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VIOLENCE
AGAINST WOMEN The
problem of violence against women started to be studied quite
recently. The numbers of registered violent crimes against women
are not too high. But there is evidence that the majority of cases
of domestic violence are not registered in state statistics because
they are not reported to the police. So, the problem remains how
to measure the real scope of violence against women? Sociological
surveys are to answer this question. An overview of the sociological
surveys conducted provides information about prevalence of violence
against women. First
of all, our attention should be drawn to the International Crime
Victim Survey in Lithuania conducted in 1997, by the Institute
of Law and Market and Opinion Research Center “Vilmorus” (Institute
of Law, 1997). Firstly, it should be noted that the aims of this
survey did not include measurement of the prevalence levels of
domestic violence. Secondly, the methodology of the questionnaire
design caused leveling heaviness of the crime: questions about
heavy crimes (e.g., rape) were put at the same level as theft
(however insignificant). In this case one can hardly expect openness
from the respondents. Thirdly, the questionnaire was influenced
by predominant stereotypes. For example, male respondents were
not asked about sexual violence against themselves at all. Nevertheless,
let us extract from the results of this survey information out
of interest. The methodology did not allow for a broad picture
of contact crime but enabled us to discover a high rate of contact
violence during the last 5 years, and could serve as a basis for
further analysis. The results of the survey are presented in Table
1 (Institute of Law, 1997, P. 52). Table
1. Distribution
by gender victims of direct personal contact during the past 5
years, % Type
of victimization
Women
Men
Personal
theft
24.4
15.2
Robbery
3.7
5.9
Assault/threat
7.9
12.0
Sexual
offence
3.7
-
N= 2191,
16 years and over, National representative survey The
results of the survey enable us to map out the scope of violence.
Let us analyse the type of violence defined as “assault/threat”.
Taking into account that 1 % of adult women comprise 15,000 inhabitants
we can roughly estimate that there are about 24,000 victims of
such offences per year. But crime statistics (Women and Men in
Lithuania, 1998) indicated only 6,728 women victims of crime in
1997, in total. This is clear evidence of a high underreporting
rate. But
these results do not indicate the place of violence or the relationships
of the victims with perpetrator, which is extremely important
in the case of violence against women. The
survey “Women in Lithuanian Society” conducted by the “Baltic
Surveys” in 1994 (Purvaneckiene, 1995) gives a broader picture
of the place and the type of contact violence (Table 2). Table
2. Persentage
of women and men who reported physical and sexual violence by
the type pf violence Type
of violence
Women,
%
Men,
%
Badly
beaten
- in their parental families
- in their marital families
33 16 18
62 22 3
Robbed
18
26
Attempted
rape
20
3.6
N=1,500,
15 years and over, National representative survey In this
survey, the respondents were questioned about their whole-life
experiences, so the results should not coincide with the previous
ones. But the main trends are the same: men are more exposed to
physical violence. But here we see quite a different picture when
analysing experiences of women and men in their marital families.
So, we can conclude that the main problem for women is domestic
violence. In this respect, further research on relations between
victim and perpetrator is needed. The results of the survey revealed
very strong correlation between experienced family violence in
childhood and in adulthood. However, women who did not experienced
physical violence by parents: 13% experienced physical violence
by their spouses. Women who were badly beaten by their parents
at least once: 46% experienced violence by their spouses (Purvanckienë,
1997). The
survey “Violence against Women and Children” was conducted by
the Vilnius University Women’s Studies Centre in 1996 (Moterø
studijø centras, 1997). The respondents were questioned about
their whole-life experiences as well. The survey was not representative,
therefore, probably, the percentage of women who reported violence
was slightly higher than in other surveys, but it gave more interesting
facts to consider. First of all, these results confirm the conclusion
that women are mostly exposed to domestic violence. Secondly,
they draw attention to other types of violence experienced by
women (Table 3). Table
3. Experiences
of emotional, physical and sexual violence by women Type
of violence
Women,
%
Emotional
77.7
Physical
- by father
- by spouse
64.5 17.5 35.6
Sexual
23.7
Did
not experience any type of violence
13.6
N=228,
18-65 years of age The
comparison of results from several studies reveal some reasons
why violence against women is marginalised, why it is so difficult
to persuade officials and the community that immediate and systematical
measures to combat violence against women should be introduced.
First of all, the general results of the surveys and crime statistics
show that men experience physical violence more often. Therefore,
the structure of violent incidents should be disclosed, as well
as the relationship between a victim and perpetrator. The deepest
insight on violence against women are given in the results of
the victim survey “Violence against Women” (Box 1). BOX
1 MAIN
FINDINGS OF THE VICTIM SURVEY “VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN”
The
survey “Violence against Women” (Purvaneckiene, 1999a) was conducted
in 1997-1998. It was initiated by the Women’s Issues Information
Centre, and supported financially by the UNDP and UNIFEM. The
National representative survey of adult women was conducted by
the company “Baltic Surveys, Ltd.” from the 17-26 November 1997.
The random sampling methodology was applied. One thousand and
ten women aged between 18-74 years old were interviewed on a one
to one basis. The
results of the survey showed that only 37.3% of adult women never
experienced male violence. The results of the survey, concluded
that the most dangerous places for women are their families and
their closest environment. Only 11% of women had experienced acts
of violence from strangers. Women who experienced violence by
friends was 8.2% and by acquaintances or relatives was 14.4%.
The highest prevalence level of violence experienced by women
was by their husbands or partners. 42.5 % of currently married
or cohabiting women at least once in their life experienced physical,
sexual violence or threats from their spouses. The most frequent
violence women experienced was spousal physical violence (38.1%)
and threats (33.5%). Marital rape experienced by 9.9% of currently
married women. The results of the survey confirmed also that incidents
of violence against women are strongly underreported. Only 10.6%
of victims reported to the police about the most serious incident.
The strong correlation between their violent environment in parental
families and violence in marital families was confirmed once more.
Women who had grown-up in families with the father being violent
against them or their mothers experienced frequent violence by
their spouses. Men, whose father had been violent against the
mother, had been more often violent against their own partner.
Another correlation (negative) was observed between gender equality
in families and violence. Out of all the women who regarded that
their relations with their spouses as equal, 30.4 % experienced
spousal violence, and those who regarded their relations as unequal,
was very high at 71.5%. Summarizing
the results from various surveys, the general conclusion could
be made: the most serious problem for women are domestic and sexual
violence. Domestic
violence is a very serious problem in Lithuania, as elsewhere.
Although, according to the data of the Municipality Police, domestic
crimes comprise only 3.1% out of all crimes, they have quite a
big share among all crimes against a person. Namely, domestic
murders comprised 57.4 % in 1996 and 39.9% in 1997 out of all
revealed murders, as well as domestic heavy injuries 43.2% in
1996 and 32.9% in 1997 out of total numbers of revealed heavy
injuries. In cases of other violence against persons the percentage
of domestic violence is much smaller, what this indicates is that
cases of domestic violence are highly underreported unless it
does end up in a murder or a heavy injury. Therefore, public and
official perception of the extent of domestic violence in its
various manifestations is still characterized by limited knowledge
and traditional attitudes of shame and secrecy. Women and children
are usually victims of domestic violence. According to the data
of the Municipality Police, in 1997 women comprised 88.8% and
children 9.3% of victims of domestic crime (Jûrienë, 1998). There
are indicators that the extent of domestic violence is growing.
According to a pilot study of 1996, conducted by the Women’s Studies
Centre of Vilnius University, among 200 high school and university
female students, 48% of them had experienced violence by their
fathers (Moterø studijø centras, 1997). According
to the public opinion polls, domestic violence is considered a
private issue: more than half of the population are of the opinion
that the problem of domestic violence should be solved by the
family itself (Purvaneckiene, 1999b). One
of the main obstacles for combating domestic violence is lack
of awareness by victims of violence, police enforcement officers,
officials and society as a whole. Several actions were undertaken
in this field also. The Women’s Issues Information Centre, supported
by the UNDP/Lithuania campaigned throughout the year of 1996 against
domestic violence and violence against women, and organized the
national conference, “The Problem of Violence against Women in
Lithuania Today”, and subsequently published conference papers.
In 1997, the WIIC together with Helsinki Institute for Crime Prevention
and Control (HEUNI) organized a training seminar for police officials
and officers around, “Domestic Violence – What Next?” In 1998,
the international conference, “How to Combat Family Violence:
Looking for Solutions?”, was organized by the Seimas Committee
for Child and Family Affairs, Women’s Parliamentary Group and
Vilnius Women’s Home. Recently, the Women’s Issues Information
Centre accomplished the project “Stop Violence against Women”,
supported by the UNIFEM. The outcomes of this project are several
publications, including the translation of the book, “Confronting
Domestic Violence: Resource Manual”, which will be used as a textbook
in the Law Academy and Police Schools for future police officers.
Also, two leaflets and a Reference book for women victims of violence
were published and distributed. Recently, the UN General Assembly
Resolution 52/86 (12.12.97), “Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice
Measures to Eliminate Violence against Women”, was translated
into Lithuanian, published and widely distributed by the Women’s
Issues Information Centre. Hopefully, it will serve as guidelines
to create policy strategies for the elimination of violence against
women. Sexual
violence. Criminal
statistics give quite small numbers of sexual crimes. During the
last few years, the total numbers of registered rapes or attempted
rapes did not exceed 200 per year. But all surveys conducted show
a high prevalence of sexual abuse and violence. According to the
above mentioned survey “Women in Lithuanian Society“ (1994), 20%
of adult women and 3.6% of adult men at least once in their life
had experienced attempted rape (Table 2). The results of the survey
“Violence against Women and Children in Lithuania” (1995), showed
a very high prevalence level of sexual violence (Table 3). In
her analysis of the survey results R.Mikalajûnaitë (1999, p. 78)
makes conclusion: “…that young women of 15 to 25 years of age
have greater experience of physical and sexual abuse than older
women. This allows us to state that the rate of violence against
women in our society is on the increase”. As it was reported above,
however, the last survey was not representative, therefore it
would be incorrect to generalize for the whole population. The
national representative victim survey “Violence against Women”,
also showed a high prevalence of sexual abuse and violence. In
this survey, sexual violence was regarded as forced sex (i.e.
rape), and as sexual abuse such as unwanted touching, kissing,
grabbing, fondling and forcing into sexual relations (i.e. attempted
rape). Respondents were not asked about such types of sexual abuse
in their marital families. Results on experienced sexual abuse
by other men are presented in Table 4. Table
4. Women who were
sexualy abused out of family,
% Incidents
of sexual abuse
Perpetrator
Stranger
Acquaintance/relative
Touching,
grabbing, kissing, fondling against a woman’s will
22
15
Attempts
at forced sex
15.8
10
Seventeen
percent of women were sexually abused by their date or boyfriend,
who attempted to force them into unwanted sex. Table
5. Women
who experienced sexual violence out of the family and in the family,
% Incidents
of sexual violence
Perpetrator
Stranger
Acquaintance
/relative
Spouse/ partner*
Spouse/ partner**
Forced
to have sex when a women did not want to, by holding down
or hurting in some way
2.1
1.9
5.9
8.6
Forced
to have sex when a women did not want to, by threatening
in some way (verbally or with a weapon, or a tool)
1.7
1.0
3.9
5.7
* These percentage refer
to all adult women It is
evident that the results of the various surveys differ. But these
differences are caused by different interpretations by researchers
of “sexual violence”, dependent on the forms and seriousness of
incidents. But all surveys show high rates of experienced sexual
violence or abuse. And, it is clear that sexual violence and sexual
crimes are highly underreported. This is caused by the similar
reasons as in the cases of domestic violence. In addition, the
whole criminal process in the case of rape is a long and humiliating
experience for a victim. The reports in Mass Media from the courts
on rape cases depict a threatening picture (e.g., Box 2). Usually
a victim changes her testimony due to severe threats by relatives
or friends of perpetrators. This is why victims rarely make complaints
or withdraw their complaints. BOX
2 From daily “Respublika”,
May 25, 1999 Five
rapists from of Këdainiai were acquitted by the chairmen
of the area court in Këdainiai region. On
September 14, 1998, the area prosecutor’s office took criminal
action against five residents of Këdainiai for gang rape
of a young girl, R.Þ. During the pre-trial investigation
it was established that on September 12, 1998, at around
midnight, R.Þ., a resident of Këdainiai, was walking home
from a discotheque and was assaulted by two strangers. They
lured the girl into a billiard-room. Shortly, they were
joined by four of their friends. The youths were drinking
alcohol heavily and, refused to let the girl leave, and
forced her to drink alcohol. They struck her head with a
cue stick the girl who had been made drunk had by now lost
her bearings, and was unconscious. She was carried to the
sauna room, undressed and raped by all those who were present
in the billiard-room. In
the morning the young girl went to her friend’s house in
a sate of shock, with her face badly swollen. She could
hardly walk and complained about the pain around her hip
area. Experts established that the girl had not had sexual
relations prior to this event. The
girl’s testimony given during the investigation was checked
on the scene of the crime, the girl recognised, and identified
the defendants. However, the young men who were charged
with rape, denied the allegations and maintained that the
underage girl had sexual relations with them of her own
accord. The
area court of Këdainiai region, which head the case, adjourned
the case for further investigations and required more evidence.
During
the repeated hearing of the case the victim collapsed and
the judicial sitting had to be postponed. The victim
gave in to the pressure of the defendants and their parents
and changed her evidence, saying she had “forgotten” the
events when she was hit on the head with a cue stick and
could not recall what had happened to her in the billiard-room.
Legal
obstacles faced by women who experienced violence. At present
there are no separate laws on (physical) violence against women
or domestic violence. The Criminal Code contains about twenty
articles on violence in total, but they are gender neutral. Theoretically,
the same articles apply in both cases: violence by a stranger
or by a family member. The differences are in criminal procedures
and attitudes of the law enforcement officers or judges. Attitudes
towards domestic violence is to treat it as a private matter.
There are no legal mechanisms to stop a perpetrator of domestic
violence by police and prevent future violent behaviour, unless
an incident resulted in murder or heavy injuries. In other cases,
the police force only makes an official remark to perpetrator
that his behaviour is asocial. Criminal
procedure in cases of violence by a stranger or in the domestic
environment is different (Meðkauskaitë, 1999). In the case of
violence by a stranger, police makes investigation and brings
case to the court, even if a victim refuses to make complaint
herself. In cases of violence in the domestic environment, the
victim personally has to bring the case to the court (or apply
personally to the police). Private cases are analysed by judges
without pre-investigation by prosecution (unless there are no
heavy injuries). But in all these cases the application of
a victim is obligatory. However, women very seldom make complaints
or withdraw them after some time. One
of reasons which prevents women from reporting violence by their
husbands is absence of legal mechanism to protect a victim from
the perpetrator in the future. There are no possibilities to remove
him from the domicile or to prohibit further contact with the
victim. The new draft Family Law (Lietuvos Respublikos Civilinis
kodeksas, 1998) has an Article on temporary protection measures
in cases of divorce proceedings only. If this draft Law passes
the Seimas, it will at least be the first step towards the protection
of women and children in cases of domestic violence. In connection
with sexual violence, there are three articles in the Criminal
Code concerned specifically with sexual crimes against women:
Article 118. Rape, Article 119. Coercion of a women into sexual
intercourse, and Article 120. Sexual intercourse with a sexually
underdeveloped person. According
to the Government resolution No.77 of 21 January, 1998 on the
Implementation of Action Plan of the Advancement of Women of Lithuania
in 1998-2000, the legal basis (Criminal Code) should be permanently
improved. The responsibility lays with the Institute of Law, Criminal
Code drafting group and the Ministry of Justice. The same institutions
are responsible for the improvement of the practice of application
of the existing laws. The
new draft Criminal Code underwent many changes and amendments
since it was published two years ago. So, at present it is difficult
to evaluate the draft until it is published once again. The first
draft was criticised a lot by women’s NGOs because of the omission
of violence against women, but it seems that the amendments offered
by women’s NGOs were not included into the draft. There are no
women’s NGO at present to be a “watch-dog” to the draft Criminal
Code, and the situation could be really tough if the draft commences
to the discussion stage in the Seimas (Parliament), and it would
be too late to interfere with many amendments. Assistance
for victims of violence. As from the 1st January
1999, there was the only one institution named the Crisis Centre
and it remains the only shelter for abused women, established
by the NGO Vilnius Women’s Home. But
there are other options for victims of domestic violence to receive
assistance. According to the data from the Women’s Issues Information
Centre, as from the 1st January 1999, the following
institutions located in different cities provide assistance for
women victims of violence: 1. Shelters
(5): 2 shelters established by the municipalities; 1
shelter established by the Church; and 2 shelters established
by the Municipality Police. Two
institutions Vilnius Women’s Home Crisis Centre and Shelter for
Abused Women, and Vievis Shelter for Women and Children provide
assistance to abused women irrespectively of having children.
Vilnius Shelter for Battered Mothers and Children provides accommodation
only for mothers with children, but works as consultative centre
for all battered women. The Caritas Care Home is oriented towards
assistance for homeless women with children or pregnant women,
not putting special stress on experienced violence. Shelters or
consultative centres established by the Municipality police are
oriented towards assistance to victims of violence. The
Vilnius Women’s Home Crisis Centre and Shelter for Abused Women
are the only two institutes that operate on a strong feminist
ideology. The Vilnius Women’s Home Crisis Centre and Shelter for
Abused Women have been unable to establish the shelter due to
lack of financial resources. So, the Crisis Centre only provides
psychological, medical or legal assistance on daily basis. Assistance
and support is provided by volunteers mainly. The Crisis Centre
operates a telephone service for women in domestic violence situation,
open for 13 hours per day (8 am - 9 pm). Since it opened in November
1996 until February 1999, the Crisis Centre has provided assistance
for 490 abused women. The
Caritas Care Home, on the contrary, put stress on traditional
family and Catholic values. On the 1st January 1999,
15 women with 20 children lived in the Caritas Care Home. The
Caritas Care Home has good facilities to give refuge for mothers
of new-borns. The
most professional assistance and the most substantial support
women can get is from the Vilnius Shelter for Battered Mothers
and Children. The shelter has a permanent staff team of professionals,
mainly social workers. Every woman and her children are allocated
one social worker. On the 1st January 1999, 13 women
with 28 children lived in the shelter. This shelter has very close
relations with the Municipality police, and is protected from
possible attacks from violent husbands. Women can stay for six
month in the shelter, so it is enough time for women to establish
their independent life from a violent husband: to receive short
term training, to find a job and a living place. In all these
activities they are assisted by a personnel from the shelter,
if needed. The shelter has plans to expand: to renovate their
premises under the roof and to buy a separate flat in different
location for emergency crisis centre. The
Vievis Shelter for Women and Children works in two directions.
They provide after school services for children from risk within
their families (children are provided with meals, have possibility
to take a shower and to wash their clothes, support to prepare
their lessons, play, etc.). And, the other direction is providing
shelter for battered women. There were very few women clients.
Vievis is a very small town, so everybody knows if a women seeks
help. Shame prevents women from using the shelter services. It
became clear that taking into account present attitudes, shelters
in small localities has to collaborate with each other and to
provide women with shelters in other localities than the one she
lives in. It has
to be noted, that the Municipality Police is also starting many
initiatives to establish services or shelters for victims of domestic
violence. It is very difficult to analyse the effectiveness of
other services, especially those that do not specialise, because
the majority of them are only starting to be involved in offering
assistance for battered women. But the wishes of such services
to be included into the “Reference book for women victims of violence”
(Praktiniai patarimai, 1999) shows changes in their awareness. Sumarizing
the analysis of the situation, one can state that there is a very
high prevalence level of violence against women, and the most
serious problem for women are domestic and sexual violence. At
present, there is quite a good established base of research results
and informational-educational materials. It is high time to take
practical actions now. References |
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