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Include Domestic Violence in Core Include Domestic Violence in Core Statistical PublicationsStatistical Publications

Geir Øvensen and Dag Roll-HansenDivision for Development Cooperation

Statistics NorwayOctober 2008

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Statistics to fight domestic violence

• Domestic violence obstructs development

• Recent political initiatives

• Less sensitive than before

How should the statistical community respond? “Mainstreaming”: Include Domestic Violence in Core

Statistical Publications

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World wide challenge

0102030405060708090

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Wives ever beatenWives beaten last 12 months

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Southern Africa: Politicians are moving

• New SADC Gender Protocol signed in August 2008 – 25 articles on different gender aspects, ranging from access to

justice and education– Call for governments to prohibit all forms of gender-based violence,

including marital rape

• Seven year action plan:– 23 specific targets – Time frames for achieving gender equality in all SADC countries– Call for effective monitoring and evaluation

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Country Level Political inititatives

Malawi: Strategic Plan for Ministry of Gender 2003–08: • Increase awareness among women, men, girls, and boys on

gender-based violence and discrimination and its effects

Performance Indicators • Increased number of gender based violence cases being

reported to authorities

• Reduced cases of gender-based violence

• Changes in people’s attitudes towards gender-based violence

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Some key findings from Malawi: Low correlation with education

• Almost 30% of adult women has ever experienced physical domestic violence, and half of them during last 12 months

• Higher education of woman only slightly lowers risk of violence• Somewhat reduced, but still high prevalence among educated men

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No education Primary 1-4 Primary 5-8 Secondary+0

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35 Ever

Last 12monthsHusbandeducation

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Some key findings from Malawi: Not primarily a (micro level) poverty problem

• Share of women >15 years who experienced physical violence in or outside home, not strongly related to household wealth quintile

• More than 60% of cases current husband; 75% current and/ or former husband

• Under-reporting may be more prevalent in the highest quintile?

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LowestQuintile

2nd 3rd 4th Highestquintile

Ever

Last 12months

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Some key findings from Malawi: Alcohol associated with increased violence

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Does notdrink

Drinks/nevergets drunk

Gets drunksometimes

Gets drunkvery often

Ever victim ofphysical orsexualviolenceEver violenceagainsthusband byrespondent

• A heavy-drinking husband:– More frequently beats his wife– and more frequently gets beaten himself

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Some key findings from Malawi: Husbands’ violent behaviour develop over time

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Marriage < 1 year 1-2 years 3-5 years 6-9 years 10+

• Sub-group of women married 10+ years

• Share of these women whose husbands’ committed violence

– After 10 years of marriage, one in four had experienced violence from husband

– Highest risk after some years, but still risk for onset of domestic violence after that

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Why mainstreaming?

• Avoid marginalizationShould be presented with other important social statisticsGet domestic violence discussions out in the open

• Explaining the phenomenonNo strong relation to household wealth or education of husband or

wifeAttitudes and awareness seems important

• Laws and reporting is not effective – statistics is needed

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In short

• Domestic violence obstructs development

• Data on domestic violence is requested by users, in particular in developing countries

• Domestic violence should be a part of official statistics

• Statistics can be used to fight domestic violence