"This report provides an analysis of patterns of human rights abuses against women who are exposed to the risk of or are already living with HIV in rural contexts of widespread poverty and unemployment."
(Un)heard Voices: Domestic Violence in the Asian American Community (pdf)
This publication is based on the results of a focus group with Asian immigrant women and Asian American women from different backgrounds. Various questions and issues are addressed such as identifying victims and perpetrators, prevalence of domestic violence in Asian communities, barriers confronting Asian women and more. The report also gives recommendations to service providers and a national list of organizations committed to serving battered Asian women.
2008 Status of Egyptian Women Report (pdf)
"The Egyptian Center for Women's Rights recently released its 2008 report on the status of Egyptian women. The report evaluated the current situation for women in Egypt, identifying the particular areas where action is most urgently needed in order to advance women's rights within the country."
OCDV and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene developed a training and reference guide for healthcare providers as part of a campaign to reduce cultural, linguistic and systemic barriers preventing domestic violence victims, particularly immigrant women and women of color, from reporting abuse to their healthcare providers.
"This article describes the CARE ( Collaborative for Abuse Prevention in Racial and Ethnic Communities) model, network formation, initial attempts to build collaboration and cultural competence, outreach and education activities, and organizational-level changes resulting from the establishment of the networks. The challenges, successes, and lessons learned in implementing this network model are also discussed."
A pilot study of abuse among Vietnamese Amerasians
"This report describes a pilot study of the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, and current levels of psychological distress correlated with a history of abuse, in a group of Vietnamese Amerasians bound for the United States. Abused male Amerasians reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than nonabused male Amerasians, while abused and nonabused female Amerasians did not differ in their levels of psychological distress."
A Preliminary Study of Intimate Partner Violence Among Nepali Women in the United States
"The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and vulnerabilities to (intimate partner violence) IPV among 45 Nepali immigrant women residing in the New York metropolitan area. The findings demonstrated that 75.6% of women had been verbally insulted by their current partners, and 62.2% had to seek permission from their partners to go to their friends' or relatives' houses."
Acculturation, Partner Violence, and Psychological Distress in Refugee Women From Somalia
"This study examined the relations among acculturation, domestic violence, and mental health in 62 married refugee women from Somalia. The results showed that women who reported greater ability to speak English also reported more experiences of partner psychological abuse and physical aggression. Experiences of more psychological abuse and physical aggressions also predicted more psychological distress. Implications for future research and psychological services are addressed."
This report offers an analysis and recommendations to address the impact of domestic violence and child welfare systems in communities of color. Six culture-specific organizations were partnered with to create a multi-dimensional analysis for this report. The Dialogues section offers analysis and describes some of the common findings and issues, while the Recommendations section addresses these issues. Thus, critiques and system changes go hand in hand, and are offered in the spirit of constructive engagement and strengthening communities
Adaptation Guidelines for Serving Latino Children and Families Affected by Trauma
"This document was created by experts in the fields of child trauma research, clinical practice, policy and cultural diversity to serve as a resource for anyone who works with Latino families who have experienced traumatic events. There are 12 priority areas covered ranging from micro issues (assessment and provision of therapy) to macro issues (organizational competence and policy). Each one includes an overview of the priority area, recommendations for improving practice based on that priority area, and additional resources for further information. Portions of these guidelines are geared for advocates and therapists, while other priority areas are designed for program administrators and policy makers."
Additional Scripts for Clinic Assessment (pdf)
This document is created for healthcare professionals and provides a series of scripted questions and responses when working with victims of violence. The information is intended to help communicate all the information needed to give to a patient as well as responding to immediate safety issues and making referrals.
Addressing Culture in Batterers Intervention: The Asian Indian Community as an Illustrative Example
"The authors in this article utilize the Cultural Context Model(CCM) a community development and treatment model. The CCM approaches intervention with batterers and their families from a perspective that acknowledges a multilayered experience of culture. It requires accountability from batterers and supports the empowerment of victims and children at the same time as it recognizes the impact of a number of social forces related to culture and cultural differences on communities, families, and individuals. These forces include sexism, racism, and heterosexism, as well as experiences with immigration, colonization, and capitalism. Although the treatment approach is applicable cross-culturally, this article primarily focuses on examples involving families from Asian Indian-American communities."
American Indians and Suicide: A Neglected Area of Research
"Published studies indicate that American Indians experience the highest rate of suicide of all ethnic groups in the United States. This article synthesizes the epidemiology and risk factors associated with suicide among American Indians, barriers to research, prevention, mental-health services, and recommendations for research and practice."
An Islamic Perspective on Violence Against Women
This is a statement describing how those who perpetrate violence against women are not following the true tenants of the Quran.
An Overview of Intimate Partner Violence Among Latinos
"This article reviews the existing literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinos to put the findings of this special issue into context. This review of the literature suggests that IPV occurs as frequently among Latinos as among non-Latinos when confounders are controlled for. Role strain, especially as a result of immigration and acculturation, might be unique to Latinos, and its importance, and the importance of male dominance among Latinas experiencing IPV, deserve more research."
Attitudes of Jordanian Society Toward Wife Abuse
"This study was conducted among a sample of 260 Jordanian men and women, using self-administered open and closed questions to examine the participants' approach toward wife abuse. There was a strong tendency to consider wife abuse a personal and familial issue rather than a social and legal problem. The preferred method for coping with wife abuse and violence was the expectation that the abused wife should change her behavior and assume responsibility to change her husband followed by resorting to informal agents (family or community or religious figures). The implications of this study's findings for future research, interventions, and policy formulation are discussed."
Battered Immigrant Mexican Women’s Perspectives Regarding Abuse and Help-Seeking (pdf)
"A qualitative, pilot study employing in-depth ethno-graphic interviews was conducted to examine perceptions and attitudes towards abuse and the help-seeking behaviors of a sample of ten battered immigrant Mexican women. Findings indicated that participants’ attitudes about seeking help were influenced more by cultural factors (e.g., gender-role expectations, famialism) than by psycho-social stressors (e.g., immigrant status, financial dependency). Suggestions for further research and intervention with this population and a model of internal and external determinants of help-seeking behavior are presented."
Batterer Intervention Program Enrollment and Completion Among Immigrant Men in Massachusetts
"This study describes immigrant clients enrolled in Massachusetts batterer intervention (BI) programs from 2002 to 2004. The study seeks to describe the immigrant men enrolled in Massachusetts BI programs, investigate whether immigrants were more or less likely to complete BI programs than were nonimmigrants, and investigate whether immigrants in non-English, culturally specific groups were more or less likely to complete BI programs than were immigrants in mainstream groups."
Body Evidence: Intimate Violence against South Asian Women in America
"In Body Evidence, more than twenty scholars and public health professionals uncover the unique challenges faced by victims of violence in intimate spaces . . . within families, communities and trusted relationships in South Asian American communities. Topics include cultural obsession with women's chastity and virginity; the continued silence surrounding intimate violence among women who identify themselves as lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; the consequences of refusing marriage proposals or failing to meet dowry demands; and, ultimately, the ways in which the United States courts often confuse and exacerbate the plights of these women."
Breaking the Links Between Poverty and Violence against Women: A Resource Guide (pdf)
"This resource guide explores the ways in which poverty and violence are linked. It acknowledges the efforts of women’s groups, community organizations and service agencies that support low-income women to take control of and deal with the poverty and violence in their lives. Another area of focus is to inspire community-based groups to take action on poverty and violence issues by providing practical examples of what others are doing."
Breaking the Silence: A Training Manual for Activists, Advocates, and Latina Organizers (pdf)
"A guide for domestic violence service providers, activists, counselors and others focused on advancing the rights of battered immigrant women. Based on the FVPF's successful pilot project, the manual provides essential details on how to start organizing and maintaining a group of activists and counselors. This guide is also available in Spanish."
Breaking the Silence: A Training Manual for Activists, Advocates, and Latina Organizers (Spanish) (pdf)
"The first ever guide for domestic violence service providers, activists, counselors and others focused on advancing the rights of battered immigrant women. Based on the FVPF's successful pilot project, the manual provides essential details on how to start organizing and maintaining a group of activists and counselors. This guide is also available in English."
Broadening Our Understanding of Violence Against Women Among Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Minorities
This article documents the main discussions that evolved from a workshop. The document explores what is known and unknown about the dynamics of violence experienced by women from diverse communities and how criminal justice and social science providers can better respond to it. The workshop was held in October 2001 and attended by approximately 30 practitioners and researchers, including representatives from the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services.
California Batterer Intervention Systems Study
This study on batterer intervention programs in the state of California encompasses 5 counties, 53 batterer intervention programs that provide client data, and over 1,000 men enrolled in those programs. The study found that the individual characteristics of the offenders, and not the program they were enrolled in nor the features of the specific court they were sentenced in, were the strongest predictors of outcomes.
Canadian Domestic Violence Policy and Indian Immigrant Women
"This article explores the problems of Indian immigrant women who face cultural constraints in accessing the benefits of Canadian policies for domestically abused women. They expose the pressures of cultural, social, and family ties that prevent these women from getting necessary help for domestic violence. The limitations of Canadian policies and programs for these women and the means to improve their access to these policies and programs are discussed."
Casa de Esperanza: Mobilizing Latinas and Latino Communities to End Domestic Violence
This issue of the BCS newsletter features the strengths-based, community engagement approach of Casa de Esperanza, of St. Paul, MN. The main article describes their work of mobilizing Latinas and Latino communities to end domestic violence. Lessons learned are highlighted.
"This article describes the first national survey of violence against women in Pakistan from 2001 to 2004 covering 23,430 women. The training module for interviewers focused on empathy with respondents, notably increasing disclosure rates. The authors conclude that surveys of violence against women in Pakistan not using methods to minimize underreporting could seriously underestimate prevalence."
Commodifying Honor in Female Sexuality: Honor Killings in Palestine
Discusses honor killings and the history of this practice in Palestine.
Community Corrections Response To Domestic Violence: Guidelines For Practice (pdf)
"This document provides a series of guidelines for community corrections professionals that support a proactive community supervision approach for domestic violence cases. It pulls together in one place for community corrections professionals and allied justice system and community-based services the conceptual information and practical tools to develop or enhance effective programs."
Community Insights on Domestic Violence Among African Americans (pdf)
This document examines community perceptions of domestic violence in the lives of African Americans living in the San Francisco/Oakland, California area.
This study explored the cultural context of how intimate partner violence affects accessibility to services for Haitian women. The study revealed that the nature and context of intimate partner violence in this immigrant community contribute to the women's hesitation to pursue services and that mainstream services were not accessible to them as well. The author concludes by giving suggesstions on overcoming these barriers and improving service delivery.
This document explores the attitudes and perceptions of women of color survivors with children. The overarching objective was to hear what women had to say about efforts to engage men and fathers of color as allies in stopping intimate partner violence and restoring health in partnership and parenting. The research was undertaken by the Family Violence Prevention Fund as part of the development of our national violence prevention campaign.
Criminal Victimization, 2008 (pdf)
"The report includes data on violent crimes (rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault), property crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft and property theft), and personal theft (pocket picking and purse snatching), and the characteristics of victims of these crimes. The report also includes estimates of intimate partner violent crime and use of firearms and other weapons in the commission of violent crime overall."
Cultural Beliefs and Service Utilization by Battered Arab Immigrant Women
"This study examines the relationship between cultural beliefs and the utilization of services among Arab immigrant women. Significant correlations were found between the holding of traditional attitudes toward gender in general and wife battering in particular by the women and the utilization of formal mental services. The study's limitations, policy implications, and the impacts of 9/11 on the Arab immigrant community and on their use of services are discussed."
This report provides an in-depth understanding of domestic violence and as well as the service utilization among eight ethnic minority communities and LGBT populations in King county, Washington.
Culture Handbook (pdf)
"This handbook is designed to be used by advocates and professionals who work with those who are victims of domestic and sexual violence. It provides some basic information on how to understand culture and begin the process of challenging oneself to become more aware of the ways in which culture impacts our work and the lives of those who are victims."
Developing Culturally-Relevant Responses to Domestic Abuse: Asha Family Services, Inc. (pdf)
A model program, Asha Family Services, Inc., is a comprehensive family violence intervention and prevention agency located in Milwaukee, WI. Asha, the first and only recognized culturally-specific family violence intervention and prevention program in Wisconsin, employs methods specific to African American families.
This guide provides best practice guidelines used by organizations to develop linguistically and culturally responsive materials for Latino survivors of domestic violence. The guide also includes a list of Spanish speaking agencieis.
Domestic Violence against Women (pdf)
"This briefing kit in Spanish provides concise information on violence against women (VAW) in Latin America and the Caribbean. It consists of fact sheets in easy-to understand language, and is aimed at parliamentarians to help them advance or amend legislation on VAW."
Domestic Violence and Faith Based Communities: Focus on African American Communities
"We know that domestic violence crosses all racial lines and that the root causes are sexism and the acceptance of violence against women in society. However, the dynamics of and contributors to domestic violence are culturally specific. This forum highlights some of the common, complex and culturally specific contributors to violence against African American women. It addresses the role of faith as a resource and a roadblock and offer concrete ways in which faith communities can respond to and support abused women and their children in the African American Community. Hosted by: Aleese Moore-Orbih"
"This article examined the prevalence of physical and sexual violence among 1,974 married women from 40 low-income communities in Chennai, India. The authors found a 99% and 75% lifetime prevalence of physical abuse and forced sex, respectively, whereas 65% of women experienced more than five episodes of physical abuse in the 3 months preceding the survey. These domestic violence rates exceed those in prior Indian reports, suggesting women in slums may be at increased risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections."
These publications are designed to help researchers, students, human rights practitioners, and the general public gain a better understanding of human rights. Specifically, these publications address domestic violence issues affecting women in the countries that are listed.
Domestic Violence in Communities of Color (pdf)
"This "Facts & Stats Collection" paper highlights specific issues and distinguishing dynamics that confront different women of color, including African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American/Alaskan Indian women."
Domestic Violence in the Vietnamese Immigrant Community: An Exploratory Study
"This study examines domestic violence in Vietnamese American families, focusing on changes in socioeconomic structure and culture, to identify factors associated with wife abuse. "
A toolkit to aid African victims of domestic violence in Ireland. It contains information about support services for all types of domestic violence and culturally specific approaches unique to African migrants. The toolkit also addresses emerging issues facing African migrants in Ireland.
Dossier on Domestic Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean
"This publication includes a detailed balance of the work developed in Latin American and the Caribbean to eliminate violence against women. The objective of the publication is to have a tool that will help to design future activities in a more accurate way that take into account the economic, cultural and geographical women's reality of the Region in order to eliminate domestic violence. It also contains guidelines and recommendations for the future work on women’s rights for a life free of violence."
Dowry and Its Link to Violence Against Women in India
"This article conducts a feminist psychological analysis of the dowry phenomenon, its link to domestic violence against women, and the role of the perpetrators. Existing and new explanations of the dowry system and its ramifications are explored. Psychologically based interventions and the implications of dowry related violence in the larger context of Asian Indians living in North America and the United Kingdom are discussed."
Economic Stress and Domestic Violence
This Applied Research paper provides data on domestic violence rates across social classes, highlights the relationship between economic stress and domestic violence, and explores employment, social support networks, and weaknesses in social services. The paper concludes by discussing strategies that may simultaneously address the intersecting problems of financial distress and DV, including universal screening for DV, responses by employers, and collaboration among social service providers.
Eliminating Barriers to Services for Latina/o Survivors of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence (pdf)
This is the position statement by Latino advocates to address barriers to services for Latina/o survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence
Engendering Change: Transforming Gender Roles in Asian & Pacific Islander Communities (pdf)
The introduction begins by providing a description of the societal context in which domestic violence occurs, and leads into a discussion about two batterer intervention programs for Asian men, and concludes with practice implications.
This paper was originally delivered as a talk at the Violence Institute of New Jersey, June 21, 2000. This paper discusses the links between the abuse of women and the maltreatment of their children and the connection between domestic violence and poverty.
"This qualitative study examined understandings of sponsorship and marital/resettlement experiences among English-proficient and non-English-proficient South Asian brides who entered Canada after recent immigration policy changes to reduce sponsored women's vulnerability to maltreatment. The author found that English-proficient women were aware of their rights and permanent resident status, and reported significant integration support. In contrast, non-English-proficient women misunderstood sponsorship and faced multiple barriers to participation in Canadian life, along with severe abuse and neglect."
Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence (pdf)
"Presents findings from the NVAW Survey on the extent, nature, and consequences of IPV in the US. The survey compares victimization rates among women and men, specific racial groups, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, and same-sex and opposite-sex cohabitants. "
Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework (pdf)
Developed by independent experts and Victorian service providers, the framework includes three practical guides on identifying and assessing family violence, and includes case studies.
Focus Groups of African-American Men: Perspectives on Addressing Domestic Violence
This study is the first step toward a larger, multi-site project that would obtain valuable information about how to help African-American men prevent or eliminate violence in relationships. The purpose of this paper is to identify realistic approaches by which African-American men can confront friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers or strangers, who are African-American men who batter. What is unique about this study is that African-American men are the key informants.
This report summarizes the dialogues from the Women of Color Network (WOCN) focus groups on domestic violence and child welfare. Over one hundred (100) domestic violence and sexual assault activists of color participated in these focus groups. The report includes a set of recommendations and highlights from their conversations regarding issues and barriers for battered women with children from communities of color.
"This study documented the frequency and perceived effectiveness of battered Mexican-origin women's usage of formal and informal help and personal strategies to survive abuse. This study illuminates battered Mexican-origin women's strengths and barriers that impede their survival efforts."
Fuerza Unida: A Manual For Engaging Communities
"This attractive, user-friendly manual is a guide to understanding and working with Latino families experiencing domestic violence. Written primarily for government workers, nonprofit staff members, and other professionals working with Latino clients, it will benefit anyone seeking to relate effectively to our growing Latino communities."
Gender Dimensions of Racial Discrimination (pdf)
This publication produced by the United Nations describes gender and racial discrimination women face and the efforts to combat it with recommendations of action.
This report is generated from a two-day meeting held in Seattle February 7 – 8, 2004 by an ad-hoc INCITE! Community Accountability in Organizations Working Group. This group specifically gathered to address gender oppression including patriarchical political and work environments, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and sexual assault committed against women/girls/women-identified persons of color within progressive, radical and revolutionary people of color organizations and movement.
Girls Count: A Global Investment & Action Agenda
"This report describes why and how to initiate effective investments that will give adolescent girls in developing countries a full and equal chance for rewarding lives and livelihoods."
"This article (a) provides an overview of the contemporary IMB (International Marriage Broker) industry, including a discussion of reasons underlying women's choices to use IMB agencies to meet and marry U.S.-based spouses, (b) discusses how this industry's marketing of marriages potentially endangers many women recruits, and (c) offers an update and analysis of new provisions under U.S. immigration law that strengthen protections available for women who immigrate as fiancés and spouses of U.S. citizens, including those in marriages arranged by IMBs."
"In this paper, the author will examine both the effectiveness of feminist therapy and its limitations when counseling immigrant and racially visible women who have been abused. The author will also describe the reality of domestic violence among these women and how their needs differ from women in the dominant culture. Strategies for a more inclusive form of feminist therapy will also be offered as alternatives to existing modes of practice and assessment."
Help-Seeking Behavior Among Abused Immigrant Women: A Case of Vietnamese American Women
"The present study examines help-seeking behavior among abused Vietnamese American women to understand factors associated with their decisions to seek help. The study found that abused Vietnamese American women have sought help from their personal networks, the criminal justice system, and various victim service agencies. Data analyses suggest that the decisions of Vietnamese American women to reach out are complex and diverse and are shaped by various structural, cultural, and organizational factors."
Helping Culturally Diverse Victims of Interpersonal Violence: Avoiding Stereotypes & Meetings Needs
"This forum discusses the need to take people's culture into account when providing them with services for interpersonal violence and avoiding the trap of treating people in a cookie-cutter way, based on stereotypes about their culture. This forum is hosted by Lisa Aronson Fontes, PhD. Lisa is a Core Faculty Member in Union Institute & University's Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology and has dedicated almost 20 years to making the social service and mental health systems more responsive to culturally diverse people."
Helping Young Children Affected by Domestic Violence: The Role of Pediatric Health Settiings (pdf)
This paper is part of series of paper that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper addresses importance of pediatric health care and mental health care in addressing domestic violence.
Linda v. Lyle - A Case Study. Looks at the possibility that some or all high-conflict divorces are actually the manifestation of stalking behaviors by wealthy domestic abusers. Part I compares and contrasts the research on batterers and stalkers to the literature on high-conflict divorce. In Part II, an actual high-conflict case is described. Part III explores the lack of consumer protection. Part IV offers a modest proposal that may discourage protracted Family Court litigation and calls for studies that apply stalking and battering dynamics to high-conflict divorce so stalking by way of Family Court can be quantified and illuminated.
Hispanic Victims of Violent Crime, 1993-2000 (word)
"Examines violent crimes committed against Hispanic victims including rape, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated and simple assault. Crime victimizations are compared with those of four non-Hispanic groups: whites, blacks, American Indians, and Asians."
Human Rights Dialogue: Violence Against Women (pdf)
This special edition of the magazine explores how women's advocates are challenging the public/private divide, the cultural and religious objections to granting women's rights, and the common blindness to linkages between violence against women and the deprivation of other rights, specifically economic and social rights.
Immigrant and Refugee Power and Control Wheel
Throughout the world, women are victims of domestic violence just as there are battered women in the United States. Immigrant and refugee women know that in their countries of origin, women have been tortured with sexual abuse by the army/rebels, kidnapped into prostitution, forced into marriages, killed in honor killings, used for sexual slavery, stoned to death and often experience other gender related abuses. This Immigrant and Refugee Power and Control Wheel is an adaptation of the Duluth Power and Conrol wheel created by attendees Immigrant & Refugee Women Support Group in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Immigrant Populations as Victims: Toward a Multicultural Criminal Justice System (pdf)
"This report summarizes findings from a study about the criminal justice system's approach to immigrant victims of crime and barriers that prohibit immigrants from reporting crimes."
Immigrant South Asian Women at Greater Risk for Injury From Intimate Partner Violence
"Factors related to immigration may place South Asian immigrant women at increased risk for intimate partner violence. The purpose of the current study was to assess the relations between immigration-related factors and intimate partner violence among a sample of South Asian women residing in the United States."
Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence
This special collection highlights the common experiences of immigrant women who are in abusive relationships, the legal protections and public benefits available, and practices and suggestions for increasing the effectiveness of services provided to immigrant women.
Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence: Common Experiences in Different Countries
"In this article, the authors assess the still limited literature on domestic violence among immigrant women in major receiving countries so as to begin delineating a framework to explain how immigrant specific factors exacerbate the already vulnerable position - as dictated by class, gender, and race - of immigrant women in domestic violence situations."
"This Trainer's Manual was developed to help health care providers and domestic violence advocates meet the challenge of training clinicians and other staff within the busy clinic or hospital setting. The Manual provides step-by-step instructions for teaching each section of the Resource Manual including the basics of domestic violence, clinical skills, legal issues, community resources, and role play scenarios. It also includes a special module on cultural diversity."
This report addresses API domestic violence intervention strategies within the U.S. as both accommodations and alternatives to mainstream domestic violence programs. They have adopted mainstream assumptions and approaches. And, they have crafted innovations based upon necessity and, in some cases, vision and intentionality. Emerging themes as discussed by the API women interviewed in this report highlight a number of areas which capture our attention for further exploration. While the findings of this report bring up broad, diverse and, at times, contradictory policies and practices among API programs, existing models, themes and interventions for the future programs are examined.
Intersecting Inequalities: Immigrant Women of Colour, Violence and Health Care
This report focuses on racialized immigrant women who have experienced intimate violence and their access to the health care system. The paper reviews current literature and identifies key variables that contribute to immigrant women's vulnerability to violence and lack of access to health care. The response of health care service providers is also examined.
"A survey instrument mirroring the National Violence Against Women Survey was administered in person to measure the incidence and prevalence of intimate partner violence against Athabaskan women residing in the interior of Alaska.Findings revealed that intimate partner assault victimization is more prevalent and is considerably more frequent when compared to that reported for American women in general."
Intimate Partner Violence Among Male and Female Russian University Students
"This article reports data from three Russian sites of the International Dating Violence Study. Using a sample of 338 university students (54% female) from three Russian university sites, four different types of partner violence are examined: physical assault, physical injury, sexual coercion, and psychological aggression. The study found that male and female students were about equally likely to be victims and perpetrators of all violent and aggressive actions and that high prevalence rates were found for all types of violence, aggression, and coercion. Recommendations for prevention are made in the conclusions."
Intimate Partner Violence in China: National Prevalence, Risk Factors and Associated Health Problems
This paper presents the country’s first national estimates of domestic violence. The authors find that sexual jealousy, alcohol consumption, low female contribution to the household income and low socioeconomic status are among a range of factors that make violence more likely.
"This document describes intimate partner violence (IPV) in immigrant and refugee communities in the United States. The report contains four main sections: background information on the incidence of the problem among immigrant and refugee communities, an overview of the needs and challenges of immigrant and refugee IPV victims and service providers, recommendations for funders, service providers and policy-makers, and lastly a discussion of IPV research and evaluation issues to be addressed in immigrant and refugee communities."
"This study provides descriptive statistics on women who access the services of the Women's Crisis Centre, a nongovernmental organization in Kingston, Jamaica, whose mission is to provide 24-hour counseling and shelter for women who are the victims of domestic violence. Results revealed a high level of physical injury and a low level of reporting violent incidents to the police. Multisectoral support to strengthen and expand the services of the Women's Crisis Centre is recommended."
Law of Protection from Family Violence in Peru
Discusses domestic violence and the Law of Protection from Family Violence in Peru.
This document introduces voices of battered immigrant, refugee and indegenious women who were also involved in Child Protection Services. The document explores how community approach can enhance the physical, spiritual and mental health of individuals, families and communities and how this concept can be well utilized for policy and practice for social services.
Local Police Enforcement of Immigration Laws and its Effects on Victims of Domestic Violence (word)
This paper warns that local police and prosecutors should be prepared for the predictable reduction in reporting of serious crimes if law enforcement officers chose to expand their duties to include the policing of immigration matters. The author argues roles of local police is not enforcing immigration law in securing safety for victims of domestic violence.
"This report provides extensive research of the mail-order bride industry in the United Kingdom. The industry is linked to the promotion of trafficking, prostitution, pornography and slavery. The report suggests that this industry not only exploits vulnerable groups of women but also reinforces racial and ethnic stereotypes. Recommendations are given on what the government can do to further protect women."
Mexico: Amnesty International Submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review
An Amnesty International report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council in February 2009. The report highlighted problems in the area of violence against women, in particular, the prevalence of domestic violence in Mexico and the femicides in Ciudad Juarez along the U.S.-Mexican border.
This protocol/policy model intends to support domestic violence agencies in the state of Washington to increase and extend the services to immigrant and refugee women whose primary language is not English. However, this information will be relevant to any agency that is a recipient of federal funding.
Model Tribal Domestic Violence Full Faith and Credit Ordinance
A sample document of a tribal domestic violence full faith and credit ordinance.
"This study was conducted on university students in heterosexual relationships and examines the racial/ethnic and sex differences in the prevalence of mutual intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health symptoms. Analyses were conducted on four different racial/ethnic groups (African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and European Americans) and men reported stronger correlations between IPV perpetration and IPV victimization. The authors conclude that experiencing higher partner and coercive violence was significantly related to increased mental health symptoms for both members of the couple in the majority of the groups studied."
National Crime Victimization Survey Criminal Victimization, 2007 (pdf)
"Presents estimates of rates and levels of personal and property victimization for 2007 and describes the substantial fluctuations in the survey measures of the crime rates from 2005 through 2007. The report includes data on violent crimes (rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault), property crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft and property theft), and personal theft (pocket picking and purse snatching), and the characteristics of victims of these crimes."
National Trends in Intimate Partner Homicides: Explaining Declines in Canada, 1976 to 2001
"In the past decade, research has begun to identify factors that may be contributing to declines in spousal homicide. The authors address two gaps in the Canadian literature: (a) the documentation of trends, including subgroup variations, and (b) the identification of factors that may be associated with declines. Results indicate that shifts in relative employment and divorce rates appear to be associated with declining rates for women, whereas shifts in men's education and divorce rates appear to be associated with declining rates of spousal homicide for men."
Originally presented by Susan Schechter as a talk at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Statewide Training Institute, March 17, 1997, Harrisburg, PA and revised for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence Administrative Development Conference, May 8, 1997, Ames, Iowa.
New York City Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee Annual Report 2008 (pdf)
This report describes family-related homicides that occurred in New York City between 2002 and 2007. Includes key findings, risk factors, and action steps in response to findings.
Pakistan: Honor Killings of Girls and Women
January 1999. First Amnesty International report ever to focus on human rights violations not committed by government agents. Reveals that hundreds of women in Pakistan are murdered each year in the name of "honor." Offers recommendations for discouraging "honor killings."
Partner Violence and Sexual Jealousy in China: A Population-Based Survey
"This article examines the prevalence and risk factors for partner violence with a special focus on the important role of sexual jealousy. Comparison shows that the Chinese prevalence is modestly below the overall median for other societies. Net of other factors, jealousy exacerbates hitting for both men and women in a reactive pattern, with the jealous partner getting hit. This suggests a rethinking of the role of sexual jealousy in spousal violence in some social settings."
Patriarchal Beliefs and Perceptions of Abuse among South Asian Immigrant Women
"This study investigates the relationship between South Asian immigrant women’s patriarchal beliefs and their perceptions of spousal abuse. Twenty-minute telephone surveys were conducted with 47 women.As hypothesized, higher agreement with patriarchal social norms predicted a decreased likelihood of identifying the woman in the vignette as a victim of spousal abuse. This finding is discussed in terms of its application to violence against women educational programs in the South Asian immigrant community."
Police in the Lives of Young Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (pdf)
This paper is part of series of paper that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper explores the important roles the police officer can play in assisting children and families experiencing domestic violence.
Population Reports: Ending Violence Against Women
"This publication discusses gender-based violence from a feminist-based, ecological perspective. It examines the dynamics of abuse, cultural context, impact on women's health & how health care providers can contribute to social change efforts."
"A study on the association between exposure to family violence during childhood and adolescence and adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The findings indicate that the more participants witnessed and experienced family violence, the more they exhibited PTSD symptoms. Findings also indicate that participants’ exposure to family violence explains a significant amount of the variance in their PTSD over and above the variance that can be attributed to their sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, number of siblings, and family’s socioeconomic status) and to their perceptions of the environment and functioning of their families. The limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed."
Poverty, Welfare and Battered Women: What Does the Research Tell Us?
This paper provides a brief summary of several very recent studies, focusing on the extent and impact of domestic violence among poor women and women on welfare. The overview concludes with implications of this research for the new TANF welfare program.
Prevalence and Determinants of Intimate Partner Abuse Among Public Hospital Primary Care Patients (pdf)
"The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, sociodemographic determinants, and depression correlates of intimate partner abuse among an ethnically diverse population of women patients."
Prevalence and Predictors of Physical Partner Abuse Among Mexican American Women
"This study determined the lifetime prevalence of physical abuse by a current partner among women of Mexican origin and assessed factors associated with abuse."
Progress of South Asian Women 2005 (pdf)
"The document presents a snapshot of women's situation in South Asia, an overview of the processes at work promoting the advancement of women, and identifies gaps during the period 2000–2005. Some of the challenges noted are disproportionate returns to contributions, the added "burden of care," a declining sex ratio, increased gender-based violence, trafficking of women and girls, and the spread of HIV/AIDS."
This report examines innovative partnership designed to assist the employment needs of immigrant women who are survivors of domestic violence.
Psychological Abuse: A Discussion Paper (pdf)
"This paper is a review of research on psychological abuse in interpersonal and family relationships including in settings such as long-term care residences.The paper presents research findings on the personal, economic and health related costs of psychological abuse to the individual and to society, and briefly outlines legal recourses for victims. It concludes by exploring ways to recognize and address psychological abuse, while emphasizing the importance of developing holistic approaches "
Raising Public Awareness on Domestic Violence in Indian Country (pdf)
In collaboration with the South Dakota Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, its member organizations and Native American advocates throughout the state, Cangleska, Inc., the violence against women intervention and shelter program on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, developed domestic violence public awareness materials focusing specifically on rural and Native American communities. Materials included posters, public service announcements used in radio talk shows and an updated version of a domestic violence handbook for Lakota communities.
This paper examines the context of intimate partner violence in Sub-Saharan Africa, outlines the intersections between partner violence and reproductive health, and considers the opportunities for linkage at the program and service levels. In addition, it explores the opportunities and challenges related to developing an active response to domestic violence within reproductive health services in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Risk Factors for Abusive Relationships: A Study of Vietnamese American Immigrant Women
"This study identifies risk factors for Vietnamese American women's abuse. Patriarchal gender arrangements in the family, arguments about fulfilling gender and family roles, and partner's threat that divorce would compromise the participant's immigration status put women at risk for each type of abuse. "Picture brides" were at heightened risk for sexual abuse. For women with limited resources, education and interventions within the ethnic immigrant community are critical to addressing wife abuse."
Security Begins at Home (pdf)
The Kosova Women’s Network released the country’s first study on domestic violence, called Security Begins at Home. The report highlights key points such as: what the citizens of Kosovo perceive as domestic violence, the forms and consequences of domestic violence, citizens' response to ending it, and the legal and institutional gaps in addressing it.
Seeking Protection: Addressing Sexual and Domestic Violence in Tanzania's Refugee Camps
This report documents how Burundian refugee women confront daily violence in Tanzanian refugee camps.
Sexual Violence Against Women and Children in Chinese Societies
"This article provides a comprehensive overview of the reported patterns of sexual violence against women and children in China. It reviews the prevalence of and risk factors for various types of sexual violence and discusses community knowledge and perceptions of these violent acts.It also critically examines three major problems of sexual violence research in China. Recommendations for future research are also discussed."
Shattered Hearts: The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women and Girls in Minnesota (pdf)
A groundbreaking report released by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC) highlights the alarming and pervasive sex trafficking of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota. The first comprehensive report of its kind, it highlights risk factors for victims that include poverty, a disproportionate number of American Indian homeless, high incidences of overall sexual assault, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and pervasive multi-generational trauma.
Silence is Violence: End the Abuse of Women in Afghanistan (pdf)
A new United Nations (UN) report on women in Afghanistan that focuses on the growing trend of violence and threats against women in public life and rape/sexual violence. The report concludes that these forms of violence are a huge occurrence in the everyday lives of Afghan women and the government has a crucial role in helping to eradicate these harmful practices towards women.
Silent Epidemic: A Survey of Violence Among Young Asian American Women
This report examines the impact of sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking on young Asian American women. The study also examines levels of awareness, prevalence, and access to services. It also addresses cultural and institutional barriers that Asian American victims of sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking may face.
Sita’s Trousseau: Restorative Justice, Domestic Violence, and South Asian Culture
"This article focuses on the particular cultural factors that affect South Asian women who are abused and immigrant South Asian women who are abused, in particular, in the restorative justice process. By exploring cultural practices and the icon of Sita, the mythological heroine of the Ramayana, this article demonstrates how the South Asian ideals of womanhood and wifehood help to create a mind-set whereby South Asian women are reluctant to advocate for themselves and are reluctant to leave."
Social Support Among Afro-Trinidadian Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence
"This study examines the types of, availability of, use of, and satisfaction with informal and formal social supports among Afro-Trinidadian women who have experienced intimate partner violence. The findings suggest that despite male dominance and control, women were able to maintain some contact with family and friends. Although some women felt they had family and friends to turn to, many were dissatisfied with the support. Women also expressed dissatisfaction with legal and social services."
Socioeconomic Factors and Processes Associated With Domestic Violence in Rural Bangladesh
This document examines the types and severity of domestic violence, and explores the pathways through which women's social and economic circumstances may influence their vulnerability to violence in marriage in rural Bangladesh.
This article aims to conceptualize spiritual abuse as an additional dimension to physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse. Three levels of intensity are identified. The concept and its typology are illustrated by means of examples from the women’s abusive experiences and may be of theoretical and therapeutic worldwide relevance.
State of World Population 2008 Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender, and Human Rights (pdf)
"This report gives an overview of the conceptual human rights frameworks as well as the practice of development, looking at the everyday events that make up people’s experience of development. The report presents some of the challenges and dilemmas of culturally sensitive strategies and suggests how partnerships can address them. The focus is on discussing and showcasing how culturally sensitive approaches are critical for the realization of human rights in general and women’s rights in particular."
Substance Abuse Among Southeast Asians in the U.S.: Implications for Practice and Research
"The literature on Asian-American substance use has shown a general increase in consumption and related problems due, in part, to the effects of acculturation toward U.S. drinking norms. Southeast Asians arc the most recent of Asian groups to come to the U.S., and have done so following an immigration and refugee experience that was among the most traumatic in recent memory resulting in significant levels of psychosocial distress. The combined influences of mental health disorders, which frequently co-occur with substance abuse, and acculturation pressures suggest that a significant increase in substance abuse problems may be in progress for Southeast Asian immigrants. The current article outlines the literature on substance abuse among Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians in the U.S., and makes tentative recommendations for assessment, treatment and future research."
Surveillance for Homicide Among Intimate Partners -- United States, 1981--1998
Report released Oct 2001 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Discusses that between 1981 to 1998, women were more than 60 percent more likely to be killed by their intimate partners than men. This report analyzes statistics from the FBI's Supplemental Homicide Reports, finding that intimate partner homicides dropped during the period from 1981 to 1998, but the decline mirrors the nationwide drop in the overall crime rate. The report calculates state rates of intimate partner homicide, as well as national intimate partner homicide rates for white Americans, African Americans, Asian or Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native.
Surveillance for Violent Deaths -- National Violent Death Reporting System, 16 States, 2005
"This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 16 U.S. states for 2005. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics."
Surviving Violence and Poverty (pdf)
This document examines the link between domestic and sexual violence, women's poverty and welfare. This report contains a statistical overview of the problem and recommendations for future policy change.
This report conceptualizes the Community Engagement Continuum in order to categorize a range of community based approaches in the anti-violence movement and to clarify the goals of engagement. The four points on the continuum--community outreach and education, community mobilization, community organizing, and community accountability--are defined by the level to which the strategies used lead to increases in the community's capacity to transform relations of power.
The Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls in West and Central Africa and the UNICEF response (pdf)
"This first-of-its-kind study by UNICEF on the situation of war-affected girls and women in the region highlights innovative programmes being implemented with partners to address the impact of conflict, and recommends how UNICEF can more proactively champion the rights of girls - particularly adolescent girls."
The Multiple Faces of the Intersections between HIV and Violence Against Women (pdf)
"The report compiles various articles that describe the intersection of and links between violence against women and the increasing number of HIV/AIDS transmissions among women. The publishers hope to prompt discussion and efforts focused on creating integrated policies and programs that address violence against women and HIV."
The Multiple Faces of the Intersections between HIV and Violence Against Women (Spanish) (pdf)
"The report compiles various articles that describe the intersection of and links between violence against women and the increasing number of HIV/AIDS transmissions among women. The publishers hope to prompt discussion and efforts focused on creating integrated policies and programs that address violence against women and HIV."
This document examines the relationship between intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy. This paper also calls on reproductive health programs to incorporate screenings for intimate partner violence among patients.
"This study seeks to (a) identify and measure the lifetime exposure to community violence of 137 African American and Latino middle school students from a low income neighborhood and apply numerical weights to each violent event; (b) examine the relationship between the objective severity of child self reported violence exposure and the child's subjective perception of the most bothersome event; and (c) examine the relationship between child's exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)."
The Social Construction of Wife Abuse: Experiences of Asian Indian Women in the United States
"The terms wife abuse and battered woman were coined in the 1970s. Although such naming is meaningful, these social constructions are restrictive so that only a narrow range of behaviors and people fit these labels. With the help of interviews with Hindu Asian Indian immigrants, this article highlights the importance of including the experiences of diverse groups of women in any analysis of domestic violence. The study challenges the popular perception of abused women, specifically South Asian battered women, as passive victims."
"This briefing paper addresses the needs of the women of the Gulf Coast region and uncovers the multiple disadvantages experienced by women affected by both hurricane Katrina and Rita."
Toolkit for Integrating Domestic Violence Activities into Programming in Europe and Asia (pdf)
"A manual designed to address violence against women, and specifically domestic violence, as a global human rights violation. Additionally, it explores the connections between domestic violence and human trafficking and analyzes different programming models for addressing the needs of survivors in (United States Agency for International Development) USAID programs. The toolkit is intended for USAID workers, donor organizations, and local organizations working to combat violence against women in countries where USAID operates."
Towards a Common European Framework to Monitor Progress in Combating Violence Against Women (pdf)
"Contains proposals for policies and indicators that could form the basis for a tool to monitor State progress in combating violence against women, as well as case studies of European initiatives that illustrate good practices."
This study examined the experiences of domestic violence of Hispanic and Anglo women recruited at a domestic violence shelter. It documented and compared the domestic violence experiences of women living in rural communities, examined the various correlates of the domestic violence, and evaluated the formal services offered to study participants by the local shelter, courts, and law enforcement over a 1-year period.
This study examined the risk factors of intimate partner violence that Chinese women face. The rates women self-reported violence by their partners and conflict with in-laws were computed across socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The findings show that in-law conflict was a significant characteristic of women reporting violent victimization. The authors suggest that screenings for in-law conflict be included in the assessment of risk for intimate partner violence.
Unheard Voices: Domestic Violence in Asian American Communities
This report examines the strategy and methodology used in collecting critical information about the attitudes as well as the strategies used by the varied Asian American communities to combat domestic violence. Focus groups were organized to examine common cultural attitudes and beliefs on domestic violence among the Asian immigrant groups. The findings of these focus groups are discussed.
Victim Services: Promising Practices in Indian Country (pdf)
This monograph describes promising practices for meeting the needs of victims of violence and domestic and family abuse in Indian Country. Each of the 12 program summaries includes a description of the program’s activities, keys to its success, basic demographic data (e.g., service area and population), and contact information.
"Intimate partner violence against immigrant women is at epidemic proportions, but research has only recently begun to address the concern. A review of the legal, medical, and social science research literature reveals little data, but that which exist demonstrate that immigrant women's cultures, contexts, and legal status (a) increase vulnerability for abuse, (b) are used by batterers to control and abuse immigrant women, and (c) create barriers to women seeking and receiving help. Data also reveal that immigrant culture and context offer resiliency factors through which programs and policy can be used to better serve these populations."
Violence Against Women: Classic Papers
The purpose of this project was to assemble some of the classic works in the field of violence against women so that new generations of students, practitioners, and researchers would have a collective understanding of the work that has shaped the field. Included are also commentaries from the original authors, when available, reflecting on why they authored the work when they did and the influence of their work on the field.
Violence Against Women: Identifying Risk Factors (pdf)
This NIJ Research in Brief combines the results taken from two studies, one of which followed college women and men for 4 years, and the other, which followed low-income, mostly black women who had been victims of childhood sexual abuse. Each study found that child sexual abuse alone was a risk factor only when combined with adolescent sexual abuse. Although each study examined a narrowly defined population, taken together, both studies came to remarkably similar conclusions.
Violence During Pregnancy in Jordan: Its Prevalence and Associated Risk and Protective Factors
"This study estimates the lifetime prevalence of physical violence during pregnancy and examines risk and protective factors among women (N = 390) attending reproductive health clinics in Jordan. A high frequency of quarreling, the husband's use of alcohol, attitudes supportive of a woman's duty to obey her husband, infrequent communication between the respondent and her family, and exposure to violence as a child increased the risk of violence. Consanguinity (marriage to a blood relative) and higher education levels were protective against violence during pregnancy."
Violence in the Lives of Children (pdf)
"This data brief from Child Trends reviews data on the types of violence experienced by U.S. children, including exposure to violence through media to abuse by parents and peers. Differences by age, gender, and race/ethnicity are discussed along with priorities for filling gaps in the data that is available on this topic."
"This article explores a hidden yet pervasive form of violence that marks the lives of young women from racialized immigrant communities in western Canada. The article suggests that racism constitutes a significant form of structural violence experienced by these young women. The author argues for an intersectional analysis that takes into consideration their heightened vulnerability to systemic and institutional forms of violence."
Women in Mongolia: Mapping Progress under Transition
This publication tells of Mongolian women's experiences in the context of the political and economic transformation of their country. It shares reports of women encouraged to bear many children, inadequate health care or resources, and high rates of maternal mortality. Recommendations informed through case studies are presented for improving their social and economic status and increasing their political participation.
This paper is part of series of papers that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper addresses the way to offer support and safety for children while maintaining safety, autonomy and choide for battered women.
This paper is part of series of paper that addresses the way to mobilize community and programatic resources to provide responsive help to children and families affected both by domestic violence and poverty. This particular paper addresses impacts of adult domestic violence to young children through developmental risk and resiliency.