated economic need among service recipients, economic abuse is commonly used in domestic violence, contributing to the financial needs of survivors. The most consistent unmet need identified by stakeholders was safe and affordable housing and shelter. Shelters consistently operate at capacity and there are few options for a survivor who does not want to go to shelter. There were 46,301 domestic incidents in 2016, a rate of 1,704 domestic incidents per 100,000 Chicagoans. And on average, the police responded to 127 incidents and made 23 arrests in response to a domestic incident per day in 2016. "Domestic Violence occurs in every community area in Chicago. But, not all of our communities are resourced the same, resulting in drastically limited options for survivors in specific communities in our city," says Mary O'Brien, Senior Research Associate at Heartland Alliance. "Chicago must address the systemic inequities that exist in the availability and access to domestic violence services." Coming on the heels of the protracted state budget crisis, this report documents the important role service providers play in responding to this pervasive issue and identifies the outstanding needs of survivors. Connecting to Safety and Stability demonstrates that current services are heavily used by survivors of domestic violence. In total, survivors received 149,864 hours of direct services in 2016. From counseling, legal advocacy, life skills, health and wellness, and supports for children, providers offer, quite literally, lifesaving services that are desperately needed. It is imperative that these services receive adequate funding to continue, and expand, the work that they do and the individuals that they reach. In addition to evaluations and findings, Connecting to Safety and Stability recommends various changes to funding, policy, and practice to bolster the domestic violence response in Chicago Details: Chicago: Heartland Alliance, Social Impact Research Center, 2017. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2017 at: http://socialimpactresearchcenter.issuelab.org/resource/connecting-to-safety-and-stability-domestic-violence-needs-assessment-of-chicago-4.html Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://socialimpactresearchcenter.issuelab.org/resource/connecting-to-safety-and-stability-domestic-violence-needs-assessment-of-chicago-4.html Shelf Number: 147588 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Title: Findings and Recommendations Relative to the Status of Domestic Abuse Intervention Programming in Louisiana Summary: This report provides an analysis of select aspects of domestic violence response in Louisiana, supplements information available from other sources, and identifies significant areas of remaining need in our state's domestic violence response. It is meant to give a voice to domestic violence survivors as it relates to their experience navigating various systems. Details: Baton Rouge: The Coalition, 2012. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2017 at: http://lcadv.org/wp-content/uploads/DAIP-Report-to-Legislature-02-20-12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://lcadv.org/wp-content/uploads/DAIP-Report-to-Legislature-02-20-12.pdf Shelf Number: 147594 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Victims Services Violence Against Women

Author: McCormick, Amanda V. Title: Enhancing Surrey RCMP Detachment's Domestic Violence Unit Summary: Violence against women is a global concern, so much so that in 1993 the United Nations issued a Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women in which they defined violence against women as "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 such acts..." (UN: 1993). A common form of violence against women is the violence, or threat thereof, perpetrated against a woman by her domestic partner - known alternatively as violence against women, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, spousal violence, or family violence (see Rossiter, 2011 for a more in depth discussion of these definitions). Domestic violence - the threat or engagement in physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a person towards their romantic partner - occurs all too frequently in Canadian society, and was estimated to cost Canadian society over $7 billion in 2009 (Zhang, Hoddenbagh, McDonald, & Scrim, 2012). Of note, while domestic violence can also be perpetrated by a female against her male or female partner, the bulk of domestic violence calls for service to the police involve heterosexual couples, where the male partner is accused of engaging in violence against a female partner. This report focuses on the activities of the Surrey RCMP specialized Domestic Violence Unit and its activities to reduce and prevent domestic violence. This report provides the summation of interviews conducted with current and former members of the Domestic Violence Unit in the Surrey RCMP, as well as North American literature on domestic violence for context. The report concludes with recommendations for the Surrey RCMP to consider to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of this unit in handling domestic violence investigations and managing serious and persistent domestic violence offenders. Details: Abbotsford, BC: University of the Fraser Valley, Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research, 2017. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 4, 2017 at: https://cjr.ufv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Surrey-RCMP-Domesitc-Violence-Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Canada URL: https://cjr.ufv.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Surrey-RCMP-Domesitc-Violence-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 148036 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mann, Rosemary Title: Norma's Project: A Research Study into the Sexual Assault of Older Women in Australia Summary: Norma's Project was conceived in response to the experience of Norma, the mother of one of the four researchers involved in the project. Norma was a confused and vulnerable 83 year old woman who was sexually assaulted by a male staff member during a respite stay in a residential aged care facility in 2011. Norma was able to tell her story coherently and consistently, and she was able to identify her attacker. She was fortunate that her daughter and others, including police and sexual assault workers, listened and believed her account, tried to bring the perpetrator to justice, and worked hard to make her feel safe again. Nonetheless, given the lack of forensic evidence, the case against the perpetrator was not strong enough for a successful court action to be prosecuted. The idea of older women as victims of sexual assault is relatively recent and little understood. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that, despite the silence that surrounds the topic, such assaults occur in many settings and circumstances. The lack of community awareness can be partly attributed to commonly held assumptions that older women are asexual. How, then, can they be the target of sexual assault? What is unimaginable and unacceptable becomes unsayable or invisible. The significant gaps in knowledge about the sexual assault of older women present a major obstacle to the development of frameworks and strategies for prevention and intervention. Consequently the Norma's Project research team sought funding from the Australian Department of Social Services to address the gaps and increase our understandings of the settings, social contexts and vulnerabilities associated with the sexual assault of older women. The project aims to increase awareness of this important issue both within the community and amongst service providers, and to strengthen the community's ability to prevent, respond to and speak out about the sexual assault of older women. Details: Melbourne: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS), LaTrobe University, 2014. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2017 at: http://elder-mediation.com.au/resources/Sexual_Assault_Older_Women_Australia.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://elder-mediation.com.au/resources/Sexual_Assault_Older_Women_Australia.pdf Shelf Number: 148283 Keywords: Elder Abuse and Neglect Elderly Victims Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Prison Reform Trust Title: "There's a reason we're in trouble": Domestic abuse as a driver to women's offending Summary: Many women in prison have been victims of much more serious offences than the ones they are accused of, with a growing body of research indicating that women's exposure to physical, emotional and sexual abuse, including coercive control, is for some a driver of their offending. A key difference between women and men in prison is that family relationships tend to be a protective factor for men whilst, for women, relationships are more often a risk factor. Baroness Corston's study of women in the criminal justice system a decade ago found that coercion by male partners and relatives is a distinct route into criminality and prison for some women. The purpose of this briefing is to highlight the links between women's victimisation and their offending and make recommendations that will help break the cycle. Our intention is neither to pathologise nor to exculpate women offenders affected by domestic abuse, but to understand the factors underlying their offending and ensure that these are fully and fairly taken into account in decision-making by criminal justice agencies. The co-existence of victimisation and offending is now better recognised, but the links between them are still not well understood by all agencies. There has been some progress both in tackling violence and abuse against women and girls, and in the treatment of victims in the criminal justice system. Improvements in the police response and in aspects of the court process should lead to benefits for women offenders affected by domestic abuse, but challenges remain. The latest figures from the Crown Prosecution Service show a reduction in prosecutions for domestic abuse, and funding cuts to specialist domestic abuse services including refuges leave vulnerable women without support. The links between domestic abuse and offending by women require more attention in: - UK and Welsh Government strategies on tackling violence against women and girls, on women offenders, and on victims - Sentencing guidance - Frameworks of standards, guidance and training for all criminal justice professionals - police, prosecutors, offender managers, criminal defence lawyers and the judiciary - Commissioning of specialist, gender-specific support and rehabilitation programmes in prison and the community - Police responses to women offenders who may be affected by domestic abuse, including through problem solving triage and diversion schemes. Details: London: PRT, 2017. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Domestic_abuse_report_final_lo.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Domestic_abuse_report_final_lo.pdf Shelf Number: 148855 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Female Offenders Violence Against Women

Author: Kavanaugh, Guadalupe E. Title: Inter-Generational Benefits of Improving Access to Justice for Women: Evidence from Peru Summary: Domestic violence is a major concern in developing countries, with important social, economic and health consequences. However, institutions do not usually address the problems facing women or ethnic and religious minorities. For example, the police do very little to stop domestic violence in rural areas of developing countries. This paper exploits the introduction of Women's Justice Centers (WJCs) in Peru to provide causal estimates on the effects of improving access to justice for women and children. These centers offer a new integrated public service model for women by including medical, psychological and legal support in cases of violence against women. Our empirical approach uses a difference in difference estimation exploiting variation over time and space in the opening of WJC centers together with province-by-year fixed effects. Exploiting administrative data from health providers, district attorney offices and schools, we find that after the opening of these centers, there are important improvements on women's welfare: a large reduction in domestic violence, feminicides and female hospitalizations for assault. Moreover, using geo-coded household surveys we find evidence that the existence of these services increase women's threat points and, therefore, lead to household decisions that are more aligned with their interests. Using administrative data on the universe of schools, we find large gains on human capital for their children: affected children are more likely to enroll, attend school and have better grades in national exams, instead of working for the family. In sum, the evidence in this paper shows that providing access to justice for women can be a powerful tool to reduce domestic violence and increase education of children, suggesting a positive inter-generational benefit. Details: Unpublished paper, 2017. 84p, Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3022670 Year: 2017 Country: Peru URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3022670 Shelf Number: 148860 Keywords: Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Family Violence Femicide Violence Against Women

Author: Blagg, Harry Title: Innovative models in addressing violence against Indigenous women: final report Summary: Innovative models in addressing violence against Indigenous women is an ANROWS research report led by Professor Harry Blagg of the University of Western Australia. Foregrounding the perspective of Aboriginal people who work within the family violence space or have had experience of family violence, this report is based on qualitative research in three sites in Australia: Fitzroy Crossing (Western Australia), Darwin (Northern Territory), and Cherbourg (Queensland). It supports the creation of a network of place-based Indigenous family violence strategies owned and managed by Indigenous people and linked to initiatives around alcohol reduction, inter-generational trauma, social and emotional wellbeing, and alternatives to custody. These initiatives may be constructed differently depending on context, but would ensure that responses to family violence reflect the needs of local women. Key findings: Violence against Indigenous women takes place at the intersection of a range of different forms of oppression, of which gender remains one. Emerging themes include: Mainstream agencies and Indigenous women hold different notions of what consists an "integrated response". Non-Indigenous practice focuses on an integrated criminal justice response that is designed to make the system more efficient and bring perpetrators to account. Indigenous organisations look at "integration" in terms of a holistic response that focuses on prevention and integration with cultural health and healing families. Policy and practice implications: Intervention and prevention in the family violence arena should be underpinned by a focus on social and emotional wellbeing philosophy. The Western Australia Police Order model should be the subject of deeper scrutiny and considered for use in other jurisdictions, particularly to identify how Indigenous organisations could play a greater role in following up interventions and working with families. Innovations in court practices, such as those designed to simplify proceedings and ensure victim safety, have relevance to family violence. The Integrated Domestic Violence Court's "one family/one judge" response (Neighbourhood Justice Centre, Collingwood) is an example. Consider the use of Gladue reports, which require judges to consider systemic factors and alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders and are mandatory in some Canadian territories when courts are sentencing or considering bail for Indigenous offenders. Details: Sydney: ANROWS, 2018. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Horizons, Issue 01, 2018: Accessed January 31, 2018 at: https://anrows.org.au/publications/horizons/innovative-models-in-addressing-violence-against-indigenous-women-final-report Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://anrows.org.au/publications/horizons/innovative-models-in-addressing-violence-against-indigenous-women-final-report Shelf Number: 148951 Keywords: Aboriginals Family Violence Indigenous Peoples Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Violence Policy Center Title: When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2011 Homicide Data - Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim/Single Offender Incidents Summary: Intimate partner violence against women is all too common and takes many forms. The most serious is homicide by an intimate partner. Guns can easily turn domestic violence into domestic homicide. One federal study on homicide among intimate partners found that female intimate partners are more likely to be murdered with a firearm than all other means combined, concluding that "the figures demonstrate the importance of reducing access to firearms in households affected by IPV [intimate partner violence]." Guns are also often used in non-fatal domestic violence. A study by Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed gun use at home and concluded that "hostile gun displays against family members may be more common than gun use in self-defense, and that hostile gun displays are often acts of domestic violence directed against women." The U.S. Department of Justice has found that women are far more likely to be the victims of violent crimes committed by intimate partners than men, especially when a weapon is involved. Moreover, women are much more likely to be victimized at home than in any other place. A woman must consider the risks of having a gun in her home, whether she is in a domestic violence situation or not. While two thirds of women who own guns acquired them "primarily for protection against crime," the results of a California analysis show that "purchasing a handgun provides no protection against homicide among women and is associated with an increase in their risk for intimate partner homicide." A 2003 study about the risks of firearms in the home found that females living with a gun in the home were nearly three times more likely to be murdered than females with no gun in the home. Finally, another study reports, women who were murdered were more likely, not less likely, to have purchased a handgun in the three years prior to their deaths, again invalidating the idea that a handgun has a protective effect against homicide. While this study does not focus solely on domestic violence homicide or guns, it provides a stark reminder that domestic violence and guns make a deadly combination. Firearms are rarely used to kill criminals or stop crimes.8 Instead, they are all too often used to inflict harm on the very people they were intended to protect. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports, in 2011 there were only 261 justifiable homicides committed by private citizens. Of these, only 31 involved women killing men. Of those, only 17 involved firearms, with 14 of the 17 involving handguns. While firearms are at times used by private citizens to kill criminals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most common scenarios of lethal gun use in America in 2010, the most recent final data available, are suicide (19,392), homicide (11,078), or fatal unintentional injury (606). When Men Murder Women is an annual report prepared by the Violence Policy Center detailing the reality of homicides committed against females by single male offenders. The study analyzes the most recent Supplementary Homicide Report (SHR) data submitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The information used for this report is for the year 2011. Once again, this is the most recent data available. This is the first analysis of the 2011 data on female homicide victims to offer breakdowns of cases in the 10 states with the highest female victim/male offender homicide rates, and the first to rank the states by the rate of female homicides. Details: Washington, DC: Violence Policy Center, 2013. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 13, 2018 at: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.vpc.org/studies/wmmw2013.pdf Shelf Number: 149112 Keywords: Crime Statistics Family Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicide (U.S.) Intimate Partner Violence Murders Violence Against Women

Author: Backbone Collective Title: Seen and not Heard: Children in the New Zealand Family Court. Part One - Force Summary: Six months ago, Backbone released a report about how women who have experienced violence and abuse in their relationships are treated by the New Zealand Family Court. Our concluding remarks in that report were: 'With over 500 women saying that the New Zealand Family Court makes them and their children less safe, leaves them with multiple crippling health conditions and prevents them from rebuilding their lives (and those of their children) - surely those in authority will listen now?' Since then Backbone has made repeated calls for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Family Court. But sadly, those in authority haven't listened - or if they listened they took no action. We hoped that in writing and releasing the first report the Family Court would be open to the service user feedback we were providing. However, we fear that there has been backlash for some women as they have spoken out about dangerous practices happening in their own cases. Backbone decided to conduct another survey on the Family Court - this time to find out how the Family Court responds to children when they and their mothers have experienced violence and abuse. Through this latest survey we have collected a rich and powerful set of data that is deeply troubling. What we discovered is that children fare very poorly when the Family Court is involved in their lives. Many mothers go to the Family Court for protection upon leaving an abusive partner, some get taken to the Family Court by the abuser, and some are involved in CYFs/MVCOT proceedings. Regardless of their pathway into the court we can now see that the impact on their children is overwhelmingly negative. Not only are the survey results cause for grave concern, but they take the system failures that we identified in our first Family Court report to a whole new level. All of the children in the survey have experienced violence and abuse - by seeing, hearing or knowing about the abuse of their mothers and/or by also being directly physically, sexually and/or psychologically abused. In 95% of cases the abuser was the child/ren's father. We were told about a complex array of trauma these children had suffered from the violence and abuse prior to separation. We were told about the many fears the children had about having contact with their abusive father post separation - with good justification based on the ranges of things mothers described happening at his house. In more than half the cases either the children or their mother told professionals working in the Family Court about the worries they had at the abuser's house but in the majority of cases those worries were not reported accurately to the Court or taken into consideration when care and contact orders were made. Most children are ordered into unsupervised care and contact with the abuser but the range of care arrangements is vast. However, of incredible significance is that when we compared how much time the Family Court is ordering children into care and contact with abusers against how much time the children say they WANT to spend with him - there is a big difference. Children want control over how much time they spend with the abuser and many want no contact at all. We were told that 54% of the children are being forced into care and contact arrangements that they do not want. These 'forced' children are significantly more worried about what happens at the abuser's house (sexual, physical and psychological safety issues) than children who were not forced. Similarly, we looked at the children who refused to attend care and contact visits with their abusive father - they had almost the same levels of worry as the 'forced' children. Therefore, the million-dollar question is why would the Family Court order/force children into the care of abusers with a known history of violence and abuse, when the children are scared of them and have told professionals working in the court that they feel unsafe when alone in the care of their abusive father? It appears that the Family Court is making care and contact orders in the absence of best practice in violence and abuse cases. For example, only 2.2% of mothers told us a risk assessment to determine the risk of dangerousness and lethality had been undertaken in their case. To be making care and contact orders for children who have experienced violence and abuse without any evidence based risk assessment is clear evidence of system failure - the Family Court is out of step with international best practice and the New Zealand Government's position on this: 'The government is committed to reducing family violence, keeping victims safe, and managing perpetrators more effectively so all New Zealanders can live free from violence. We know that identifying risk, intervening earlier and in a more coordinated way is critical to achieving this.'2 In the absence of any risk assessment the Family Court is characterising mothers who raise genuine safety concerns for their children as 'parental alienators'. Both this and our earlier Family Court survey found that professionals in the Family Court use 'parental alienation' or similar terms in nearly half of all cases. Children are not being believed about their experiences of violence an abuse, evidence of it occurring is being disregarded in the court and mothers are being blamed for their children's fears for their safety. Unfortunately, in many cases, the care and contact orders result in terrible health impacts for these children. We were told about a range of health impacts mothers attribute to Family Court proceedings and orders, including physical, psychological, social and behavioural impacts. The list of health impacts mothers detailed are heartbreaking. We found that the health of children of Māori mothers is impacted worse in some areas and this definitely requires further investigation. Backbone also found that the Family Court deems only a very small percentage of abusive men as unsafe to have contact with their children (or step children). Men who are most likely to be designated 'unsafe' by the Family Court are men with a Protection Order against this partner or a previous or subsequent partner, who have been charged with assaulting their child/ren physically or sexually or where the abuser was a step-father. For most of the 63 children involved in these cases the Family Court has ordered that they have no contact at all with the abuser, although some have supervised contact. Surprisingly we found that even though the fathers/step fathers of these 63 children are clearly very dangerous and these children have been exposed to some serious violence and abuse before their parents separated, once they separated and when protected appropriately by the Family Court, these children appear to have had far fewer damaging health impacts that those children whose abusive father was deemed as being 'safe' by the Family Court. Backbone is firmly of the view that the New Zealand Family Court is acting contrary to the legislation which should guide the way we respond to children. The Care of Children Act 2004 says that children MUST be protected from violence. Why then are hundreds of children being ordered by the Family Court directly into violent situations? These children are suffering at the hands of a largely tax payer funded system. These children are being ordered into dangerous situations by the very agencies and institutions that have been set up and funded by the state to protect them. New Zealand now has a new Government and Backbone's 1100 members hope they will see that constitutionally a Royal Commission of Inquiry is the only mechanism that can safely, effectively and fully investigate the practices of the Family Court. There is simply too much to lose by remaining silent on the issue of child safety in New Zealand. We rank the worst in the Western World in terms of violence against women statistics and child abuse and neglect. If we don't start improving the way we respond to these social problems we will only compound the damage done. Details: s.l.: The Collective, 2017. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2018 at:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/5a3171c59140b743f5abbe36/1513189837189/Seen+and+not+Heard+Children+in+the+Family+Court+%281%29.pdf Year: 2017 Country: New Zealand URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/5a3171c59140b743f5abbe36/1513189837189/Seen+and+not+Heard+Children+in+the+Family+Court+%281%29.pdf Shelf Number: 149531 Keywords: Child Protection Children Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Family Courts Family Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Backbone Collective Title: Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire: Women's experiences of the New Zealand Family Court Summary: The report, Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire (2017), is based on an online survey of 612 women who had experienced violence and abuse. 496 of those women had used the Family Court. The report notes that the Family Court is a critical part of the response system that women may rely on for protection and further safety following separation from an abusive partner. However the report states, "The women who participated in this survey reported serious negative outcomes from being involved with the New Zealand Family Court. ... Women told us that the Family Court actively undermined their and their children's safety in a multitude of ways. They described the Family Court as somewhere where their experience of violence and abuse was not believed, was minimized and not responded to, where their abuser was seen as safe and any risk to them and their children was neither assessed nor considered. Some women talked about experiencing discrimination and Māori women reported racism. Women went to the Family Court often seeking protection for themselves and their children but once their found that their children were not listened to and were subsequently placed in unsafe situations. Women told us of being wrongly accused of a range of things that impacted negatively on decisions being made about them and their children's lives." Key findings of this Family Court survey include: Wāhine Māori experienced racism and found that cultural beliefs and practices are not comprehended in the Family Court. 417 women said their experience of violence and abuse was not believed or responded to, was minimised, or was not accepted into evidence. 83% of women said the Family Court treated their abuser as safe. 58% of women attending Family Court-related appointments, fixtures, or hearings have been threatened, intimidated, or physically assaulted by their abuser. 93% of women do not feel psychologically or physically safe when the Family Court forces or coerces them into joint activities with their abuser. 155 women said the Family Court had forced their child/ren to spend time with the abuser. All of these women were worried about their child's safety while in the abuser's care. 107 women have been denied a support person in court or mediation. 120 women have been ordered by the Family Court not to talk to their child about the violence and abuse - thereby forcing women and children to pretend their trauma does not exist. 84 women have been ordered by the Family Court not to talk to others about what is happening to them in the Family Court. 50% of the 'gagging orders' against women were initiated by the Judge or the Lawyer for Child. 93% of women have suffered negative health impacts because of how they have been treated during Family Court proceedings. 9% of women have been involved in Family Court proceedings for between 7 and 22 years. Women are up to $500,000 in debt due to having to fund their Family Court proceedings. Given the consistent and "overwhelmingly negative feedback" from so many women, the Backbone Collective is calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Family Court. The authors state: "A Royal Commission of Inquiry is the only forum where the women and their families or whanau would feel sufficiently safe to tell their stories, where witnesses with specialist insights into the workings of the Family Court could share their views in confidence and where all their court documents (transcripts, reports, minutes and orders) and procedures can be independently reviewed." The report notes that the overall purpose of the Backbone Collective is to enable women to safely tell the Government, the media, and the public about how the 'system' responded to them when they experienced violence and abuse, and how they need it to respond in order to be safe and rebuild their lives. Details: s.l.: The Collective, 2017. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed March 27, 2018 at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/59386e6a15d5db8350f9157f/1496870522432/Family+Violence+Survey+report+080617+-+embargoed+until+1am+Thursday+%281%29.pdf Year: 2017 Country: New Zealand URL: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57d898ef8419c2ef50f63405/t/59386e6a15d5db8350f9157f/1496870522432/Family+Violence+Survey+report+080617+-+embargoed+until+1am+Thursday+%281%29.pdf Shelf Number: 149582 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Court Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Meiden, Sara van der Title: Police working methods to prevent serial partner violence - focus on the perpetrator of violence Summary: In the 2017 budget bill, the Government established the goal of reducing the number of women who are exposed to violence in intimate relationships. The importance of the Swedish Police conducting proactive, well-considered, and structured crime prevention work in attaining this goal is emphasised. Bra's instruction for this report can be divided into four parts. Bra must: identify and compile police approaches and working methods for preventing men's serial partner violence; determine which of these are promising; determine whether they can be implemented into Swedish police working methods; and estimate which costs would be entailed in working according to the promising methods and working methods. Details: Stockholm: The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra), 2018. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: English version of report 2017:13: Accessed April 4, 2018 at: https://www.bra.se/download/18.10aae67f160e3eba62920340/1518706493393/2017_13_Police_working_methods_summary.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Sweden URL: https://www.bra.se/download/18.10aae67f160e3eba62920340/1518706493393/2017_13_Police_working_methods_summary.pdf Shelf Number: 149674 Keywords: Abusive Men Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention

Author: Maher, Janemaree Title: Women, disability and violence: Barriers to accessing justice: Final Report Summary: This project, Women, disability and violence: Creating access to justice, draws on the insights of 36 women living in New South Wales and Victoria who outlined their experiences of seeking justice and security in the context of violence that they had experienced. As part of their commitment to policy relevant empirically grounded research, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) commissioned this research. The project was led by researchers from Monash University and People with Disability Australia, hereafter PWDA (representing Disabled People's Organisations Australia, hereafter DPOA). This research examines how these women worked to seek redress or support and the pathways and obstacles they encountered. This data has been augmented by interviews with 18 service providers from NSW and Victoria working in disability support services and advocacy organisations, domestic and family violence support services, and legal services. This is a qualitative project which limits generalisability: the aim here is to analyse the experiences these specific women have shared and work to identify patterns that emerge. Violence in the context of this project was understood to include physical and sexual violence as well as other forms of abuse such as coercive control, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and physical and social isolation. The majority of the cases captured in this report were instances of domestic and family violence defined broadly as violence occurring within a familial or caring context. It included sexual and physical assaults in a range of social and living environments. In addition, violence was understood to take particular forms such as withholding required medications or aids, limiting access to disability services and/or mainstream service providers and threats related to women's mothering and care-giving roles. Violence that violated women's sexual and reproductive autonomy, including forced or coerced sterilisation was also commonly reported. Avenues to seek desired justice, which may include prevention of future violence, everyday security and safety, and consequences for the perpetrators of violence are complex, as justice services and pathways may not effectively support the access of women with disability. This report reiterates findings that already exist in the public domain. As the context review makes clear, these issues of Executive summary violence and access to justice have been the focus of multiple reviews and interventions within Australia in the last five years. The question of legal capacity for women with disability is still unaddressed. As the Australian Human Rights Commission outlines (AHRC) (2014), all jurisdictions should have a disability strategy underpinned by a national Disability Justice Strategy. Implementation of this strategy should be guided by the following principles: 1. Safety of people with disability and freedom from violence. 2. Effective access to justice for people with disabilities. 3. Non-discrimination. 4. Respect for inherent dignity and individual autonomy including the freedom to make one's own decisions. 5. Full and effective participation and inclusion in the community. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS), 2018. 92p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 27, 2018 at: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Maher%20et%20al%20Horizons%20Research%20Report.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://d2c0ikyv46o3b1.cloudfront.net/anrows.org.au/Maher%20et%20al%20Horizons%20Research%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 149921 Keywords: Disabled Persons Domestic Violence Family Violence People with Disabilities Violence Against Women

Author: Chung, Donna Title: Young Women from African Backgrounds and Sexual Violence Summary: Service providers have recently reported increasing numbers of young African women accessing unplanned pregnancy and relationship services, with related concerns about domestic violence. This research explores how young women, aged 18 to 25 years, from African refugee and migrant backgrounds understand and experience sexual coercion and violence, and how service providers respond to their needs. The study drew on an online survey of service providers, individual and group interviews with young women from African backgrounds, and focus groups with service providers. The researchers faced challenges due to the sensitive nature of the topic of sexual violence and the silence that surrounds it, but achieved interviews and focus groups involved 21 young women. They found no agreement among the young women about what constitutes sexual violence, which was mostly defined in terms of stranger rape. Concerns about community judgement and exclusion, arising from stigma associated with sexual violence and the myths, beliefs and attitudes surrounding it created barriers for young women from African backgrounds speaking about men's sexualised behaviour. These barriers were compounded by other barriers such as language, transport, caring responsibilities, work/study commitments and other settlement issues. Service providers' input to the study highlighted the need for future service efforts being directed towards education and awareness raising, using culturally appropriate methods and sites. There is a need for increased cultural sensitivity and responsiveness of organisational and worker practices to improve their capability of working with young people from African backgrounds, together with specialist sexual violence responses for younger women in their early teens. Details: Canberra: Criminology Research Advisory Council. 2018. 47p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 30, 2018 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/07-1213-FinalReport.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/07-1213-FinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 149969 Keywords: African Women Domestic Violence Gender-Based Violence Migrants Refugees Sexual Coercion Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Ibrahim, Zainab Title: Counting the Cost: The Price Society Pays for Violence Against Women Summary: A new global report launched by the international relief and development organization, CARE International, estimates that violence against women (VAW) costs society upwards of 2% of global GDP, and states that the problem is serious in low, middle and high income countries alike. "First and foremost, violence against women is a fundamental human rights violation that demands condemnation and action. While all costs cannot be easily measured, an understanding of the economic costs to society provides additional perspectives as to why governments, donors and the private sector need to come together to address this pandemic", said Sofia Sprechmann, Program Director for CARE International. The report, "Counting the Cost: The price society pays for violence against women," draws on studies from 13 different areas of the world and presents the economic costs of VAW in relation to national economies. Three of the case studies were conducted by CARE which looked at intimate partner violence (IPV) in Bangladesh and Zambia and sexual harassment in the workplace in Cambodia. Survivors bear the highest costs but States bear costs in service delivery to victims while the private sector pays for reduced productivity. Costs and lives are therefore saved when laws and proper investments address preventing violence, education, and thus the implementation of behavioural, legal and regulatory solutions across sectors. The cost of violence to GDP greatly exceeds the cost of prevention and intervention. For example, in Uganda, implementing the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act of 2010 for both prevention and response was slated at just over US$ 8 million over three years while the cost of violence occurring was estimated at US$ 30.7 million for just one year. "These figures - both the billions of US dollars that violence costs and the more than one billion women likely to suffer that violence in their lifetime - point to one inescapable conclusion: violence against women has a devastating and lasting impact on all of us and demands that we pledge support and take urgent action" said Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala, one of the co-authors of the report from Chrysalis, Sri Lanka, an affiliate member of the CARE International network. _"__Violence and harassment against women are among the abuses that leave women vulnerable at avoidable cost to them, their families, and whole economies. In the case of workplace protection, more than one-third of the world's countries have no laws prohibiting sexual harassment at work. This is why CARE is encouraging more governments and employers to join the many other governments that have taken a position in support of the adoption of an International Labour Organisation (ILO) __Convention on ending violence and sexual harassment in the world of work as one critical step," said Milkah Kihunah, Deputy Director of Global Advocacy of CARE USA._ The report recommends actions to prevent and respond to violence against women across the government and private sectors and by donors. These include increased resources, support for women's and grassroots movements, and strong laws. CARE is also calling on governments, businesses, trade unions and others to support the establishment of an ILO Convention to end harassment and violence in the world of work. Given the legal gaps in how national laws and current international standards address this issue, a binding ILO Convention would provide a critical guidepost and address the challenges that women and marginalised groups face in accessing the right to work free from violence and harassment. Details: Geneva, SWIT: CARE International, 2018. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2018 at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Counting_the_costofViolence.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Counting_the_costofViolence.pdf Shelf Number: 150155 Keywords: Costs of Violence Economic Analysis Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Amnesty International Title: Toxic Twitter: Violence and Abuse Against Women Online Summary: Twitter is a social media platform used by hundreds of millions of people around the world to debate, network and share information with each other. From high-level female politicians to journalists, activists, writers and bloggers, to women who simply want to know what's happening around them - Twitter can be a powerful tool for women to make connections and express themselves. In fact, the company has touted itself as a place where 'every voice has the power to impact the world'. But for many women, Twitter is a platform where violence and abuse against them is allowed to flourish, often with little accountability. As a company, Twitter is failing to respect women's rights online by inadequately investigating and responding to reports of violence and abuse in a transparent manner. The violence and abuse many women experience on the platform has a detrimental effect on their right to express themselves equally, freely and without fear. Instead of Twitter strengthening women's voices, the violence and abuse women experience on the platform means that women are self-censoring what they post, limiting their interactions, or being driven off Twitter completely. At a watershed moment when women around the world are using their collective power to speak out and amplify their voices through social media platforms, Twitter's failure to respect human rights and tackle violence and abuse means that instead of women using their voices 'to impact the world', many women are instead being pushed backwards towards a culture of silence. Details: London: AI, 2018. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2018 at: https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Toxic-Twitter.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Toxic-Twitter.pdf Shelf Number: 150374 Keywords: Online Victimization Social Media Twitter Violence Against Women

Author: Dowling, Christopher Title: Protection Orders for Domestic Violence: A systematic review Summary: Protection orders are a common legal response to domestic violence which aim to prevent further re-victimisation by the perpetrator. The current study systematically reviews research into the use and impact of protection orders, using the EMMIE framework (Effectiveness, Mechanisms, Moderators, Implementation and Economy). Meta-analysis is used to examine the overall effect of protection orders, while narrative synthesis is used to examine the underlying mechanisms and moderators of their effectiveness, their implementation and economic viability. Protection orders are associated with a small but significant reduction in domestic violence. They appear to be more effective under certain circumstances, including when the victim has fewer ties to the perpetrator and a greater capacity for independence, and less effective for offenders with a history of crime, violence and mental health issues. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 551: Accessed June 14, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi551 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi551 Shelf Number: 150539 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Protection Orders Violence Against Women

Author: Petrosky, Emiko Title: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Homicides of Adult Women and the Role of Intimate Partner Violence - United States, 2003-2014 Summary: Summary What is already known about this topic? Homicide is one of the leading causes of death for women aged ≤44 years, and rates vary by race/ethnicity. Nearly half of female victims are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. What is added by this report? Homicides occur in women of all ages and among all races/ethnicities, but young, racial/ethnic minority women are disproportionately affected. Over half of female homicides for which circumstances were known were related to intimate partner violence (IPV). Arguments and jealousy were common precipitating circumstances among IPV-related homicides. One in 10 victims of IPV-related homicide were reported to have experienced violence in the month preceding their deaths. What are the implications for public health practice? Racial/ethnic differences in female homicide underscore the importance of targeting intervention efforts to populations at risk and the conditions that increase the risk for violence. IPV lethality risk assessments might be useful tools for first responders to identify women at risk for future violence and connect them with life-saving safety planning and services. Teaching young persons safe and healthy relationship skills as well as how to recognize situations or behaviors that might become violent are effective IPV primary prevention measures. Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:741�746: Accessed June 6, 20, 2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/pdfs/mm6628a1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/pdfs/mm6628a1.pdf Shelf Number: 150602 Keywords: Ethnic Disparities Family Violence Homicides Intimate Partner Violence Racial Disparities Violence 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 Women Domestic Violence Family Violence Victim Services Victims of Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Day, Andrew Title: The forgotten victims: Prisoner experience of victimisation and engagement with the criminal justice system Summary: Many women in prison have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). As this form of violence is often intergenerational and entrenched, women in prison are widely considered to be at particular risk of ongoing victimisation following release from custody. And yet, their support needs often go unrecognised, and it is likely that a range of barriers exists that prevent ex-prisoners from accessing services. This project, jointly funded by ANROWS and Sparke Helmore Lawyers was conducted in partnership between James Cook University and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services. Led by Professor Andrew Day, this research develops an understanding of the factors that influence help-seeking by women in prison who may have concerns about their personal safety post-release and how this might inform service responses. From this research, a three stage model of help-seeking and change for women in prison was developed. The model suggests that any individual who experiences IPV must: recognise and define the situation as abusive and intolerable (Stage 1); decide to disclose the abuse and seek help (Stage 2); and identify a source of support and where to seek help (Stage 3). At the same time, the ability to seek help is influenced by a broad range of individual, interpersonal and socio-cultural factors including: the woman's own history; the personal networks in which she interacts, and the history of these networks; connections between networks or systems; formal and informal social structures that influence the woman indirectly; and overarching institutional systems at the cultural or subcultural level (social/cultural norms and prejudices). For policy-makers, practitioners and service providers, the research identifies: women in prison are a particularly vulnerable group who are likely to be at a high risk of ongoing victimisation; significant barriers exist that prevent women in prison from accessing IPV support services while in prison and post-release; current service models are unresponsive to the specific needs of women in prison and post-release; a specialised approach for women in prison is needed based on their particular social and individual circumstances; the development of culturally specific support services are required for women in prison who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and women with lived experience of incarceration should be part of the service framework in the community sector at all levels of program governance, design and delivery. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWs), 2018. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf Shelf Number: 151240 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Prisoners Rehabilitation Repeat Victimization Victim Services Victims of Crime Violence Against Women

Author: Aitken, Ruth Title: Domestic abuse and suicide: exploring the links with Refuge's client base and work force Summary: This collaborative research between Refuge and the University of Warwick is the first of its kind in the UK and - involving a sample of more than 3500 clients - it is one of the largest internationally. The suicide of Gurjit Dhaliwal, who took her own life after enduring years of physical and psychological abuse, was the impetus for this research. Dismayed at the apparent inability of the legal system to punish perpetrators who drive their victims to suicide, and by its failure to recognise the psychological injury which precedes it as a legitimate offence, we were moved to act. We decided to investigate the links between domestic abuse and suicide in order to fill gaps in existing knowledge about the factors that might predict, contribute to or mitigate against the development of suicidality in victims. Our goal was to use this information to inform policy and practice in the field; including in relation to 'liability for suicide' in cases of domestic abuse. This research provides detailed, substantial and original evidence on the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts amongst domestically abused clients in the UK. It supports existing research in suggesting a significant association between experiencing domestic abuse and suffering negative psychological effects. It highlights the importance of professionals that engage with domestically abused clients being more aware of and responsive to their risk of suicidality. Details: London: Refuge; Coventry, UK: Warwick Law School, 2018. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2018 at; https://www.refuge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/domestic-abuse-suicide-refuge-warwick-july2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.refuge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/domestic-abuse-suicide-refuge-warwick-july2018.pdf Shelf Number: 151248 Keywords: Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Suicide Violence Against Women

Author: United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women Title: Engaging Men to Prevent Gender-Based Violence: A Multi-Country Intervention and Impact Evaluation Study Summary: Over three years Instituto Promundo, with support from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, implemented a multi-country project to engage men and boys in preventing violence against women and promote gender equality. Project activities in each country varied but all included educational workshops with men and young men on gender equity and training programs with partner staff on evidence-based methodologies for the prevention of violence against women. The project deliberately sought to test and evaluate an array of interventions to engage young and adult men in GBV prevention, namely: 1 A community-based intervention (India); 2 A sports-based intervention (Brazil); 3 A health-sector-based intervention (Chile), and; 4 A work-place-based intervention (Rwanda). The interventions in three of the four settings � Chile, Brazil and India � were subject to a quasi-experimental impact evaluation. In all three settings, there was a statistically signi!cant change in attitudes correlated with use of violence against women, and a statistically signi!cant selfreported decrease in use of violence against female partners (in the previous three months). Qualitative results further af!rmed that the group education and campaign activities used in each site led to increased discussion by young and adult men about gender equality and decreased support for attitudes that encourage men's use of intimate partner violence. Limitations of the data include the lack of randomization (although there were control groups in similar communities in India and Brazil), and the lack of women's reports (with the exception of India). In India, through youth groups, advocacy campaigns and community outreach more than 1500 men and youth were educated on the consequences of gender-based violence and prevention tools. Themes of masculinity, gender, violence against women and sexuality were central to the efforts. As a result of workshops, men self-reported doing their own washing and participating more equally in household responsibilities and boys self-reported advocating for their sisters' right to an education. Participants developed individual plans to address the prevalence of violence against women in their own lives. Additionally, the group as a whole devised community education plans for their villages to educate their neighbors on these issues. In Brazil, workshops and campaigns aimed to increase awareness about inequitable gender norms and the consequences of violence against women amongst adult and young men. Additionally, a football (soccer) tournament was held amongst participants to bring the messages of the workshops to the communities at a more informal and social level and to encourage higher participation by men in the activities. Results show a change in attitudes among men in the intervention community and in the control community (where "contamination" inadvertently occurred through a football club organizer.) Ninety-two percent of participants in the soccer tournament said that they spoke about the themes of the campaigns with others. The project received the region Nike/Change Makers prize for the competition "Changing Lives Through Football" for its use of sports in mobilizing men and boys to address violence against women. In Chile, CulturaSalud conducted educational workshops for 260 young men via the public health sector and in public schools on the prevention of violence against women, alternatives to violence and gender equity. More than 90 percent of participants strongly agreed that the topics covered in the workshops were important and interesting and all agreed that the people in charge of the workshops had a good handle of the issues. Following the workshops participants increased their use of condoms, increased their knowledge of different forms of violence, and were more likely to reject violence against women. In Rwanda, the Rwandan Men's Resource Center (RWAMREC) worked with three local coffee cooperatives to conduct gender-based violence prevention trainings. The trainings served a dual purpose: when men and women worked alongside each other through the cooperatives they were educated on how to prevent gender-based violence and promote healthy families while also increasing coffee production and related incomes. Following the trainings, there was a reported increase in the questioning of gender-based violence by men, as well as a decrease in the number of gender-based violence cases and more equitable division of labor. Results in Rwanda are informal and not backed up by a control group nor systematized pre- and post-test results. Details: Washington, DC: PROMUNDO, 2018(?). Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2018 at: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/IP_EngagingMenToPreventGBVMulticountryInterventionImpactStudy_2012.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: http://www.ncdsv.org/images/IP_EngagingMenToPreventGBVMulticountryInterventionImpactStudy_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 151316 Keywords: Abusive Men Family Violence Gender-Based Violence Intimate partner Violence Violence Against Women Violence Prevention Programs

Author: Flood, Michael Title: Working Together With Men: Final Evaluation Report Summary: Working Together with Men is an innovative violence prevention project based on community engagement and mobilisation. The Working Together With Men project aims to contribute to the prevention of violence against women by engaging men in Brimbank, Melbourne, to develop and implement primary prevention strategies in their local communities. It focuses on recruiting men from the community, training them, and then involving them in project planning in activities to prevent violence against women. This report describes the findings of an impact evaluation of the Working Together With Men project. Participatory evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) was conducted to examine the impact of the project on men's engagement in the primary prevention of violence against women. Details: Melbourne: HealthWest Partnership, 2018. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2018 at: http://healthwest.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Flood-Working-Together-with-Men-FINAL-evaluation-report-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Asia URL: http://healthwest.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Flood-Working-Together-with-Men-FINAL-evaluation-report-2018.pdf Shelf Number: 151319 Keywords: Abusive Men Battered Women Domestic Violence Male Batterers Violence Against Women Violence Against Women (Australia)

Author: Freeman, Karen Title: Is Domestic Violence in New South Wales Decreasing? Summary: New evidence released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) today indicates that domestic assault (DV) in NSW is on the decline. BOCSAR analysed data on violence drawn from crime victim surveys carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics between 2008-09 and 2015-16. The data, collected over eight consecutive surveys, were grouped into four two year periods: 2008/10, 2010/2012, 2012/2014 and 2014/2016. BOCSAR found no change over this period in victim willingness to report DV but the estimated rate of DV victimisation fell significantly, from 795 per 100,000 population in the period 2010/2012 to 575 per 100,000 in the period 2012/2014 (a decline of around 28%). A further smaller decline occurred between 2012/2014 and 2014/2016 (down 9%) but this second change was not statistically significant. It is interesting to note that no similar decline occurred across Australia as a whole. BOCSAR also examined changes in the NSW police recorded rate of domestic assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. Because this offence is so serious, it is much less susceptible to variations in victim willingness to report DV to police. In this analysis BOCSAR found that the annual rate of domestic assault incidents occasioning grievous bodily harm fell from 5.8 per 100,000 in 2008/9 to 4.9 per 100,000 in 2015/16, a decline of 15.5 per cent. Regional analysis showed that the rate of DV occasioning grievous bodily harm was highest in the Far West and Orana region of NSW. In this part of the State, the recorded rate of DV occasioning grievous bodily harm is more than 5 times the State rate. Details: Australia: Crime and Justice Statistics, 2018. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 8, 2018 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Pages/bocsar_media_releases/2018/mr-Is-domestic-violence-in-NSW-decreasing.aspx Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/2018-Report-Is-domestic-violence-in-NSW-decreasing-BB134.pdf Shelf Number: 151447 Keywords: Australian Bureau of Statistics Crime Victim Surveys Domestic Assault Domestic Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Merkle, Ortrun Title: A Gender Perspective on Corruption Encountered during Forced and Irregular Migration Summary: Policymakers are starting to pay more attention to the links between migration and corruption. This study explores a specific area of these links, by examining the ways in which corruption affects the migration journeys of women - be they regular, irregular, forced or voluntary. It does so by looking at experiences of corruption in countries of origin, transit and destination. The analysis is based on desk research and interviews with stakeholders and migrants conducted between April and May 2017. We find that corruption comes into play whenever legal options for migration are limited, and this seems to be a constant throughout all stages of the migration process of several migrant groups. While both men and women encounter corruption during the various stages of the migration process, this study finds that women are especially vulnerable to atypical forms of corruption, including sexual extortion ('sextortion') when their financial capital is limited. Women travelling alone are particularly vulnerable to different forms of corruption and sexual exploitation, which can have negative consequences on their short-, medium- and long-term mental and physical health. The report concludes that sextortion, which occurs at the intersection of sexual violence and corruption must be clearly defined as a form of corruption and a criminal offence. The report continues with policy recommendations for the country of origin, transit and destination both in the realm of anti-corruption as well as women's empowerment and concludes with suggestions for further research. Details: Eschborn, Germany: Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), 2017. 63p.p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2018 at: https://i.unu.edu/media/migration.unu.edu/attachment/4665/A-Gender-Perspective-on-Corruption-Encountered-during-Forced-and-Irregular-Migration.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://i.unu.edu/media/migration.unu.edu/attachment/4665/A-Gender-Perspective-on-Corruption-Encountered-during-Forced-and-Irregular-Migration.pdf Shelf Number: 153038 Keywords: Corruption Migrants Migration Refugees Sexual Exploitation Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Amaral, Sofia Title: Unmarried Men and Violence Against Women: the Long-Run Effects of Sex Selection in India Summary: This paper investigates the consequences of sex imbalance in India's population for violence against women. We match district level administrative crime data by category to age-specific sex ratios in census data across four decades and, to analyse mechanisms, we also use administrative data on marriage rates and household survey data on attitudes to violence against women and marriage quality. We estimate that the elasticity of violence against women with respect to the surplus of men age 20-24 is unity, and that this explains about 35 percent of the rise in gender-based violence since 1995. Although less robust, there is some evidence that the youth sex ratio also raises non-gendered forms of violence, but we find no discernible impact upon property and economic crime. In probing mechanisms we argue that men are more prone to crime than women, that the share of unmarried men is increasing in the youth sex ratio, that attitudes to violence against women are evolving as a function of the sex ratio at birth and marriage quality measures, including self-reported domestic violence, are negatively related to sex ratios. Details: United Kingdom: Institute for Social and Economic Research, 2016. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at:https://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/research/publications/working-papers/iser/2017-12.pdf Year: 2016 Country: India URL: https://ideas.repec.org/p/ese/iserwp/2017-12.html Shelf Number: 153086 Keywords: Gender Based Violence Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Plan International Title: Unsafe in the City: Sydney Summary: Free to Be is a crowd-mapping website that enables young women to identify and share the location of public spaces that make them feel uneasy and scared or happy and safe, implemented in Sydney in April-May 2018. It was designed in collaboration with Crowdspot, Monash University XYX Lab and young women within the city. Based on Plan International's extensive experience of working with girls and young women in cities through our Safer Cities programme, the research sought to understand more about the experiences of girls and young women. As well as Sydney, Free to Be has been implemented in Delhi, Kampala, Lima, Madrid and Melbourne. The Free to Be tool comprised an interactive map of the city and a survey which allowed girls and young women to drop 'pins' on the map - good or bad - and answer questions about their experiences there, as well as leave comments. A group of young women in Sydney were involved in the design and promotion of the tool, as well as having an opportunity to reflect on the findings to support analysis. In total, 2,083 pins were dropped on spots of the Sydney map, of which 25% denoted good experiences (516) and 75% bad (1,567). Good places were characterised by being busy, often with working people. This was closely followed by the place having a good 'community environment' or being well known to the participant. The threat of sexual harassment with and without physical contact was the main issue identified in connection with bad pins. Over two-thirds of the comments on bad pins included sexual harassment of some kind and 63% of all the pins identified gender-based discrimination as a factor. Discrimination based on ethnicity was identified in 10% of the pins (the highest of all the cities), usually alongside gender discrimination, highlighting the intersectional nature of discrimination and harassment in Sydney. On the street was the most likely location for bad pins, often alongside to/from work or school and public transport. Strong negative clusters tended to form around train stations and bus interchanges. These data demonstrate the compromised freedom for young women and girls moving around their city. Harassment directed at young women and girls, and especially those of the LGBTIQA community, is apparently exacerbated by the lockout laws in Sydney, and the lack of public transport available at corresponding hours. This indicates the complexity of access to, and safety in, the city - an intervention brought in to protect one part of the community increased the pressure on others. Women and girls change their behaviour in response to these challenges: nearly half of those recording bad pins (47%) avoided the area if they were alone and 12% simply never went back to the location. When asked how they responded to bad incidents, 20 participants reported that they stopped studying or quit their job because of their experiences. For more than a third of all the pins (36%), young women were resigned to the fact that such incidents are so frequent that they are used to it. Consequently, they take their own precautions such as walking fast through such areas with their phones at the ready. Reporting of events to the authorities was low at 9%, and in more than two-thirds of these cases (69%), the authorities apparently did nothing. Based on these findings, young women in Sydney made the following recommendations: 1) Behaviour change: - Changing the blame culture: listen to and act upon the stories of women and girls - Challenging toxic masculinity - Allies and bystanders: empowering them to call out harassment and intervene safely 2) Girls' participation in decision-making: listen to and work with girls and young women, respect their experiences and recommendations, and involve them in co-designing their cities. 3) Enforcement and accountability: - Strengthening reporting mechanisms - Improving the responsiveness of security services and the police - Clarification of laws and enforcement regarding street harassment Details: Melbourne: Plan International, 2018. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/196691/apo-nid196691-1025636.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/196691/apo-nid196691-1025636.pdf Shelf Number: 153246 Keywords: Crime Analysis Crime Hotspots Crime Mapping Fear of Crime Public Safety Sexual Assault Sexual Harassment Violence Against Women

Author: Campbell, Helen Title: What Works? Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: A Rapid Review of Evidence Summary: This evidence review occurs at a time of change and a movement globally to stop sexual harassment. Harassment, abuse and exploitation, and their denial, have a significant impact on women and men of diverse races, gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations, on people with the courage to speak out, on the many individuals who have been unable to take action. Sexual harassment adversely impacts people and business, it results in significant physical and mental health consequences, costs to business operations, and can affect all employees in the workplace. This rapid review seeks to gain and share insight on promising global approaches to addressing harassment in the workplace. It is hoped that robust evidence of what works to address this sensitive and pervasive issue will guide the practice, and accountability of employers to workplace health and safety. The evidence shows significant convergence around several themes, including: - The importance of sustained leadership engagement and commitment; - Broader efforts to prevent sexual harassment by shifting social norms; - 'Whole of organisation' approaches that include formalised governance approaches and policies, effective complaints mechanisms and ongoing staff training; and - Embedding organisational approaches in a broader commitment to gender equality. Details: Canberra: CARE Australia, 2018. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2018 at: https://www.care.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/STOP_What-works-to-address-workplace-sexual-harassment_Rapid-Review-of-evidence.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.care.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/STOP_What-works-to-address-workplace-sexual-harassment_Rapid-Review-of-evidence.pdf Shelf Number: 153498 Keywords: Gender-Based Violence Sexual Abuse Sexual Exploitation Sexual Harassment Violence Against Women Workplace Crimes

Author: Rawlings, Samantha Title: Domestic Violence and Child Mortality Summary: We examine the effect of domestic violence on mortality of children born to female victims using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data across thirty two different developing countries. We start by examining associations between interpersonal violence and child mortality while controlling for potential confounds. We find that children of (ever) victimized mothers are 0.4 pp more likely to die within thirty days, 0.7 pp more likely to die within a year and 1.1 pp more likely to die within the first five years of being born in comparison with children born to mothers who never experienced violence. We find similar patterns when examining the effect of violence taking place in the last twelve months on female victims and their children. Our results are similar when we use matching methods.We also examine the causal effect of violence on child mortality using an instrumental variables strategy. Exploiting variation in domestic violence and marital rape laws across countries and over time, we find that laws that criminalize violence against women and/or marital rape lower its incidence. Using this as an exogenous source of variation in domestic violence, we find that children born within the last twelve months to female victims were 3.7 pp more likely to die in the first thirty days of life. Our results indicate significant externalities to violence against women and underline the importance of recent efforts to tackle this violence in developing countries. Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute of Labor Economics, 2018. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2018 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11899.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3286158 Shelf Number: 153867 Keywords: Child Mortality Demographic and Health Survey Developing Countries Domestic Violence Gender Based Violence Marital Rape Laws Violence Against Women

Author: Webster, Kim Title: Australians' Attitudes to Violence Against Women and Gender Equality: Findings from the 2017 National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) Summary: This report presents the findings of the 2017 National Community Attitudes Survey Towards Violence Against Women (NCAS) survey, and considers them in the context of other related research. The NCAS survey aims to monitor people's understanding of, and attitudes towards, violence against women, including their attitudes towards gender equality, what influences their attitudes, and whether they are prepared to intervene when witnessing abuse or disrespect towards women. The 2017 survey was conducted with a representative sample of 17,500 Australians aged 16 years and over, and has been previously held in 1995, 2009, and 2013. Overall, most participants have accurate knowledge of violence against women and do not endorse this violence, and most support gender equality. However, a significant number believe that women make up sexual assault accusations to get back at men and that gender inequality is exaggerated or no longer a problem. Sections include: About the Survey; The need for action to reduce and prevent violence against women; Why measure knowledge, attitudes and intentions?; About the 2017 questionnaire; Analysing and reporting the results; Benchmarking knowledge and understanding of violence against women; Benchmarking attitudes towards gender equality; Benchmarking attitudes to violence against women; Knowledge and attitudes among people and in places; Knowledge and attitudes in social contexts and occupations; Factors influencing knowledge and attitudes; Intended responses to violence against women; Key findings in Australian states and territories; Strengths and limitations of the NCAS; Discussion of findings and implications for policy, practice and further research. Separate reports for the samples of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, and young people will be published separately; and the methodology is explained in greater detail in a separate report. Details: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia: Australia 's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, 2018. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: https://ncas.anrows.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NCAS-report-2018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2018/11/apo-nid207046-1247461.pdf Shelf Number: 154038 Keywords: Aborigines Australia Gender Based Violence Gender Inequality National Community Attitudes Survey Towards Violen Sexual Assault Violence Against Women

Author: Mills, Linda Title: An In-Depth Examination of Batterer Intervention and Alternative Treatment Approaches for Domestic Violence Offenders Summary: The criminal justice system is the most important response to domestic violence (DV) in the United States (US). Every state currently criminalizes DV and most courts rely on Batterer Intervention Programs (BIPs) as their primary form of treatment to address this crime and minimize future incidents of violence among intimate partners and/or family members (Crockett et al., 2015). This study addresses one of the most significant developments in the system's response to DV - the 2,500 or so BIPs to which hundreds of thousands of convicted offenders are mandated to treatment each year by US judges (Boal & Mankowski, 2014). BIPs claim that their focus is on changing sexist attitudes and related behaviors and holding offenders accountable for their crimes. Rigorous studies of BIPs have shown high attrition rates (Aaron & Beaulaurier, 2017; Babcock, Green, & Robie, 2004; Price & Rosenbaum, 2009; Jewell & Wormith, 2010), little evidence of attitudinal and behavioral change (Gondolf, 2000; Jackson et al. 2003), and inconsistent contact with victims (Mills, Grauwiler, & Pezold, 2006; Price & Rosenbaum, 2009). Despite this growing acknowledgement and acceptance that BIPs are minimally effective, our study is the first to use a rigorous research design (a randomized controlled trial) complemented by an in-depth qualitative study in examining the effectiveness of an alternative treatment approach using restorative justice (RJ). In an attempt to address the shortcomings of BIP treatment programs, a number of states now allow alternative approaches, aside from the standard BIP, for DV crimes (Barocas, Emery, & Mills, 2016). These alternatives include restorative justice and conjoint or couples treatments. Some states require that these alternative programs be offered after a period of BIP treatment (e.g., Utah); other states allow these alternative options to be offered instead of BIP treatment (e.g., Arizona). This National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-funded study was designed to provide an in-depth examination of BIP and an alternative treatment approach using RJ for DV offenders. The study design provides an in-depth content analysis to complement a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Salt Lake City, Utah that uses an intention to treat method of analysis to determine which treatment program has the lowest arrest outcomes: a traditional BIP or a BIP plus RJ approach called Circles of Peace (CP). Utah requires a minimum of 16 weeks of treatment for domestic violence offenders mandated to treatment. BIP, a 16-week group-based treatment approach for offenders only, is largely didactic (as opposed to interactive) and focuses on changing sexist attitudes for the purpose of altering the behavior of offenders. BIP plus CP provides 12 weeks of offender-only group sessions (with RJ principles infused throughout), encouraging offenders to focus on behavioral and attitudinal change. Following the initial 12 group sessions, offenders participate in four weeks of individual circles with a willing victim or a victim advocate (if the victim does not want to participate), family members or other support people, and trained community volunteers. The NSF study is a two-part study; this NIJ study builds on Part II. Part I of the NSF study compared BIP only and BIP plus CP for all DV cases (intimate partner and family violence). Part II of the NSF study and the NIJ study focused on intimate partner violence cases only. Using a variety of data collection methods, this NIJ study offers critical findings that go beyond what the NSF quantitative study can provide (results from Part II of the NSF study are still pending). Interviews with offenders and victims over multiple points in time, video-recordings and observations of treatment sessions, and a case record review allowed the researchers to test emerging theories that BIP plus CP may be a viable alternative to treatment, while ensuring that safety concerns are addressed when using this approach. Details: NYC: New York University, 2018. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 18, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252265.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/252265.pdf Shelf Number: 154067 Keywords: Alternative Approaches Batterer Intervention Programs Circles of Peace Couples Treatment Domestic Violence Family Violence Restorative Justice Sexist Attitudes Utah Violence Against Women

Author: Pak, Lauren Title: One in Four Condone Spousal Violence, Though Attitudes Vary across Countries and Individuals in the Americas Summary: This report examines and assesses acceptance of spousal violence in the Americas. Main Findings: - On average across 16 countries, 1 out of 4 individuals either approves or understands a man hitting his wife if she neglects household chores - Rates vary significantly across countries: Guatemalans express the highest acceptance of spousal violence (53.9%); Paraguayans express the lowest support among the countries studied (8.3%) - Women, those in the oldest age cohorts, those with more years of schooling, those in urban areas, and those who are wealthier are less likely to accept spousal violence against women - Stress and dislocation matter: Individuals whose households are facing economic hardship and those who intend to live or work abroad are more likely to accept spousal violence against women Details: Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University, 2016. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 14, 2019 at: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/insights/IO927en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/insights/IO927en.pdf Shelf Number: 154146 Keywords: Attitudes Family Violence Spousal Violence Violence Against Women

Author: El-Murr, Alissar Title: Intimate partner violence in Australian refugee communities: Scoping review of issues and service responses Summary: This paper looks at what is currently known about intimate partner violence in Australian refugee communities, and what service providers can do to ensure appropriate support is available to this client group. The first half of the paper provides a scoping review of current research. The second half of the paper looks at real-life case studies of service practice through consultations with organisations of importance to refugee communities in Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. Key messages - Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most commonly experienced form of family violence used against women in Australia and takes place across all cultures and faith groups. - In addition to physical and sexual violence, women from refugee backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to financial abuse, reproductive coercion and immigration-related violence. - Intersecting factors relevant to the experience of IPV in refugee communities include migration pathways and traumatic pre-arrival experiences, as well as settlement issues such as acculturation stress and social isolation. - Integrated, trauma-informed care is regarded as promising practice in services targeting individuals from refugee backgrounds to address women's experiences of IPV. - To assist in overcoming barriers to engagement, service providers can implement strategies to enhance cultural safety. Promoting community involvement and leadership has been shown to be important in developing culturally competent programming and should underpin violence prevention strategies. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2018. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: CFCA Paper No. 50: Accessed January 24, 2019 at: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/50_intimate_partner_violence_in_australian_refugee_communities.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/50_intimate_partner_violence_in_australian_refugee_communities.pdf Shelf Number: 154389 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Refugees Violence Against Women

Author: Livingstone, Charles Title: Should AFL Clubs Get out of the Pokie Business? Observations on the Location of Victorian AFL Club EGM Venues: Disadvantage and the Rate of Family Incidents Summary: A link between AFL-controlled pokies clubs and rising rates of family violence has been revealed, thanks to new research from Monash University. The findings detail gambler losses of $94 million across 1316 AFL-controlled pokies machines, the majority of which are located in lower socio-economic suburbs. Using police crime data, Dr Charles Livingstone of Monash University has identified a correlation between the proportion of AFL machines in local government areas and a marked increase in family violence. The report found that family violence rose by 22 per cent in areas of Victoria where AFL pokies were placed, a 5.7 per cent higher rate of increase than average. The correlation is strongest in Melton, which has the highest concentration of AFL machines in Victoria, and where the increase in family violence incidents between 2013-2017 was a staggering 35 per cent. "EGM [electronic gaming machine] concentrations are associated with higher levels of family incidents - that is, overwhelmingly, violence against women," Dr Livingstone�s report notes. This correlation is deemed "strongly at odds" with the AFL�s own 'Respect and Responsibility Policy', a key purpose of which is to 'demonstrate a commitment to broader cultural change aimed at addressing violence against women'. As Dr Livingstone concludes, it is "likely counter to the spirit, intention, and likely the actual letter of the policy." All but one Victorian AFL club (North Melbourne) currently operate pokies machines, with a number operating multiple venues. Carlton owns the most with 300 machines, reaping a revenue of over $17 million from gambler losses. The paper reveals that more than half of the 1316 machines are located in Melbourne's northwestern suburbs, identified by the report as "socio-economically disadvantaged". Losses here amounted to $54 million last year, or 57% of the AFL club total. Referring to Melton, Dr Livingstone�s report says "access to EGM venues is an important factor driving family violence, and without the venues operated by the three AFL clubs in that area, it is probable that the losses experienced by EGM users would be about half." Details: Victoria, Australia: Monash University, 2018. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2019 at: https://media.heraldsun.com.au/PDF/2018/Feb/AFL_Pokies.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/link-revealed-between-afl-controlled-pokies-and-rise-in-family-violence Shelf Number: 154344 Keywords: Domestic Violence Electronic Gambling Machine Family Violence Gambling Interpersonal Partner Violence Pokie Machines Socioeconomic Status Violence Against Women

Author: Skott, Sara Title: Sexual homicide in Scotland Summary: - Sexual homicides in Scotland are distinctly different from non-sexual homicide and appear to share more similarities with cases of non-lethal sexual violence - Female offenders of sexual violence show distinct differences in profile from both female non-sexual homicide offenders and male sexual homicide offenders - Certain types of sexual homicide offenders can be identified based on case characteristics and these are comparable in Scotland and Canada - Both the nature of the homicide (i.e. sexual versus non-sexual) and the gender of the offender are important variables to consider when designing and implementing intervention programmes - Sexual homicides constitute the extreme end of a sexual violence spectrum and require specific, targeted preventative initiatives particularly focused around the issues of gender inequality Details: Edinburgh: Applied Quantitative Methods Network (AQMeN), 2017. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Research briefing 12: Accessed February 25, 2019 at: https://www.research.aqmen.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/09/S-Skott-Sexual-Homicide-FINAL.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.research.aqmen.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2017/09/S-Skott-Sexual-Homicide-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 154769 Keywords: Homicides Sexual Homicides Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services Title: The police response to domestic abuse: An update report Summary: What we assessed To understand how effective forces are at protecting and supporting victims of domestic abuse, we inspected how well they: - identify victims of domestic abuse, particularly repeat victims, when they first contact the police; - respond to victims of domestic abuse, including assessing risk and vulnerability at the scene of an incident, and taking immediate and longer-term safeguarding action; - investigate domestic abuse offences and support vulnerable victims during the investigation; and - work with other organisations to exchange information and safeguard victims. Methodology In 2017, we inspected all 43 police forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police on their effectiveness, as part of our PEEL inspection programme. We reviewed the findings of our 2015 and 2016 inspections, and assessed the progress that forces had made on implementing their action plans. As in previous years, most of this year's inspection was devoted to carrying out 'reality testing' in forces. This process involved our inspection teams making unannounced visits to departments in police forces, including the control room, intelligence and response teams, investigation units, domestic abuse specialist teams and victim support arrangements. Our inspection teams were supplemented by experts in the field of domestic abuse. These included public protection specialists from police forces. Our overall approach was as follows: - we reviewed crime files with vulnerable victims and suspects living with domestic abuse; - we spoke with frontline officers, force control room staff, supervisors and police leaders; - we commissioned a practitioners' survey to understand how well practitioners thought the police responded to domestic abuse; and - for the first time ever, we were able to review all force management statements (FMSs), in which forces set out their current demand, future demand, capacity and capability in relation to domestic abuse. We have a domestic abuse reference group to advise on and inform our work relating to domestic abuse. This group includes representatives from the police service, police and crime commissioners, the College of Policing, the Home Office and the voluntary sector. Members of the group are listed in Annex B. Details: London: HMICFRS, 2019. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2019 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse-an-update-report.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/wp-content/uploads/the-police-response-to-domestic-abuse-an-update-report.pdf Shelf Number: 154792 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Police Response Violence Against Women

Author: Women's Resource Centre Title: Promising practice from the frontline: Exploring gendered approaches to supporting women experiencing homelessness and multiple disadvantage Summary: This scoping research is a collaboration between Homeless Link and the Women's Resource Centre (WRC) to explore gendered support available in England to women who experience homelessness and multiple disadvantage. Summary of key findings -- The factors that services are seeing most frequently Survey data suggests that women experiencing multiple disadvantage are presenting to a broad range of community services including those that are designed to support women with multiple disadvantage and services that are not. Over two thirds of the survey respondents (69%) reported they had seen an increase in the numbers of women with multiple disadvantage presenting to their service over the last two years. When asked to report the types of multiple disadvantage that women present to services with, the findings demonstrate that services are supporting women with a broad range of experiences: - All the survey respondents said that they 'sometimes' of 'often' support women who experience homelessness - 97% of respondents reported that they are either 'sometimes' or 'often' supporting women with experience of mental ill-health - 94% of respondents reported that they 'sometimes' or 'often' support women with problematic substance use - 93% of respondents reported that they 'sometimes' or 'often' support women who experience domestic violence. 65% of the survey respondents said that they support women with all the following either 'sometimes' or 'often': homelessness, domestic violence, sexual violence, involvement in prostitution, problematic drugs and alcohol use, mental ill health and involvement in the criminal justice system. The research also explored the way in which women experience homelessness and their journey to services: - Domestic and sexual violence as well as changes in welfare leading to an inability to cover housing costs were reported to be the main triggers for women's homelessness - To avoid violence and exploitation when sleeping rough women either stay with family and friends or resorting to using public transport or A&E waiting rooms - Women who experience domestic violence and present to the local authority were reported to often receive an inadequate response and are not deemed priority need. - When women do sleep rough, they may stay on the move all night to avoid the risks of more violence and exploitation - Traditional support provided through the homelessness pathway tends to be mixed provision which risks exposing women to further violence and exploitation. Staff rarely have the skills and experience to understand the types of support women need as a result of the continuum of violence they have experienced. Support available for homeless women who experience multiple disadvantage Of the 90 respondents to the survey, the majority (62%) were from homelessness and housing services, but a wide range of other community support projects were represented including violence and abuse support services, criminal justice support services, substance use, drop-in advice services and specialist women's services. Almost half of the services that responded to the survey (48%) reported that they were designed to work specifically with women facing multiple disadvantage, 46% reporting that they are not and 6% answered 'not sure'. 19 respondents explicitly stated that their service was a dedicated woman only organisation. Responses varied significantly in the extent to which services implement policies, practices and training to inform their support for this group of women, suggesting that services need to be strengthened to incorporate gender informed policies, practices and training. Effective support for homeless women facing multiple disadvantage Building on previous research this project identified common factors that are reported to enhance the effectiveness of support for women experiencing multiple disadvantage: - Organisational commitment to work from an understanding of women's lived experience of inequality - Service design which incorporates gendered approaches - incorporating the understanding of the impacts of VAWG and how to respond appropriately - Organisational structures: policies, staff recruitment training and support - implementing policies which embed a gendered approach, recruiting knowledgeable, empathic, compassionate and resilient staff that are trained on violence against women. Examples of promising practice where services have incorporated the elements illustrated above have been documented in a series of good practice case studies in the full report. Barriers and enablers to providing effective support The primary barriers facing services include: - A lack of strategic, gender informed funding approaches from commissioners. - Structural barriers relating to an overall lack of availability of safe, appropriate housing options. - A lack of resources resulting from widespread social care sector spending cuts, particularly for women with no recourse to public funds. - A lack of systematic evidence relating to women's homelessness which delays their access to support. As such, those providing gender informed and gender specific approaches are facing an uphill struggle in making the case for and levering in resources to do their work. Suggestions were noted that would enhance support for women: - Increasing joint commissioning approaches to encourage services to work together rather than in silos - The Housing First model adapted to work specifically with women - Specific expertise, time and resource available to advocate for migrant women to access their rights, entitlements and legal advice - Changes to how women's homelessness is categorised including the need for changes to the verification process which can miss out women who do not sleep rough and those who hide themselves whilst rough sleeping Assertive outreach models to more effectively locate, identify and engage women. Details: London: Homeless Link and Women's Resource Centre, 2019. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2019 at: https://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/site-attachments/Women%27s%20research_March%2019_0.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/site-attachments/Women%27s%20research_March%2019_0.pdf Shelf Number: 154981 Keywords: Disadvantaged Persons Domestic Violence Gender-Based Issues Homeless Persons Homeless Women Housing Rough Sleeping Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "Give us a Baby and We'll Let You Go:" Trafficking of Kachin "Brides" from Myanmar to China Summary: The Myanmar and Chinese governments have failed to stem trafficking of ethnic Kachin women and girls as "brides" to families in China. Hundreds are trafficked each year and sold into sexual slavery for the equivalent of US$3,000 to $13,000. "Give Us a Baby and We'll Let You Go" documents the key factors that are driving the trafficking. The report also documents the failures of law enforcement that allow the trafficking to flourish. Many survivors of trafficking told Human Rights Watch that they sought jobs in China because they faced desperate lives in camps of people displaced by fighting in Myanmar's Kachin and northern Shan States. In China, many families struggle to find brides for their sons due to the country's gender imbalance, exacerbated by the "one-child policy" in place from 1979 to 2015. Survivors of trafficking said trusted people, including family members, promised work in China, then sold them. Once purchased they were typically locked in a room and raped repeatedly. Survivors said the Chinese families often seemed more interested in a baby than a "bride." After giving birth they could sometimes escape, but usually only by leaving their children behind with little hope of seeing them again. Back in Myanmar, survivors have little access to services and grapple with stigma as they try to rebuild their lives. Law enforcement officials on both sides of the border have made little effort to end trafficking. The Myanmar and Chinese governments, and the Kachin Independence Organization, should do more to prevent trafficking, recover and assist victims, and prosecute traffickers. Donors should support organizations assisting victims. Details: New York, NY: Human Rights Watch, 2019. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2019 at: https://www.hrw.org/report/2019/03/21/give-us-baby-and-well-let-you-go/trafficking-kachin-brides-myanmar-china Year: 2019 Country: Asia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/myanmar0319_web2_0.pdf Shelf Number: 155140 Keywords: Asia Child Brides Forced Marriage Human Rights Human Trafficking Law Enforcement Rape Trafficking in Persons Victim Assistance Violence Against Women

Author: Fahmy, Eldin Title: Evidence and policy review: Domestic violence and poverty Summary: In 2013/14, over 1.1 million women and 500,000 men in England and Wales experienced partner abuse in the last year. However, despite international recognition of the connections between women's poverty and increased vulnerability to domestic abuse, the connections between poverty and domestic violence and abuse (DVA) and the policies actions needed to tackle these problems remain poorly understood in a UK context. This report summarises existing evidence on the connections between poverty and DVA and considers the potential anti-poverty implications of DVA and related policy responses. In doing so, we hope to raise awareness of the ways in which anti-poverty policies can also promote the prevention of violence against women. More specifically, the review was prepared to inform the development of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's Anti-Poverty Strategy. Whilst gender inequality is both a cause and consequence of women's vulnerability to poverty, robust evidence on the connections between poverty and DVA is limited. Addressing this knowledge gap is vital in ensuring both that anti-poverty initiatives are sensitive to their impacts for women's vulnerability to DVA, and that actions to tackle DVA acknowledge the socioeconomic context within which abuse occurs. Details: York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2016. 42 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2019 at: https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/files/128551400/JRF_DV_POVERTY_REPORT_FINAL_COPY_.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/files/128551400/JRF_DV_POVERTY_REPORT_FINAL_COPY_.pdf Shelf Number: 155103 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Poverty Socioeconomic Status Violence Against Women

Author: Prochuk, Alana Title: We Are Here: Women's Experiences of the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault Summary: As part of our Dismantling the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault project with YWCA Metro Vancouver, West Coast LEAF's newest law reform report is about why survivors often do not report through the criminal justice system - in their own words. We Are Here: Women's Experiences of the Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault centres women's experiences of the devastating impacts of sexual assault, which are all too often exacerbated by the legal system's inadequate responses. While Canadian state law is not the right path to healing and justice for all survivors, seeking legal recourse can be deeply important to some. This report aims to identify barriers in the justice system for survivors of sexual assault and inspire change so that reporting to police becomes a viable option for all those who want to pursue it. Now is the time to dismantle the barriers to reporting sexual assault - with the voices of survivors guiding the way. Details: Vancouver, BC: West Coast Leaf, 2018. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 29, 2019 at: http://www.westcoastleaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/West-Coast-Leaf-dismantling-web-final.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Canada URL: http://www.westcoastleaf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/West-Coast-Leaf-dismantling-web-final.pdf Shelf Number: 155219 Keywords: Rape Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Singhal, Vipin Title: Honour Killing in India: An Assessment Summary: Abstract 'Honour Killing' is a cultural crime or a cultural tradition prevalent amongst non-Caucasian Societies which perceive women as bearers of family honour. Indian cultures are very deep rooted. Many young people in India have been done to death every year owing to 'Honour Killings.' It is because so called honour killings are based on the belief, deeply rooted in Indian cultures, which consider the women as objects and commodities, and not as human beings endowed with dignity and rights. Most honour killings occur in countries like India where the concept of women is considered as a vessel of the family reputation. This paper is an attempt to tackle the very important issue of a cultural crime that is magnifying day by day like a monster untamed. It is hard to believe that in the 21st century that too in the largest democracy of the world, families murder their kith and kin for allegedly saving their honour. But the question to be asked is this, is there any honour is killing? The concept of law that each man may do what he likes, provided he does not injure the equal freedom of others has been central to legal theory. As conditions of existence vary among different peoples and times, so do the principles of ethics and law. In any society there is a close connection between social morality and the legal order. There cannot be and there never has been a complete separation of law and morality. Historically ad ideological orders are observed into the legal order. And while in the traditional more or less custom bound society the flow was essentially in one direction the gradual transformation of social behaviour into legal custom and from custom into legislative prescription in the contemporary highly articulate and organized society, the law becomes in turn increasingly a major factor in the formation of social morality. However, there are times where the rule of law has been over ridden to give way to arbitrary and often violent actions by the society in order to preserve morality or honour of the clan. Every year around the world an increasing number of women are killed in the name of honour. Relatives, usually male, commit acts of violence against wives, sisters, daughters and mothers to reclaim their family honour from real or suspected actions that are perceived to have compromised it. Due to discriminator social beliefs and extremist views of gender, officials often condone or ignore the use of torture and brutality against women. As a result, the majority of so called honour killings so unreported and perpetrators face little, if any, consequence. Details: S.L.: 2014. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2019 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2406031 Year: 2014 Country: India URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2406031 Shelf Number: 155245 Keywords: Cultural Crime Familicide Gender Violence Honor Killing India Violence Against Women

Author: Canning, Victoria Title: Reimagining Refugee Rights: Addressing Asylum Harms in Britain, Denmark and Sweden Summary: For people seeking asylum in Northern Europe, reaching a safe country is a key goal. However, many face unexpected and unduly harsh realities: poverty, poor healthcare, racism and Islamophobia can make life incredibly difficult. This raises serious ethical concerns. Rather than accessing rights, many people experience the degeneration of their mental health, loss of job-related skills as time goes on, and social isolation. Survivors of violence and persecution are often excluded from support networks. Likewise, some policies and social attitudes are increasingly hostile toward migrants, resulting in harmful laws and practices. The new study, led by Dr Vicky Canning, Senior Lecturer in Criminology in the School for Policy Studies, was based in Britain, Denmark and Sweden between 2016-2018, and documents the harms increasingly embedded in the lives of people seeking asylum. In particular, this study focuses on the gendered implications of seeking asylum. It highlights that hostile attitudes and environments compound � or make worse - the impacts of violence, torture and sexual abuse. At the same time social and psychological support is reduced, leaving many people in an unsupported limbo, and women survivors of violence on the periphery of societies. The project used three key methods to explore asylum harms; in depth interviews, oral histories, and participatory action. Between October 2016-June 2018, 74 in-depth interviews were undertaken with psychologists, detention custody officers, activists, sexual violence counsellors, immigration lawyers and barristers. In-depth oral histories were also undertaken with five women, facilitating longer term insight into women's lives and trajectories of violence. Details: Bristol, UK: University of Bristol, 2019. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 1, 2019 at: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2019/mar/uk-dk-se-reimagining-refugee-rights-asylum-harms-3-19.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Europe URL: http://www.statewatch.org/news/2019/mar/uk-dk-se-reimagining-refugee-rights-asylum-harms-3-19.pdf Shelf Number: 155260 Keywords: Asylum Seekers Human Rights Abuses Migrants Refugees Violence Against Women

Author: Green, Donald P. Title: Countering violence against women at scale: A mass media experiment in rural Uganda Summary: Violence against women (VAW) is widespread in East Africa, with almost half of married women experiencing physical abuse. Those seeking to address this policy issue confront two challenges. First, some forms of domestic violence are widely condoned; majorities of men and women believe that a husband is justified in beating his wife in a variety of scenarios. Second, victims and bystanders are often reluctant to report incidents to authorities. Building on a growing literature showing that education-entertainment can change norms and behaviors, we present experimental evidence from a media campaign attended by over 10,000 Ugandans in 112 villages. In randomly assigned villages, video dramatizations discouraged VAW and encouraged reporting. Results from interviews conducted several months after the intervention show no change in attitudes condoning VAW yet a substantial increase in willingness to report to authorities, especially among women, and a decline in the share of women who experienced violence. Details: Unpublished paper, 2019. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Working paper, 2019: Accessed May 8, 2019 at: https://www.poverty-action.org/sites/default/files/publications/GreenWilkeCooper2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Uganda URL: https://www.poverty-action.org/sites/default/files/publications/GreenWilkeCooper2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155698 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate partner Violence Media Campaign Publicity Campaign Rural Areas Violence Against Women

Author: Duvvury, Nata Title: Economic and Social Costs of Violence Against Women and Girls: Pakistan Summary Report Summary: This report summarizes the key findings of the What Works to Prevent Violence: Economic and Social Costs project relating to Pakistan. It provides an overview of the social and economic costs of violence against women and girls (VAWG) to individuals and households, businesses and communities, and the national economy and society. Findings show the heavy drag that VAWG imposes on economic productivity and wellbeing, and the need to invest urgently in scaling up efforts to prevent violence. Details: Galway, Ireland: Social Policy and Development Centre, NUI Galway, Ipsos Mori, and International Centre for Research on Women, 2019. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 22, 2019 at: https://www.whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/304-pakistan-summary-report-web/file Year: 2019 Country: Pakistan URL: https://www.whatworks.co.za/resources/reports/item/598-economic-and-social-costs-of-violence-against-women-in-pakistan-summary-report Shelf Number: 156004 Keywords: Abused Women Child Abuse Domestic Violence Family Violence Pakistan Violence against Girls Violence against Women

Author: Politoff, Violeta Title: Young Australians' Attitudes to Violence Against Women and Gender Equality: Findings from the 2017 National Community Attitudes towards Violence Against Women Survey (NCAS) Summary: Violence against young women: Intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking are prevalent problems with serious consequences for women, their children and wider society (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), 2014; Webster, 2016). This violence affects women across the life cycle, but is more prevalent among, and has a particular and far-reaching impact upon, young women (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2017a; Brown et al., 2009; Cox, 2015; Dillon, Hussain, & Loxton, 2015; Hooker, Theobald, Anderson, Billet, & Baron, 2017). - Young women in the 18-24 year age group are the most likely to have experienced violence in the 12 months prior to the 2016 Personal Safety Survey (PSS), which measures experiences of violence (ABS, 2017b). - The number of young women (18-24) who experienced sexual violence in the year previous to the 2013 PSS was twice the national average (Cox, 2015). - An estimated 38 percent of women aged 18-24 years experienced sexual harassment in the 12 months prior to the 2016 PSS, compared to 16 percent of men aged 18-24 and 15 percent of women aged 45-54 (ABS, 2017b). Young women are also particularly affected by sexual harassment taking place on the streets and in other public places (Johnson & Bennett, 2015; Plan International Australia, 2018), through technology and social media (Henry, Powell, and Flynn, 2017), and in schools and universities (Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), 2017). In addition, young people may be exposed to domestic violence perpetrated against their mothers (Heinze, Stoddard, Aiyer, Eisman, and Zimmerman, 2017). Perpetration of violence is understood to be more likely when men are young (Fulu, Jewkes, Roselli, and Garcia-Moreno, 2013). Many factors contribute to this violence and arise at the individual, relationship, community, organisational and societal levels. Gender inequality and the disrespect of women increase the likelihood of this violence occurring (Council of Australian Governments (COAG), 2011; Garcia-Moreno et al., 2015). There is evidence that violence against women can be prevented before it occurs by addressing the underlying factors that cause the problem. Prevention action complements, but is separate from, responses after violence has occurred. However, both forms of action are required to reduce the prevalence of violence over time. Young people have been identified as a particular focus in both The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 (the National Plan) (COAG, 2011) and Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia (Change the story) (Our Watch, ANROWS & VicHealth, 2015). Further, there has been increased government effort to establish respectful relationships curriculum in all schools across the country, as well as heightened attention at universities (AHRC, 2017). This is due in part to the higher prevalence and particular impact of violence on young women as discussed above. More positively, since adolescence and young adulthood are life cycle stages when gender identities, roles and relationships are being formed, supporting young men and women to establish positive gender expressions and relationship practices has many benefits. It can help to reduce the risk of violence and abuse in the present, prevent future harm and maximise the prospects of a violence-free environment for future generations. Attitudes towards gender inequality and violence against women are among the many factors that contribute to this violence. Indirectly, they can influence the responses of service providers, as well as those of family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues of those affected. Attitudes can also influence perpetrators and women subject to violence. Since attitudes reflect the world around us, measuring these over time is one way to monitor progress towards addressing the problem. The NCAS: The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) is a periodic telephone survey (mobile and landline) of a representative sample. In 2017 more than 17,500 Australians aged 16 years and over were surveyed about their:- knowledge of violence against women;- attitudes towards this violence and gender equality; and- intentions if they were to witness abuse or disrespect towards women. The NCAS is one of the main mechanisms for measuring progress against the six National Outcomes outlined in the National Plan (COAG, 2011), another is the PSS (ABS, 2017b). Previous waves of the NCAS were conducted in 1995, 2009 and 2013. The 2017 NCAS Although as many questions as possible from the 2013 questionnaire were retained, a substantial redevelopment was undertaken for the 2017 NCAS, with key outcomes being:- the capacity to measure and understand the ways Australians think about violence against women and gender equality, recognising that attitudinal support for these concepts can take many different forms;- the use of composite measures (made up of groups of questions) to gauge understanding, attitudes and people's intention to act as overall concepts;- new measures used to increase understanding of factors shaping knowledge, attitudes and intention to act, including measures of (a) the gender composition of a person's social network, (b) prejudice on the basis of disability, sexuality, ethnicity, and Aboriginality, and (c) attitudes towards violence in general; and- better alignment with the National Plan (COAG, 2011) and Change the story (Our Watch et al., 2015). Details: Sydney, Australia: ANROWS, 2019. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2019 at: https://ncas.anrows.org.au/findings/youth-report-findings/ Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://ncas.anrows.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2017NCAS-Youth-SubReport.pdf Shelf Number: 156032 Keywords: Abused Women Australia Gender and Crime Reduce Violence Against Women Violence Against Women

Author: Cripps, Kyllie Title: Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women and Gender Equality among Aboriginal People and Torres Strait Islanders: Findings from the 2017 National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) Summary: Intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking are prevalent problems with serious consequences for women, their children and wider society (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), 2014; Webster, 2016). While affecting women across the population, this violence is more prevalent among, and has a particular and far-reaching impact upon, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, their families and their communities. Such violence may be perpetrated by non-Indigenous men, as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Violence taking place within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities is seen as part of a broader issue of family violence. Many factors contribute to this violence and arise at the individual, relationship, community, organisational and societal levels. Some of these factors particularly affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Discussed in greater detail in this report, these include: influences associated with being a colonised people (e.g. the intergenerational impacts of the forced removal of children); exposure to other forms of violence in the community and institutional environments (e.g. prisons); and economic and social marginalisation. Gender inequality and the disrespect of women increase the likelihood of this violence occurring (Council of Australian Governments (COAG), 2011; Garcia-Moreno et al., 2015). There is evidence that violence against women can be prevented before it occurs by addressing the underlying factors that cause the problem. Prevention action complements, but is separate from, responses after violence has occurred. However, both forms of action are required to reduce the prevalence of violence over time. Violence affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls has been identified as a particular focus in both The National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010�2022 (the National Plan) (COAG, 2011), and Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia (Change the story) (OurWatch, ANROWS, and VicHealth, 2015). Specific approaches for prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are outlined in Changing the picture: A national resource to support the prevention of violence against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children (Changing the picture) (Our Watch, 2018), developed by Our Watch in partnership with key Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders. Attitudes towards gender inequality and violence against women are among the many factors that contribute to this violence. Indirectly, they can influence the responses of service providers, as well as those of family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues of those affected. Attitudes can also influence perpetrators and women subject to violence. Since attitudes reflect the world around us, measuring these over time is one way to monitor progress towards addressing the problem. The NCAS: The National Community Attitudes towards Violence against Women Survey (NCAS) is a periodic telephone survey (mobile and landline) of a representative sample. In 2017 more than 17,500 Australians aged 16 years and over, 342 of whom identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, were surveyed about their: knowledge of violence against women; attitudes towards this violence and gender equality; and intentions if they were to witness abuse or disrespect towards women. The NCAS is one of the main mechanisms for measuring progress against the six National Outcomes outlined in the National Plan (COAG, 2011). Another is the Personal Safety Survey (PSS), which measures experiences of violence (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2017). Previous waves of the NCAS were conducted in 1995, 2009 and 2013. The 2017 NCAS: Although as many questions as possible from the 2013 questionnaire were retained, a substantial redevelopment was undertaken for the 2017 NCAS, with key outcomes being: the capacity to measure and understand the ways Australians think about violence against women and gender equality, recognising that attitudinal support for these concepts can take many different forms; the use of composite measures (made up of groups of questions) to gauge understanding, attitudes and people's intention to act as overall concepts; new measures used to increase understanding of factors shaping knowledge, attitudes and intention to act, including measures of (a) the gender composition of a person's social network, (b) prejudice on the basis of disability, sexuality, ethnicity, and Aboriginality, and (c) attitudes towards violence in general; and better alignment with the National Plan (COAG, 2011) and Change the story (Our Watch et al., 2015). Details: Sydney, Australia: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, 2019. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2019 at: https://ncas.anrows.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2017-NCAS-ATSI-Sub-Report.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://ncas.anrows.org.au/ Shelf Number: 156033 Keywords: Abused Women Australia Domestic Abuse Gender and Crime Gender Inequality Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Mosneagu, Alina Title: Violence Against Women: Key Findings and Strategies to Tackle Unreported Cases and to Enforce the Protection Order Summary: Violence against women is a global pandemic phenomenon, which knows no social and economic boundaries and it affects women from all socio-economic backgrounds. The problem has to be addressed by all countries. Violence against women represents a severe violation of human rights and it is rooted in women's inequality in the society. Its impact ranges from immediate to long-term multiple physical, psychological, social, economic consequences. It does not only affect the victims, but also the community and countries at large. Violence against women can fit into several broad categories. It includes violence committed by individuals or by states. Some forms of violence committed by individuals are, for example, rape, domestic violence, sexual harassment, mob violence, honour killings and female genital mutilation. There are also forms of violence perpetrated or condoned by certain states such as war rape, forced sterilization, forced abortion, stoning and flogging. It is difficult to estimate the full extent of violence against women, because it is still under-reported and stigmatized. It is unacceptable that many women still suffer in silence from crimes that wreck their lives, as many illegal acts often remain undisclosed. Collaboration among stakeholders at national and international level must be strengthened and concrete strategies should be effectively put into practice in order to protect women against violence and to severely punish the perpetrators. The purpose of this publication is to highlight the situation of violence against women in several European Union countries and to highlight common difficulties in ensuring better rights protection. Also, through this publication, a series of recommendations and strategies will be presented on how to improve the current legislative framework, as well as social and educational issues that play an important role in the fight against violence. The publication has been written as part of the project JUSTICE FOR WOMEN � Towards a more effective rights protection and access to judicial procedures for victims of crimes, implemented with the financial support of the Justice Programme of the European Union. The project is coordinated by Pro Refugiu Association Romania in partnership with Center for the Study of Democracy Bulgaria, Demetra Association Bulgaria, Centre for European Constitutional Law Greece, Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights, Trabe Iniciativas para la Economia Social y Solidaria Association Spain. Details: S.L., 2019. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 28, 2019 at: http://justiceforwomen.prorefugiu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Study-Report-EN.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Europe URL: http://justiceforwomen.prorefugiu.eu/violence-against-women-key-findings-and-strategies-to-tackle-unreported-cases-and-to-enforce-the-protection-order/ Shelf Number: 156059 Keywords: Gender Human Rights Intimate Partner Violence Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Carrington, Kerry Title: The Role of Women's Police Stations in Widening Access to Justice and Eliminating Gender Violence Summary: This address is relevant to the priority theme of the 63rd meeting of the UN CSW of providing access to sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women in order to eliminate violence against women and girls. First, outline the case for sex segregated policing, then briefly describe the emergence of women's police stations, next we outline the results of our study on the role of women's police stations in Argentina in responding to and preventing gender violence. Finally, we present some policy and practice lessons for UN Women to consider in relation to achieving the sustainable development goal of eliminating violence against women. The study is funded by the Australian Research Council and includes a multi-country team of researchers from Australia and Argentina whose contributions we gratefully acknowledge. Details: S.L.: United Nations Conference Paper, 2019. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2019 at: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127632/ Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/127632/1/UN%20CSW%20women%27s%20police%20stations%2016%20March.pdf Shelf Number: 156094 Keywords: Female Police Officers Gender and Crime Gender Equality Law Enforcement Police Departments Violence Against Women Women Police Officers

Author: Balice, Guy Title: A Review of Barriers to Treating Domestic Violence for Middle Eastern Women Living in the United States Summary: Purpose: This review examined the literature that addresses Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Middle Eastern women living in the United States. Methods: The authors reviewed literature, including reviews and empirical studies, that examined DV and IPV that included: (1) females of Middle Eastern descent, (2) these participants were 18 years of age or older, (3) they have a history of domestic violence or intimate partner violence. Results: This literature review indicated DV is a worldwide epidemic, with IPV affecting 30% of the female population. IPV is seen in higher rates amongst minority communities, especially among immigrants. Domestic violence can lead to both long-term psychological problems and physical problems, the most serious of which is death. Due to stigma surrounding mental health in Middle Eastern cultures, many women in this population do not seek psychological services. Moreover, in many Middle Eastern communities, DV is seen as a non-significant personal issue. Conclusions: Fears of further violence, loss of support and relationships, cultural expectations and family reputation are some reasons why Middle Eastern women do not seek services for domestic violence. Future considerations and research are needed to better understand these women's perceptions of the risks and benefits associated with psychological help in order to better assist them and their needs. Details: Los Angeles, California: Department of Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, 2019. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2019 at: https://openventio.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Review-of-Barriers-to-Treating-Domestic-Violence-for-Middle-Easternwomen-Living-in-the-United-States-PCSOJ-5-146.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://openventio.org/a-review-of-barriers-to-treating-domestic-violence-for-middle-eastern-women-living-in-the-united-states/ Shelf Number: 156489 Keywords: Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law. Title: The Silence I Carry: Disclosing Gender-Based Violence in Forced Displacement Summary: Over half a million displaced people journey north from Central America and through Mexico every year. Many suffer multiple forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape, transactional sex, forced prostitution, sex trafficking, and sexual assault. Though few reliable statistics exist, different studies estimate that 24% to 80% of women suffer some form of sexual violence en route, along with 5% of men and 50% of gay and transgender individuals. And yet very few survivors report the harm they have suffered. One key to improving detection of and response to SGBV among refugees and migrants traveling through Central and North America is to better enable survivors to disclose, or reveal, their experiences of SGBV to service providers and others who can help. However, enabling SGBV disclosure in this context is not as simple as it sounds. High levels of mobility and regional insecurity, along with individual, social, and structural factors, can affect a person's capability, opportunity, and motivation to report this kind of harm. Additionally, it may not always be appropriate for some providers to pursue SGBV disclosure when they have such limited time with fast-moving refugees and migrants or cannot make meaningful referral to additional support services. At the invitation of UN High Commissioner for Refugees' Regional Legal Unit (UNHCR - RLU) for the Americas Region, the Sexual Violence Program of the Human Rights Center (HRC) at the University of California, Berkeley, conducted a pilot project to assess challenges and strategies related to SGBV disclosure among refugees and other migrants in Central America and Mexico. HRC focused on Mexico and Guatemala, two countries in which UNHCR has established a Regional Safe Spaces Network (RSSN) of service providers. This preliminary inquiry addressed two issues: a.) how to strengthen providers' approach to SGBV disclosure and b.) how to improve awareness raising about SGBV risks and support services. From September 2017 through January 2018, HRC�s Sexual Violence Program conducted desk research, a field mission to Guatemala and Mexico, and data analysis using qualitative coding software. In February 2018, HRC delivered an internal report to UNHCR with preliminary findings, analysis, recommendations, and a dozen draft tools to improve SGBV-related disclosure and outreach for the Central American and Mexican context. HRC's preliminary findings clarified how SGBV disclosure requires a multifaceted approach in a complicated context of high mobility, high insecurity, and high diversity of displacement profile, SGBV experience, and survivor identity. Findings also highlighted the need for a context-specific and coordinated communications strategy about SGBV risks and support services in order to reach refugees and other migrants traveling rapidly or far off the beaten path. In response to these results and based on its previous research on SGBV-related interventions, HRC produced several draft tools for UNHCR review and adaptation. HRC's draft tools included a typography of SGBV disclosure from a service provision standpoint, along with training modules and sample "do's and don'ts" for facilitating disclosure in ways that consider providers' capacity and role with respect to SGBV response. Specific communication tools offer suggestions both for in-person strategies, such as facilitated group discussions and community theater productions, and broader outreach campaigns such as the strategic distribution of printed materials and creative use of public space. Details: Berkeley, California: Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law, 2018. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2019 at: https://www.acnur.org/publications/pub_prot/5c081eae4/the-silence-i-carry-disclosing-gender-based-violence-in-forced-displacement.html Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.acnur.org/es-es/publications/pub_prot/5c081eae4/the-silence-i-carry-disclosing-gender-based-violence-in-forced-displacement.html Shelf Number: 156498 Keywords: Migrants Refugees Sexual and Gender Based Violence Sexual Assault Sexual Violence Violence against Women

Author: European Institute for Gender Equality Title: Gender-Specific Measures in Anti-Trafficking Actions Summary: Trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most commonly reported form of human trafficking in the European Union. It is a form of gender-based violence that disproportionately affects women. 95% of registered victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation in the EU are women or girls. Trafficking in women and girls remains a structural form of violence against women. In this report, a gender perspective is applied as an analytical framework to examine the provisions and obligations under the Anti-Trafficking Directive and the Victims' Rights Directive. The Anti-Trafficking Directive introduces common provisions, taking into account a gender perspective, to strengthen the prevention of this crime and the protection of the victims. The analysis seeks to identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in the protection and response to the needs of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation. The report provides guidance to Member States on gender-specific measures to better identify, help and support victims of trafficking in human beings. Details: Vilnius, Lithuania: European Institute for Gender Equality, 2018. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2019 at: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/sites/antitrafficking/files/read_the_report_gender-specific_measures_in_anti-trafficking_actions.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Europe URL: https://eige.europa.eu/publications/gender-specific-measures-anti-trafficking-actions-report Shelf Number: 156505 Keywords: Anti-Trafficking Gender-Based Violence Human Trafficking Sex Trafficking Sexual Exploitation Victims Rights Violence Against Women

Author: New Zealand. Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor Title: Every 4 Minutes: A Discussion Paper on Preventing Family Violence in New Zealand Summary: Every 4 minutes is the third in a series of reports (Using evidence to build a better justice system: The challenge of rising prison costs and It's never too early, never too late: A discussion paper on preventing youth offending in New Zealand) related to the criminal-justice system, as the cumulative effects of family violence and child maltreatment are associated with later criminal-justice involvement, as well as negative physical and mental health effects. 1. Family violence includes child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, or neglect), intimate-partner violence (physical, sexual, or emotional violence from a partner or ex-partner) and intrafamilial violence (between siblings, adult children to parents and other violence between relatives). It used to be called "domestic violence". 2. Exposure to family violence has a substantial impact. The immune system, nervous system, and metabolic systems of young children are affected by the stress of family violence, often affecting physical and mental wellbeing for life. Managing feelings (especially aggression), understanding others, and problem-solving skills can all be hampered by the extremely high levels of stress that children feel. Increased child anxiety and trauma symptoms are common. 3. Parenting is affected by family violence, damaging parents' ability to nurture their children in the way they desire. Intergenerational transmission of violence, neglect, and maltreatment is far too common but not inevitable. If both partners have been abused in childhood, and witnessed violence between their own parents, the chances that their adult relationships will be violent are increased. 4. Intimate-partner violence is the leading cause of murder of women and the most common type of violence that women experience. At least one third of New Zealand women experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, rising up to more than half when psychological/emotional abuse is included. Partner violence can be mutual and men report being victims of physical (14%) and psychological (47.3%) violence in their relationships. There can be physical injury, chronic disorders, pain, and mental health consequences from intimate-partner violence. Non-physical violence, such as controlling behaviour, intimidation, verbal abuse, and threats, also causes severe harm. 5. One in four women from New Zealand high-income households experience physical or sexual intimate-partner violence in their lifetime; at least one in 10 New Zealand men have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Reports to police of intimate-partner violence and childhood sexual abuse represent a tiny proportion of what occurs. 6. Early intervention and a life-course approach (understanding the stages of physical, mental, emotional, social, and cultural development that we all experience) can reduce harm in many life domains. Holistic, early support for children and families is needed. It is vital that services work well together and with those affected to provide early intervention. 7. Despite the well reported lack of whanau violence before colonisation, Maori are now highly exposed to it. The trauma of colonisation has had an intergenerational effect on Maori, who experience disproportionate rates of family violence, combined with other negative social effects of racism, discrimination, and dislocation, alongside strengths and resilience factors that endure. Programme design, implementation, and evaluation must be in accord with a Maori worldview, informed by relevant science. 8. High rates of family violence in Pacific communities also need to be tackled by culturally appropriate approaches, with proper understanding of the social and cultural drivers of trauma and discrimination. 9. We lack skills and resources to respond to family violence in diverse communities, including children and adults with disability, refugees and migrants, and LGBTQI people, all of whom can be at risk of family violence and child maltreatment. 10. Reasons for staying in violent relationships are diverse and complex including that you have come to think of abuse as normal, there is unequal power and control in the relationship, shame and secrecy, limited social and financial resources to get away, you need to protect and provide for children, you hang on to hope that things will change, and you know that leaving may be lethal to you and your children. As a community, we need to be better at finding ways to be available, take notice, reach out, and help. 11. Resilience and recovery from the effects of family violence can emerge as a result of individual characteristics, supportive attachments, non-violent role models, and wider community support. Increasingly, the child or family's wider environment is seen as the key to resilience - environments cause children to change for the worse, so environments need to be changed for the better. 12. Prevention of family violence is possible. International and local evidence shows that family violence can be prevented by wider social understanding of the importance of childhood, thereby reducing all forms of adverse experiences in early life. We need to challenge social norms that relate to violence; not allow economic disadvantage to hamper non-violence; build workforce capacity in prevention and intervention; and enhance support for skilled parenting, quality early childhood care and education, and, where necessary, intervention for individual children and families (see Table 1). These areas must be culturally interpreted - they are broad categories of action that need to be led by appropriate communities. As a series on global research in the leading scientific publication, The Lancet, explains: The science is clear and the evidence convincing that our earliest experiences matter...We must draw on this knowledge to take action to support parents, caregivers, and families in providing the nurturing care and protection that young children deserve. (Quote from p. 100: Britto PR, Lye SJ, Proulx K, et al. Nurturing care: promoting early childhood development. The Lancet 2017; 389(10064): 91-102.) Details: Auckland, New Zealand: Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, 2018. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 21, 2019 at: https://cpb-ap-se2.wpmucdn.com/blogs.auckland.ac.nz/dist/6/414/files/2018/11/Every-4-minutes-A-discussion-paper-on-preventing-family-violence-in-New-Zealand.-Lambie-report-8.11.18-x43nf4.pdf Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.pmcsa.ac.nz/2018/12/11/stopping-family-violence/ Shelf Number: 156559 Keywords: Child Abuse Child Neglect Child Sexual Abuse Disabilities Domestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Racism Refugees Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Tarrant, Stella Title: Transforming Legal Understandings of Intimate Partner Violence Summary: This report examines how and why changes to the law of self-defence have not had their intended effects. It explores how legal professionals and experts understand IPV, influencing which facts are selected and presented as relevant in the criminal process and the meaning made of those facts. This report demonstrates that the model of IPV relied on by prosecutors, expert witnesses, judges and others can have the effect either of revealing the violence a woman claims to have acted in self-defence against, or of undercutting that claim. It suggests that the current models of IPV used in the criminal justice system prepackage a defendant's defensive actions in response to IPV as unreasonable. This report has been written to be an educational and training resource for law students, police, prosecution and defence lawyers, expert witnesses, and judges. Details: Sydney, Australia: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, 2019. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2019 at: https://d2rn9gno7zhxqg.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/26035202/RP.17.10_Tarrant_RR_Transforming-Legal-Understandings-of-IPV.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/transforming-legal-understandings-of-intimate-partner-violence/ Shelf Number: 156801 Keywords: Abuse Battered Women Intimate Partner Violence Physical Violence Rape Sexual Violence Violence Against Women

Author: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety Limited (ANROWS) Title: Women Who Kill Abusive Partners: Understandings of Intimate Partner Violence in the Context of Self-Defence. Summary: The ANROWS research examines homicide trials in which self-defence is raised by women who have killed an abusive intimate partner. It explores how legal professionals and experts understand intimate partner violence (IPV), including which facts are selected and presented as relevant to understanding the homicide, the language used to frame those facts and the conclusions drawn from them. The project involved a close analysis of the case of The State of Western Australia v. Liyanage, a case that demonstrates the way in which women's claims to have acted in self-defence against an abusive partner have been systematically rejected. In brief: The use of outdated understandings of intimate partner violence within the legal system automatically renders the use of defensive force against an abusive partner "unreasonable". Despite attempts to reform self-defence laws, in practice self-defence is not easily raised by women who kill abusive partners. A proposed way to address this issue is to use a "social entrapment" framework to understand intimate partner violence. Key to this framework is a recognition, in line with current research, that the primary victim's/survivor's ability to resist abuse is constrained by the abuser's behaviour, the safety options available and broader structural inequities in the victim's/survivor�s life. Key recommendations: All those involved in investigating, charging, prosecuting, defending or trying a woman who has killed her violent/abusive intimate partner should be using a social entrapment framework (including consideration of sexual violence) to understand the facts. Evidence of the availability of alternative avenues to safety should be considered by all those involved in the justice process. This should occur before charges are laid, in advance of a trial, during a trial, and at the end of a trial. Education on the social entrapment. Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, 2019. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2019 at: https://d2rn9gno7zhxqg.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/26034237/RP.17.10_RtPP_Women-who-kill-abusive-partners.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/women-who-kill-abusive-partners-understandings-of-intimate-partner-violence-in-the-context-of-self-defence-key-findings-and-future-directions/ Shelf Number: 156802 Keywords: Abused Women Abusive Men Battered Women Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Self Defense Violence Against Women

Author: Jury, Ang Title: Pet Abuse as Part of Intimate Partner Violence Summary: The intersection between the abuse of women and children at the abuse of pets has long since been established, but less has been known about the role that the abuse of women's pets plays in their experiences of intimate partner violence. Accordingly, this research aimed to explore victims' experiences of the abuse of their pets, and how this influenced their attempts at seeking safety. Pets represent close and affectionate relationships for many victims. The affection that victims held for their pets was frequently exploited by intimate partners, who threatened or carried out abuse against victims' pets as a way to demonstrate force and induce compliance. This abuse directed at victims' pets both delayed and in many cases precluded their attempts to leave the abuser, and led to significant suffering both by pets and by the primary victim of the abuse. The motivations driving abusers' use of violence towards pets can arguably be understood as indicative of underlying abusive intentions towards women. Three distinct motivations were interpreted from this research - control and intimidation, assertions of supremacy, and silencing of disclosures. These, in addition to their paralyzing impacts, have important ramifications for domestic violence work. In addition, the role that pets unwittingly play as pawns of the abuser highlights the need for tailored services to be offered to them as additional (and pivotal) victims of the abuser. Details: Wellington, New Zealand: National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, 2018. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2019 at: https://www.petrefuge.org.nz/assets/e4aabeb185/2018-Womens-Refuge-Research1.pdf Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.petrefuge.org.nz/domestic-violence-and-animal-abuse Shelf Number: 156966 Keywords: Abuser Animal Abuse Animal Cruelty Domestic Violence Intimate Partner Violence Pet Abuse Violence Against Women

Author: Burmester, Bridget Title: Rapid Evidence Review to Inform Post-Crisis Support Services for Victims of Sexual Violence Summary: This rapid evidence review was completed to provide the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) with a summary of the available evidence about the nature and effectiveness of post crisis support services for victims/survivors of sexual violence. The key question to be answered in this review was: What does the evidence say about the nature and effectiveness of post-crisis services for helping victims/survivors of sexual violence recover from its negative impacts? The agreed method was a rapid narrative review of accessible academic and grey literature. The review synthesises and summarises findings from the available identified evidence, and does not include consideration of other factors in decision-making such as cost and alternative options. Key findings of the review included: - International guidelines and evidence recommend the provision of support beyond an initial crisis response, and the ability of these services to cater for a range of victims'/survivors' needs. Both an immediate and ongoing responses are necessary for optimal outcomes. - For victims/survivors with severe and complex needs such as post-traumatic stress symptoms, clinical therapies including cognitive behavioural therapies have the strongest evidence of effectiveness, particularly when delivered individually rather than group-based, and over a sufficient period of time (at least 4-5 months). - Non-clinical services such as supportive counselling and advocacy services are well-received by clients with less severe needs, and help to support clients through service interactions and connect with other supports. However these services do not have clear evidence of effectiveness at reducing psychological distress symptoms, and still need to be individualised for different needs. - Both clinical and non-clinical services need to be delivered by staff with specialist training in sexual violence. Clear referral pathways also increase the effectiveness of post-crisis support services. - Evidence is mixed regarding the optimal service model for post-crisis support services. A coordinated response across a variety of service providers is one promising option, as is supporting informal supports (eg victim's/survivor's family, whānau and friends). - Evidence was limited and often related only to subgroups of potential victims/survivors. Further evaluation and investigation of promising approaches is recommended in order to strengthen the evidence base in this field. Details: Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Social Development, 2019. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2019 at: https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/family-and-sexual-violence/specialist-services/rapid-evidence-review-may-2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: New Zealand URL: https://dashboard.vega.works/MailViewer.aspx?xlnse3=FE0051EF-170F-4DE5-8FDF-B4D38746D1F7 Shelf Number: 156967 Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence Rapid Review Sexual Violence Survivors of Sexual Violence Victim Services Violence Against Women

Author: Sida Title: Preventing and Responding to Gender-Based Violence: Expressions and Strategies Summary: Ending gender-based violence (GBV) and ensuring women's security is a priority for the Swedish government, a priority reflected in central objectives of Swedish policy for development cooperation. Sida defines GBV as any harm or suffering that is perpetrated against a woman or girl, man or boy and that has negative impact on the physical, sexual or psychological health, development or identity of the person. The cause of this violence is founded in gender-based inequalities and discrimination. GBV is the most extreme expression of these unequal gender relations in society, and a violation of human rights, as well as a main hindrance of the achievement of gender equality. In Sida's work an important point of departure is that GBV is preventable, which entails a focus on the root causes of violence and on possibilities for change. Women and girls are mostly affected by GBV, and globally at least one third of all women have been exposed to violence in an intimate relationship, but also men and boys can be subjected to GBV. Regardless, the violence is linked to gender inequalities and norms for gender. Most commonly GBV occurs in the family, but it also takes place at other arenas in society, private and public. GBV is an umbrella definition including a wide range of expressions of violence such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence by non-partners, Female Genital mutilation (FGM), honour violence, early marriage, violence against LGBTI and trafficking in human beings. In situations of war and conflict, GBV is particularly present. Entry points in addressing GBV is that gender-based violence is a violation of human rights, and that tackling GBV is crucial for poverty reduction and economic development. GBV is furthermore a key to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and reverse the spread of HIV. It is also a security concern and a prerequisite for sustainable peace. When defining effective strategies to end a priority is to make efforts to prevent GBV. Given that GBV is linked to gender-based power inequalities, key in GBV prevention are efforts to increase gender equality and transformation of gender norms. Prevention strategies entail a shift from "victims" to "survivors" with a focus on women and girl's empowerment and agency, efforts to increase women's political and economic empowerment and sexual and reproductive rights, and to incorporate men and boys in the work. The strengthening of legal and policy framework is also of outmost importance, as are efforts to bridge the gap between law and practice and to end the impunity for GBV. Response to survivors, which meets their rights to protection and access to services, including shelters and health sector services, is also core. Details: Stockholm, Sweden: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, 2015. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 15, 2019 at: https://www.sida.se/contentassets/3a820dbd152f4fca98bacde8a8101e15/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: https://www.sida.se/English/publications/159477/preventing-and-responding-to-gender-based-violence-expressions-and-strategies/ Shelf Number: 156918 Keywords: Female Genital Mutilation Forced Marriage Gender Based Violence Intimate Partner Violence Trafficking in Persons Violence Against Women

Author: Instituto de Pesquisa Economica Aplicada Title: Atlas da Violencia (Atlas of Violence) Summary: SUMMARY: 1. THE LETHAL VIOLENCE SETUP IN BRAZIL 1.1. Economic Costs of Violence; 2. HOMICIDE IN FEDERATIVE UNITS; 2.1. Comparison of health data and police records; 3. LOST YOUTH; 4. VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN; 4.1. Evolution of homicides against women in the Federative Units; 4.2. Is there an increase in lethal violence against women or femicide?; 5. VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK; 6. VIOLENCE AGAINST LGBTI + POPULATION; 6.1 Dial 100; 6.2 Sinan; 7. THE PROFILE OF HOMICIDE IN BRAZIL; 8. FIREARMS; 8.1. An overview of the scientific literature on guns and crimes; 8.2. Some specific findings of the studies; 8.3. Why does gun diffusion increase public insecurity?; Causal Channels; 8.4. The escalation of armed violence in Brazil since 1980 and the brake on the increase in deaths imposed by the disarmament statute; 8.5. Evolution of armed violence in the Federative Units in the last decade; 9. VIOLENT DEATH WITH UNDERMINED CAUSE AND DATA QUALITY; 10. FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PUBLIC SECURITY POLICIES AND FEDERATIVE MANAGEMENT; REFERENCES; APPENDICES Details: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Instituto de Pesquisa Economica Aplicada, 2019. 116p. Source: Internet Resource (in Portuguese): Accessed August 21, 2019 at: http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34784&Itemid=432 Year: 2019 Country: Brazil URL: http://www.ipea.gov.br/portal/images/stories/PDFs/relatorio_institucional/190605_atlas_da_violencia_2019.pdf Shelf Number: 157033 Keywords: Brazil Firearms Guns Homicides Public Security Violence Against Women

Author: Sleep, Lyndal Title: Domestic Violence, Social Security and the Couple Rule Summary: Access to social security resources is vital to many women who are attempting to be free of an abusive relationship. When it is unclear to the Department of Social Security if the victim/survivor is still in a relationship with the perpetrator, the "couple rule" is used to decide her access to social security payments. The couple rule in social security law (Social Security Act 1991 (Cth), s. 4(3)) ties women's access to social security payments to the income and assets of the perpetrator in circumstances where she is determined to be in a relationship with him. Therefore, if an applicant is assessed as being a member of a couple, her own and the perpetrator's income and assets will be assessed jointly. This may lead to the victim/survivor being denied payment or, if it is later determined that she has not declared her relationship, could result in an overpayment debt and/or criminal prosecution for social security fraud. In the application of this rule, domestic violence is rarely treated as an exception. This can financially entrap victims/survivors in a violent relationship, as they are denied independent social security support at the vulnerable time when they are attempting to permanently separate from the perpetrator. Research has shown that women who experience domestic violence are more likely to go on to experience poverty and disability after the abusive behaviour has ended (Cortis & Bullen, 2015; 2016). The couple rule may increase the risk of victims/survivors experiencing poverty. Further, the rule is used by perpetrators to intimidate victims/survivors by perpetuating economic dependence, ingraining financial and systems abuse, and also by threatening to separate them from their children through imprisonment for social security fraud. Details: Victoria, Australia: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, 2019. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2019 at: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2019/07/apo-nid249076-1374776.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://apo.org.au/node/249076 Shelf Number: 157048 Keywords: Domestic Violence Security Survivors Violence Against Women

Author: Scherrer, Amandine Title: Detecting and Protecting Victims of Trafficking in Hotspots Summary: Trafficking in human beings occurs in every country in the world, and has strong gender dimensions. In Europe, sexual exploitation is the most widespread form of trafficking, followed by forced labour. Women and girls comprise the majority of all victims of trafficking. At EU level, most victims of trafficking are detected in their countries of citizenship. However, trafficking can also have strong cross-border dimensions. This study focuses on the issue of trafficking in human beings in the first reception facilities for migrants and/or refugees coming into the EU by sea that are operated in Greece and Italy as part of the EU 'hotspot approach' launched in 2015. Currently nine hotspots are located on the EU's external borders under this approach, for the initial reception, identification and registration of asylum seekers and other migrants: five are located in Greece and four in Italy. In the context of the ongoing migration crisis, it is more than likely that among the migrants and refugees seeking international protection after reaching EU shores by sea (a large number of whom come from conflict zones), many have been victims of trafficking already in their countries of origin. Furthermore, during their journeys to Europe, asylum-seekers and migrants are exposed to additional risks of exploitation. Therefore, the study analyses the difficulties related to victim detection in hotspots. While in theory this stage in a migrant or refugee's arrival in Europe provides the first opportunity to detect victims of trafficking and ensure an adequate follow-up procedure, the task of detecting victims of trafficking is fraught with many practical difficulties. Furthermore, the risks of trafficking do not disappear when migrants and refugees reach EU soil. While waiting in hotspots for their papers to be processed, they are still at risk of falling victim to exploitative individuals and/or networks. Most of the hotspots are not designed in a protection-sensitive manner and all people staying in hotspot facilities, but especially women and children, can end up in dangerous situations. The study therefore looks at the extent to which measures are taken to prevent exploitation and violence. At EU level, trafficking in human beings is recognised as a violation of fundamental rights and is explicitly prohibited by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Many efforts have been made to step up the fight against trafficking, and since 2009 these efforts have been coordinated by an EU antitrafficking coordinator. In the specific context of hotspots, Member States have full responsibility for setting up and managing reception and registration infrastructure. When it comes to the detection of victims of trafficking, they nonetheless have to comply with a number of EU requirements, as set out in the Anti-Trafficking Directive, the Reception Conditions Directive and the Qualification Directive. In practice, a considerable number of actors are involved in the procedures for identifying vulnerabilities. These include national authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), EU agencies and international organisations. As the hotspot is usually the first place where migrants have a chance to have their vulnerability recognised, the roles of the actors involved in the process of vulnerability screening is key. The identification and referral of vulnerable people is thus a shared responsibility of all actors operating in the hotspots. The living conditions in hotspots in Italy and Greece are very different, and the study takes due consideration of these specificities. Details: Brussels, Belgium: European Parliament, 2019. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2019 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2019/631757/EPRS_STU(2019)631757_EN.pdf Year: 2019 Country: International URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_STU(2019)631757 Shelf Number: 157043 Keywords: Asylum Seekers Child Trafficking Forced Labor Human Trafficking Migrants Migration Refugees Sexual Exploitation Trafficking in Persons Violence Against Women

Author: United Nations Title: Beyond Boundaries: Utilizing Protection Orders to Cultivate a Holistic Response to Domestic Violence in the Arab Region Summary: The present study documents and analyses legislation on domestic violence protection orders in the Arab region through the lens of international frameworks and good practice with the aim of having Arab States streamline their legislation in line with these standards. The study calls upon Arab States to implement and make greater use of civil protection orders, in addition to ex parte (emergency) orders and criminal protection orders, arguing that such orders provide a necessary level of empowerment and protection to survivors of domestic violence. The Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (SR-VAW) has recently argued that the availability of shelters and protection orders are required under international human rights law, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (DEVAW). In line with the focus of this study, which seeks to challenge the notion that survivors of marital violence should be forced to hide from perpetrators, the SR-VAW has also noted that "there are pervasive cultural assumptions about a woman's need to 'leave' a violent household, as opposed to the need to remove a violent partner who undermines women's enjoyment of the right to adequate housing". Amongst other international frameworks, the Beijing Platform for Action's response to violence against women (VAW) calls upon States to facilitate access to justice for survivors through "just and effective remedies for the harm they have suffered and inform women of their rights in seeking redress through such mechanisms" (Strategic objective D.1, 124(h)). Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) elaborate several targets for addressing gender-based discrimination and inequality, particularly under SDG 5.4 The current SR-VAW has singled out target 2 of SDG 5, which calls for the elimination of all forms of VAW in the public and private spheres, as a means for States to develop additional indicators to bridge the protection divide, which includes cultivating a holistic response through shelters and protection orders. United Nations General Assembly resolution 65/228 on Strengthening crime prevention and criminal justice responses to violence against women calls for the implementation of civil and criminal protection orders as part of women's equal protection under the law and equal access to justice. More broadly, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, under article 26, declares that all persons are equal before law and that "the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any grounds..." Furthermore, the Committee on Women for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) adopted the Muscat Declaration in its seventh session: Towards the Achievement of Gender Justice in the Arab Region (2016), which calls for member States to "harmonize national legislation with international and regional commitments ratified by member States, so as to ensure the repeal of all discriminatory laws." 8 Arab States' accession to and engagement with the aforementioned legislation and frameworks creates the obligation to address VAW, particularly through legal reform. One aspect is to develop the provision of civil protection orders as part of a comprehensive and holistic legal response, among other gender justice obligations. The introduction explains the rationale for the study, including the argument for cultivating greater access to civil protection orders, and highlights the importance of such work for member States in the Arab region. It provides several important definitions and concepts relevant to protection orders. The chapter also addresses the research questions and explains the research methodology adopted for the study. Chapter 2 discusses historic State responses to VAW, including the prohibitive and enabling factors that have contributed to the response, such as the perceived public-private divide in society and law, in addition to the criminal justice response. It examines VAW in the Arab region, as well as the debates that impact the realization of legislation efforts to address such violence in the region. It then presents the global evolution and impact of the protection order and its impact on the safety and wellbeing of survivors who have utilized them. Furthermore, the chapter highlights how civil protection orders have been adopted and adapted internationally. Chapter 3 reviews the normative frameworks that call for civil protection orders as part of a coordinated legal response to VAW, as well as the jurisprudence resulting from such frameworks. Specifically, this section considers the normative frameworks and standards for civil protection orders regarding the due diligence standard. Building on the due diligence standard, there is now international and regional jurisprudence indicating an evolving norm of civil protection orders under customary international law as designated by the SR-VAW, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and the United Nations Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women (2012). These engagements highlight how international frameworks that promote the provision of civil protection orders can impact State practice. Chapter 4 analyses in greater detail the national legal frameworks (constitutions, penal codes, domestic violence laws) and policy frameworks (strategies on combating VAW) that guide Arab States' responses to VAW. This chapter also examines in detail civil and criminal protection order legislation from the Arab region and compares it to good practice as outlined in the United Nations Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women. The final chapter contends that protection orders are part of an integrated prevention and protection approach to services and measures for women exposed to domestic violence. To cultivate this holistic approach, States must provide survivors of domestic violence unfettered access to criminal and civil protection orders, while law enforcement and the justice system must do their due diligence to ensure that protection orders remain an effective and accessible option. A series of recommendations directed at member States' engagement at the international, regional and national/community levels is provided. Details: Beirut, Lebanon: United Nations House, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, 2019. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2019 at: https://www.unescwa.org/publications/utilizing-protection-orders-cultivate-holistic-response-domestic-violence Year: 2019 Country: International URL: https://www.unescwa.org/sites/www.unescwa.org/files/publications/files/beyond_boundaries_utilizing_protection_orders_to_cultivate_a_holistic_response_to_domestic_violence_in_the_arab_region.pdf Shelf Number: 157089 Keywords: Domestic Violence Family Violence Violence against Women

Author: Jubb, Nadine Title: Women and Policing in America: A Revised Background Paper Summary: Engendering the police in Latin America is a challenging but necessary goal to ensure women's rights - especially the right to live without violence - and equitable democratization. Specialized police stations for women (hereafter women's police stations or WPS) have been at the forefront of the fight against violence against women since the first WPS was founded in Brazil in 1985. Gender mainstreaming in the police is a much newer initiative but it also has important consequences for women's exercise of their rights and, as such, their experience of and contribution to democracy. These initiatives are the result of growing attention to the need for state action to address violence against women and women's rights in international and national contexts. Over the past twenty years, upholding women's right to live without violence has gained acceptance as a responsibility of the state through various international agreements. The popularity of and need for the WPS is evident in the demand for them expressed by both the population in general and the women�s movement, as well as the dramatic increases in reportings of crimes after WPS are opened. Though the initial demand often comes from women's movements, soon afterwards that demand gets taken up as an interest by the state, in particular by the police. Another indicator is the ongoing growth in number of facilities in countries where they already exist, and more countries setting up WPS. There are now about thirteen Latin American countries that offer specialized facilities to address violence against women, and many more who have special procedures or training programs for police. By contrast, gender mainstreaming has emerged more as a result of external pressure from donors and technical assistance than a felt need on the force or mobilizing by the local women's movement. The initial findings point out that WPS and gender mainstreaming are undoubtedly vital initiatives for improving women's citizenship and contributing to good governance. There is a unanimous opinion in the literature that the WPS are innovative and should be strengthened. They protect women against threats to their security and have important consequences for women's human and citizenship rights by providing access to legal, medical, and psychological services that these users, most of them poor, may not otherwise have access to. As such they contribute a gendered focus to citizen security. Specialized police facilities also make a significant contribution to good governance because of the ongoing collaboration between the women's movement and NGOs, the police, and in some cases state women's machineries in the areas of service provision and coordination and administration. Gender mainstreaming in the police can improve the rights of women police on the force and also, through increased transparency and transformed policies and programs, to the general population as well. Examples in the region range from hiring and promotion policies, a diagnostic study that visibilizes sexual harassment against policewomen, and introducing sex-disaggregated statistics. Gender mainstreaming policies and mechanisms can contribute substantially to making a democratic police force more likely to engage in democratic policing. If women's rights are respected on the force -especially the right to live without violence - it is more likely that police will enforce those rights in the community. Details: Toronto, Canada: York University, Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, 2003. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2019 at: http://www.nevusp.org/downloads/down085.pdf Year: 2003 Country: Latin America URL: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.468.9022 Shelf Number: 157094 Keywords: Governance Law Enforcement and Gender Police Stations Violence against Women