Hello! I wanted to post some information here about domestic violence as I did not get a chance to engage in a discussion about this at our last movie screening.

International Women
In the 2005 World Health Organization Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence, the local rates in ten countries of ever-partnered women who had experienced violence from an intimate partner was:
• 69 % Peru (province), 51% Peru (city)
• 71% Ethiopia (province)
• 62% Bangladesh (province), 53% Bangladesh (city)
• 56% Tanzania (province), 41% Tanzania (city)
• 47% Thailand (province), 41% Thailand (city)
• 46% Samoa
• 37% Brazil (province), 29% Brazil (city)
• 36% Namibia (city)
• 24% Serbia and Montenegro (city)
• 15% Japan (city)

At least one out of every three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her. (UNIFEM website)

It is estimated that worldwide, one in five women will become a victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.

In many societies, the legal system and community attitudes add to the trauma that rape survivors experience. Women are often held responsible for the violence against them, and in many places laws contain loopholes which allow the perpetrators to act with impunity. In a number of countries, a rapist can go free under the Penal Code if he proposes to marry the victim

U.S. Statistics
Female Victims of Violence Report, September 2009

Violent crime rates are down, including intimate partner violence/homicides

In 2008 females age 12 or older experienced about 552,000 nonfatal violent victimizations (rape/sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated or simple assault) by an intimate partner (a current or former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend) (table 1). In the same year, men experienced 101,000 nonfatal violent victimizations by an intimate partner.

The rate of intimate partner victimizations for females was 4.3 victimizations per 1,000 females age 12 or older. The equivalent rate of intimate partner violence against males was 0.8 victimizations per 1,000 males age 12 or older.

In 2008, 72% of the intimate partner violence against males and 49% of the intimate partner violence against females was reported to police.

About 99% of the intimate partner violence against females in 2008 was committed by male offenders. About 83% of the intimate partner violence against males was committed by female offenders in 2008.

Females made up 70% of victims killed by an intimate partner in 2007, a proportion that has changed very little since 1993.

Females were killed by intimate partners at twice the rate of males. In 2007 the rate of intimate partner homicide for females was 1.07 per 100,000 female residents compared to 0.47 per 100,000 male residents.

Females are generally murdered by people they know. In 64% of female homicide cases in 2007, females were killed by a family member or intimate partner. In 2007, 24% of female homicide victims were killed by a spouse or ex-spouse; 21% were killed by a boyfriend or girlfriend; and 19% by another family member. In an additional 25% of cases in 2007, females were killed by others they knew. An estimated 10% of female murder victims were killed by a stranger

One in five rape or sexual assaults against females (20%) was committed by an intimate partner.

Four out of five (80%) of the rapes against females were committed by males.

Female victims of stalking were significantly more likely to be stalked by a male (67%) than by a female (24%) offender.

Females were at higher risk of stalking victimization than males. During the study period, females experienced 20 stalking victimizations per 1,000 females age 18 or older. The rate of stalking victimization for males was approximately 7 per 1,000 males age 18 or older.

A 2003 report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the costs of intimate partner violence in the United States alone exceed US$5.8 billion per year.

There are some really good quotations and recommendations for action in the WHO report as well. Here's a link to the report: http://www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/en/

If any of you have any questions or anything let me know!