United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Statistical Division

The measurement of Violence

Against Women in surveys:
communalities and differences
Angela Me, Chief Social and
Demographic Statistics Section
 ‘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 violence, coercion or arbitrary
deprivation of liberty, whether occurring
in public or private life.’

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 2

Countries with national-level data available for last 15 years
on physical assaults on women by a male partner - 37 countries
Albania Norway
Azerbaijan Republic of Moldova
Finland Romania
France Sweden
Georgia Switzerland
Germany Ukraine Australia
Canada Italy UK Cambodia
USA Lithuania China
India
Philippines
Colombia Haiti Republic of Korea
Egypt Samoa
Dominican Mexico
Republic Nicaragua
Ecuador Paraguay
El Salvador Peru
Guatemala Puerto-Rico Malawi
Honduras Uruguay South Africa
Zambia
Source: "In-depth Study on All Forms of Violence Against Women",
Report of the Secretary-General, 2006

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 3

Population-based sample surveys
Specialized Surveys
 More comprehensive
 More accurate – larger
sample size – better
training
 Higher reporting rates
 More expensive
 Ad-hoc activity
Roma, 10-12 December 2007
Module on on-going
surveys
 Cheaper
 More regular
 More limited in the
scope of studying VAW
 Less attention to VAW
Slide 4
 UNECE Survey of Surveys

Analysis of

 17 countries

 25 surveys

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 5

 National Surveys in the “extended”
ECE
Australia NSO Spec/Mod Mexico NSO Specialized
Canada NSO Spec/Mod New Zealand Specialized
Denmark Min. Specialized Norway Specialized
Finland Min Specialized Spain Women Specialized
France INED Specialized Sweden Women Specialized
Germany Research Specialized Switzerland Research Specialized
Italy NSO Spec/mod UK HO Module
Lithuania Women Specialized USA NSO/Res Spec/Mod
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 6
Prevalence of Sexual assault-sexual violence in women

18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, 2002 Spain, UK, 2001
2002 2004 2000 2003 2002

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 7

Differences-Communalities
• What type of violence to cover
• Intimate partner violence
• Sexual abuse and rape
• Incest
• Emotional abuse
• Child abuse
• Abuse of domestic workers
• Violence by members of the extended family
• Economic violence
• Stalking
Important to define what acts are considered violence
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 8
 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Statistical Division

Proportion of women that reported violence within a relationship in

the last 12 months in France

30

25

20

15

10

0
Verbal abuse Emotional Repeated Physical abuse Rape and other
blackmail psychological forced sexual acts
pressure

Source: Domenique Fougeyrollas-Schwebel, 2000 Enveff Survey

Physical violence
Finland: making threats of physical violence by
telephone, letter, and/or face to face; physical assault
such as hitting/beating, kicking, or making use of
weapons.
Canada: threats of violence, hitting with fists or weapons,
with or without physical injury.
IVAWS: the use of physical force with the intent to harm
or frighten a woman, and physical attempts or threats,
which refers to the verbal, and/or physical intent to
inflict harm which the woman believed was able and
likely to be carried out.

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 10

Sexual violence
Finland: sexually threatening behavior; attempt to have
forced sex; and/or forcing to have sex. Sexual
harassment was defined as “such male sexual behavior
that is unwanted
Canada: any form of non-consensual or forced sexual
activity or touching, including rape. The term “sexual
assault” encompasses a wide range of criminal acts
ranging from unwanted sexual touching to sexual
violence involving weapons, and is categorized
according to three levels of severity
IVAWS: any form of non-consensual or forced sexual
activity or touching including rape. It is carried out
against the woman’s will using physical or threatened
force, intimidation or coercion. Includes sexual touching

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 11

Analysis of surveys

92% of the surveys: detailed questions on sexual

violence

80% of surveys: included physiological abuse

80% dedicated surveys: included stalking

40% modules: included stalking

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 12

Type of violence by type of survey

Type of Survey Violence Victimisation Other

Against Surveys (8) Surveys (2)
Women
Type of violence Surveys (15)
Physical Violence N % N % N %
Pushed, grabbed, shoved 13 87% 6 75% 2 100%
Threatened to hit 10 67% 4 50% 2
Threw something 12 80% 5 62% 2
Slapped 12 80% 7 87% 2
Kicked, bit or hit 14 93% 6 75% 2
Hit with something 14 93% 5 62% 2
Beat up 11 73% 5 62% 2
Choked 13 87% 5 62% 2
Used or threatened with a gun or knife 13 87% 6 75% 2
Other 9 60% 5 62% 2
At least one indicator of physical violence 15 100% 7 87% 2 100%

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 13

Type of violence by type of survey
Violence Victimisati Other
Type of Survey Against on Surveys Surveys (2)
Women (8)
Surveys (15)
Type of violence
Psychological abuse: control 11 73% 3 37% 0
- including psychological harassment 4 27% 3 37% 0
Isolates her 11 73% 2 25% 0
Torments her constantly 3 20% 1 12% 0
Hinders her from visiting her family or to 14 93% 3 37% 1
keep in touch with friends and neighbors
Ignores her or treated her indifferently 8 53% 1 12% 0
Gets angry when she spoke with another 11 73% 1 12% 1 (DHS)
man
Expects her to ask permission before 1 7% 0 0
seeking health care for herself
Decides what she can do or not do 4 27% 0 0
Emotional blackmail 4 27% 1 12% 0
Other 5 33% 3 37% 1 (DHS)
Included at least one indicator of 15 100% 4 50% 1 (DHS) 50%
controlling behaviour

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 14

Type of violence by type of survey
Violence Victimisati Other
Type of Survey Against on Surveys Surveys
Women (8) (2)
Surveys (15)
Type of violence
Psychological abuse: berating
Verbal abuse 9 60% 2 25% 1
Humiliates her 10 67% 2 25% 1
Says that what she does is always wrong 4 27% 0 0
Doesn’t care about her needs (you have 1 7% 1 12% 0
the worst place at home, the worst of the
meals, etc.).
Blames her in front of her children 3 20% 0 0
Perpetrator has done things to scare or 6 40% 1 12% 0
intimidate her on purpose
Perpetrator has threatened to hurt 12 80% 2 25% 1 (DHS)
someone she cared about
Other 4 27% 1 12% 0
Included at least one indicator of berating 14 93% 4 50% 1 (DHS) 50%

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 15

Type of violence by type of survey
Violence Victimisati Other
Type of Survey Against on Surveys Surveys
Women (8) (2)
Surveys (15)
Type of violence
Stalking
Followed or spied on her 9 60% 4 50% 0
Sent her unsolicited letters /written 4 27% 4 50% 0
correspondence
Made unsolicited phone calls to her 6 40% 4 50% 0
Stood outside her home, school, or 5 33% 4 50% 0
workplace
Left unwanted items for her to find 1 7% 2 25% 0
Tried to communicate in other ways 4 27% 3 37% 0
against her will
Vandalized her property or destroyed 7 47% 3 37% 0
something she loved
Made direct or indirect threats to harm 7 47% 2 25% 0
her, her children, relatives, friends or
pets
Other 2 13% 4 50% 0
Included at least one indicator of 12 80% 4 50% 0 0%
stalking

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 16

Type of violence by type of survey

Violence Victimisati Other

Type of Survey Against on Surveys Surveys
Women (8) (2)
Surveys (15)
Type of violence
Economic abuse
Doesn’t value her work 1 7% 0 0
Refuses to let her go out to work 6 40% 0 0
Takes the money she earn 7 47% 1 12% 0
Does not pay his fair share of the 3 20% 0 0
household expenses
Other 6 40% 1 12% 1 (DHS)
Included at least one indicator of 10 67% 2 25% 1 (DHS) 50%
economic abuse

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 17

 Differences-Communalities

• How to ask women about their experience with

violence (questionnaire design)
• Single direct questions or multiple behaviorally
specific questions (“Have you ever been slapped,
kicked, or beaten?”). Behavior-based questions
are considered more effective. Important to avoid
words such as rape, abuse

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 18

• Carefully choose wording and the number of questions
• Ask about experiences with violence in behavioural terms
• Provide opportunities for disclosure
• Avoid single questions

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 19

 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Statistical Division

Good Questionnaire Design

During the past five years, has your partner:

1. threatened you with his/her fist or anything else that could have hurt you?
2. thrown anything at you that could have hurt you?
3. pushed, grabbed or shoved you in a way that could have hurt you?
4. slapped you?
5. kicked, bitten, or hit you with his/her fist?
6. hit you with something that could have hurt you?
7. beaten you?
8. choked you?
9. used or threatened to use a gun or knife on you?
10. forced you into any unwanted sexual activity by threatening you,
holding you down, or hurting you in some way?

Source: Measuring VAW: Statistical Trends 2006, Statistics Canada

Differences-Communalities

• Reference period of victimization

• Lifetime (used particularly for rape
and sexual abuse)
• Previous 5 years, previous 12
months, previous 6 months
• The shorter the period, the more
accurate are the data but larger the
sample needs to be
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 21
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Statistical Division

Five-year and one-year rates of spousal violence in

Canada, 1993, 1999 and 2004

14
12
12

10
8
1993
8 7
1999
6
2004
4 3 3
2
2
0
5 year 1 year
Sources:Statistics Canada, Violence Against Women Survey 1993; General
Social Survey on Victimisation 1999 and 2004
Analysis of surveys

The majority of dedicated surveys used

“lifetime”, often jointly either with “one
year” or with both “one year” and “five
years”. For the surveys that only had a
module on VAW, the most common time
reference was instead “one-year”. One
survey module (USA) used 6 months.

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 23

 Differences-Communalities

• Reference population
• 15-49
• 15 or 18 years and plus
• Only married or with partner
• Some studies cover men as well

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 24

Analysis of surveys

52% of the surveys did not have an upper

age limit
44% of the surveys had age limits
3 surveys included institutions
9 surveys included also men (all but one-
USA- are modules)

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 25

 Differences-Communalities

• What to collect
• Perpetrators (relationship with the
victimized woman)
• Injuries (very difficult to standardize it)

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 26

 Perpetrators of physical violence against women, Germany, 2004
Professional
caregivers,
professional
Friends, helpers, others
3.4 Unknown persons
acquaintances, 19.5
neighbours
11.8
Casual acquaintances
10.8
Family members
30.1
Acquaintances from
work, training or school
15.8

Partners, former
partners, lovers
50.2

Source:
Health, Well-Being and Personal Safety of Women in Germany,
A Representative Study of Violence against Women in Germany,
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens,
Women and Youth, Germany, 2004

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 27

 Impacts and consequences of spousal assaults Impacts and consequences of spousal assaults
on women, Canada, 2004 on women, Canada, 2004

Injured 44 Upset / confused 37

Fearful 30
Feared for her life 34
Depressed / anxious 21

Needed to take time off daily

29 Lowered self-esteem 17
activities

Sleeping problems 15
More than 10 separate incidents 21
Sham e / guilt 12

Received medical attention 13 Afraid for children 9

0 10 20 30 40 50 0 10 20 30 40 50
Percent
Percent

Refers to violence over the previous five years.

Source: Statistics Canada, General Social Survey on Victimization 2004

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 28

Analysis of surveys

80% of the surveys included information

about physical injuries
Great majority of the surveys asked
information about the use or not of
medical services
84% of the surveys asked victims about
their search for help

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 29

Other issues…
• Telescoping effect

• Sampling

• Non-responses

• Mode of data collection (increase

reporting and assuring privacy)
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 30
Conclusions
Many differences …..BUT ….

Some communalities:

• avoidance of general definitions of violence and

use of highly detailed and behaviour-specific
questions,
• inclusion of physical and sexual violence as a
minimum set,
• use of “lifetime” and “one year before the survey”
as reference period.

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 31

International/Regional level

There is the need to build from

the existing communalities in
order to develop
International/Regional
Recommendations on how to
measure VAW in official
statistics

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 32

International/Regional level

A great deal of work has been already

carried out at international level to
develop standard survey modules
(WHO, DHS, IVAWS)

Building on this work national

statistical systems should be guided
on how to design and carry out
national surveys as part of official
statistics for a sustainable collection
of VAW statistics
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 33
Increased Attention and Commitment to tackle Gender Violence
• Standard indicators to measure violence against women
• Encourage national statistical offices to have a more active role in
collecting and disseminating statistics in this area.
Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 34
 Gender-Based violence against
women and men?
Figure 1: Types of spousal abuse experienced by Figure 2: Impact of Spousal Violence on Victims,
women and men, Canada, 2004 Canada, 2004
Threatened to hit 53
61
Feared for their lived 34
10
Threw something 49
44
Experienced 10+ assaults 21
Pushed , grab bed or sho ved 48 11
81

Slap ped 57 29
36 Took time off daily activities 10
Kicked , bit or hit 40
27 10
Were hospitalized 2e
Hit with something 23 Female victims
23
13 Male victims
Beat 8 Received medical attention 2e
19
5
Cho ked 19 Men Were physically injured 44
19
Used o r threatened to use a g un or knife 9 Women
11

Sexually Assaulted 0 0 10 20 30 40 50
16
Percent of spousal victims
0 20 40 60 80 100
Per Cent over 5 Years

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 35

Indicators
Physical violence:
 The proportion of women who experience severe or moderate physical
violence at least once during (the last year/lifetime) by perpetrators
(intimate/other relative/other known person/stranger/state authority).
Sexual violence:
 The proportion of women who experience penetrative sex without
consent or other sexual violence without consent (one/few/many) time/s
during (the last year/lifetime) by perpetrators (intimate/other relative/other
known person/stranger/state authority).
Intimate partner violence:
 The proportion of women (who have ever had an intimate partner) who
experience physical or sexual violence at least once or often (>2 times)
during (the last year/lifetime) by (current or former partner).
Harmful practices:
 Female genital mutilation/cutting
 Early marriage
 Female infanticide

Roma, 10-12 December 2007 Slide 36