Violence against women and girls
Forms, levels, consequences, causes & growing commitment to address it
Dr V Chandra-Mouli & Dr A Amin
Department of Reproductive Health & Research
World Health Organization
Any public or private act of
gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in
physical, sexual or psychological
harm or suffering to women &
girls, including threats of such
acts, coercion, or arbitrary
deprivation of liberty with the
family or general community
Violence
against women & girls
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls takes many forms –
intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence,
early & forced marriage, trafficking, female genital
mutilation & honour killings.
Violence against women & girls takes many forms
Intimate
partner
violence:
the most common
form of violence
experienced by
women &
adolescent girls
Experience of one or
more acts of physical
and/or sexual
violence
and/or
emotional/psychologi
cal abuse by a current
or former partner
Intimate Partner
Violence
Being slapped, having
something thrown at you
that could hurt you, being
pushed or shoved, being hit
with a fist or something else
that could hurt, being kicked,
dragged or beaten up, being
chocked or burnt on
purpose, and/or being
threatened with or actually
having a gun, knife or other
weapon used on you
Physical Violence
Being physically forced to
have sexual intercourse
when you didn't want to,
having sexual intercourse
because you were afraid of
what your partner might do
and/or being forced to do
something sexual that you
found humiliating or
degrading
Sexual Violence
Being insulted or being
made to feel bad about
oneself; being belittled or
humiliated in front of
other people. The
perpetrator has done
things to scare or
intimidate her, by yelling
or smashing things;
and/or has threatened to
hurt someone she cares
Emotional about
Violence
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls take many forms – intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, early & forced marriage,
trafficking, female genital mutilation & honour killings.
2. Levels of violence against women & girls in Asia-Pacific region are
comparable to global levels. Like elsewhere there is considerable
underreporting to police & health/social service statistics.
35% women globally, 38% in WHO's South East Asia region & 25% in
WHO's Western-Pacific region have experienced physical &/or sexual
violence by an intimate partner and/or non-partner
7% of women globally, 5% in WHO's South East Asia & 7% in WHO's
Western Pacific region have experienced non-partner sexual violence.
% 30
beaten in pregnancy, not punched or kicked in abdomen
25 beaten in pregancy, including punched or kicked in abdomen
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Source: Garcia-Moreno C et al. 2005, WHO multi-country study on women's health
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and domestic violence against women: initial results on prevalence, health outcomes
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and women's responses.
Violence starts early in lives of women
Lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence by age group among ever-
partnered women (WHO, 2013)
Prevalence of childhood sexual abuse girls below 15 years
Source: Garcia-Moreno C et al. 2005, WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence against women: initial results on prevalence, health
outcomes and women's responses.
Statistics reported to police, health or social
services are under-estimates
Only 10%-30%
of victims seek
institutional
support
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls take many forms – intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, early & forced marriage,
trafficking, female genital mutilation & honour killings.
2. Levels of violence against women & girls in Asia-Pacific region are
comparable to global levels. Like elsewhere there is considerable
underreporting to police & health/social service statistics.
3. Violence against women & girls has health, social & economic
consequences for individuals, families, communities & societies.
Pathways & health effects of Intimate Partner Violence
Inter-generational &
socio-economic consequences
Effects on • Higher rates of infant mortality & mortality
children of • Physical injury
• Behavior problems
women who
• Anxiety, depression, suicide
experience • Poor school performance
abuse • Increased likelihood of experiencing & perpetrating violence
as adults
Effects on • Reduced ability to work
families • Lost wages
• Impaired family function
Social and • Costs of services incurred by victims & their families
economic • Lost workplace productivity
• Perpetuation of violence
effects
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls take many forms – intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, early & forced marriage,
trafficking, female genital mutilation & honour killings.
2. Levels of violence against women & girls in Asia-Pacific region are
comparable to global levels. Like elsewhere there is considerable
underreporting to police & health/social service statistics.
3. Violence against women & girls has health, social & economic
consequences for individuals, families, communities & societies.
4. Childhood abuse & gender inequality are the main risk factors for
intimate partner & non-partner sexual violence. There is growing
evidence of a number of predisposing factors at the individual,
relationship, family, community & societal levels.
Childhood abuse & gender inequality are the main risk
factors for violence against women & girls
SOCIETY Society:
- Gender & social norms accepting of
violence & ideologies of male
COMMUNITY entitlement
- Women’s lack of access to education,
employment & family resources
- Lack or poor enforcement of laws &
RELATIONSHIP policies on violence against women &
girls
Community:
INDIVIDUAL Unequal gender norms that condone
violence against women & weak
community sanctions
Individual: Relationship:
- Exposure to child maltreatment Men's control over women
(& to sexual abuse in men) Martial dissatisfaction
- Low education, low income Multiple partners
- Young age, separated/divorced
status (in girls/women)
- Acceptance of violence
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls take many forms – intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, early & forced marriage,
trafficking, female genital mutilation & honour killings.
2. Levels of violence against women & girls in Asia-Pacific region are
comparable to global levels. Like elsewhere there is considerable
underreporting to police & health/social service statistics.
3. Violence against women & girls has health, social & economic
consequences for individuals, families, communities & societies.
4. Childhood abuse & gender inequality are the main factors for
intimate partner & non-partner sexual violence. There is growing
evidence of a number of predisposing factors at the individual,
relationship, family, community & societal levels.
5. There is widespread global consensus & commitment to end
violence against women & girls.
World Health Assembly 2014 Resolution
approved by WHO's member states on:
Strengthening the role of the health systems
in addressing violence, in particular
against women & girls and against children
Health sector's
v role
in addressing
violence against
women & girls:
Key messages
1. Violence against women & girls take many forms – intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, early & forced marriage,
trafficking, female genital mutilation & honour killings.
2. Levels of violence against women & girls in Asia-Pacific region are
comparable to global levels. Like elsewhere there is considerable
underreporting to police & health/social service statistics.
3. Violence against women & girls has health, social & economic
consequences for individuals, families, communities & societies.
4. Childhood abuse & gender inequality are the two risk factors for
intimate partner & non-partner sexual violence. There is growing
evidence of a number of predisposing factors at the individual,
relationship, family, community & societal levels.
5. There is widespread global consensus & commitment to end
violence against women & girls.
