Population Council Knowledge Commons Momentum Population Council Newsletters 2008 Sexual and gender-based violence Population Council Follow this and additional works at: https://knowledgecommons.popcouncil.org/ series_newsletters_momentum How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! Recommended Citation "Sexual and gender-based violence," Momentum newsletter. New York: Population Council, 2008. This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the Population Council. NEWS FROM THE POPULATION COUNCIL MomentumSEPTEMBER 2008 Sexual and gender-based violence IN THIS ISSUE: REDUCING THE RISK OF HIV FROM RAPE INVOLVING MEN AS PARTNERS AGAINST VIOLENCE PROTECTING VULNERABLE GIRLS CONNECTING LEGAL AND MEDICAL CARE FOR RAPE VICTIMS SHARING WAYS TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE CONSIDER THIS: Percentage of women around the world who have been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in their lifetime: 331 Percentage of Tanzanian women who agree with the statement “Violence is a major problem in my life”: 252 Percentage of rural Ethiopian women who are abused MILLIONS OF WOMEN SUFFER EVERY YEAR physically or sexually by a husband or boyfriend: 711 from sexual and gender-based violence including Percentage of urban Bangladeshi women with a primary education physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Poor, uneducated, who experience violence from an intimate partner: 701 and young women are especially vulnerable. These women need not suffer this senseless cruelty. This issue of Momentum highlights Percentage of urban Bangladeshi women with higher education who Population Council projects that are helping to prevent such violence experience violence from an intimate partner: 321 and treat its survivors. To prevent sexual and gender-based violence, the Council and our partners have designed programs that help men Ratio of the likelihood of becoming HIV-positive: abused married change their attitudes about their relationships with women, encour- 3 women in India vs. married women not abused: 4:1 aging them to become women’s advocates rather than perpetrators Ratio of the likelihood of being abused: young HIV-positive women in of sexual abuse. By increasing access to critical services, Council- Tanzania vs. young HIV-negative women: 10:14 sponsored initiatives are helping victims of abuse prevent HIV infection and unwanted pregnancy. 1 World Health Organization. 2005. WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Thousands of survivors of abuse have benefited from the Violence. <www.who.int/gender/violence/who_multicountry_study/en/>. Accessed 15 August Council’s projects, and millions more will benefit as we share lessons 2008. learned through a wide network of organizations, spreading “best 2 Maman, Suzanne, et al. 2001. HIV and Partner Violence: Implications for HIV Voluntary counseling and testing programs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Washington, DC: Horizons Program. practices” across the developing world. 3 Silverman, Jay G., et al. 2008. “Intimate partner violence and HIV infection among married You can be part of these solutions to sexual and gender-based Indian women.” Journal of the American Medical Association 300(6): 703–710. violence by supporting the Council’s work. Your contributions help us 4 World Health Organization (WHO). 2003. “Intimate partner violence.” In Violence Prevention develop innovative, evidence-based programs like those featured in in South-East Asia: A Challenge for Public Health. New Delhi: WHO Regional Office for South- East Asia. <www.searo.who.int/LinkFiles/Disability,_Injury_Prevention_&_Rehabilitation_ this issue. partner.pdf.> Accessed 9 January 2004. COVER: SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES THIS PAGE: © LYNSEY ADDARIO/CORBIS 1 Reducing the risk of HIV from rape IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS gather outside the home of a young girl who was raped. In light of South Africa’s high HIV prevalence rate, this girl should be given access to medicine that can help prevent HIV transmission after rape. Unfortunately many doctors are unaware of the proper way to administer this treatment. Population Council researchers are collaborating with program and hospital managers to change policies and expand access to critical treatment. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/GETTY IMAGES THE PROBLEM Post-exposure return to the hospital for the initial visit, eliminating the need for this critical intervention. The prophylaxis (PEP) can help prevent remaining drugs never completed a second trip to the hospital. Council has also disseminated the HIV transmission after rape only their treatment. results of the program in articles if the first dose is taken within THE POTENTIAL After intro- and in briefings with government 72 hours of exposure to the virus THE PROGRESS Council duction of the program, the per- officials so that other groups can and 28 days of follow-up treatment researchers and partners in collabo- centage of women who received the duplicate our work. Because the are completed. Council research ration with hospital managers con- full 28-day regimen increased from improvements use only local profes- conducted in a rural hospital in ducted a two-day training program 15 percent to 55 percent, signifi- sionals and preexisting facilities, South Africa found that fewer than for health care providers on proto- cantly reducing the number of they can be applied to many differ- half the doctors interviewed were cols for effective PEP treatment. As women who may be infected with ent communities at low cost. aware of PEP’s time sensitivity. a result of the training, official hos- HIV after rape. The Council and its Partners: Rural AIDS and Development Only 15 percent of patients were pital policy now includes an early numerous partners are replicating Action Research Programme (RADAR); School given the full 28-day course of first dose of PEP and specifies that this model in nine sub-Saharan of Public Health of the University of the Witwatersrand; Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy drugs on their first hospital visit, rape survivors are to receive a com- African countries to multiply its Centre. Donor: United States Agency for so many women who could not plete 28-day supply of PEP at their impact, thereby expanding access to International Development (USAID). 2 3 Involving men as partners against violence IN INDIA, YOUNG MEN GATHER TO READ A COMIC BOOK developed by the Population Council. The comic book emphasizes treating women with respect. Books like this, in combination with posters and plays, are helping change young men’s attitudes about rape and sexual violence. ANIRBAN DATTA/POPULATION COUNCIL THE PROBLEM In many coun- men think and act in their rela- condoms; and reported fewer banners, and service and informa- tries, masculinity is characterized by tionships with women, Council episodes of partner violence. A tion booths. male sexual dominance, unequal researchers have expanded the young male participant said, “We gender attitudes and behaviors, and project to India. Using exercises used to think that, during sex, if a THE POTENTIAL The Council’s harassment or teasing of young and materials adapted from the woman does not cry then she is work in Brazil and India shows how women by men. Young men also Brazilian project, Council not satisfied, or we used bad words we can stop rape and sexual vio- feel pressure to prove their sexual researchers designed small-group when talking about girls. After the lence before it starts by developing prowess by having unsafe sex—fur- discussion sessions aimed at discussions, we realized that these culturally specific projects. With ther exacerbating a harmful situa- changing men’s attitudes about are forms of violence that we education and support, boys can tion by exposing them and their violence against women and were treating as customary acts.” grow into men who enter into sexual partners to HIV. reducing risky sexual behavior. Researchers are now implementing respectful, healthy relationships Early results indicate that the men a campaign to reinforce messages with women. THE PROGRESS After evaluat- who participated in the discussion about gender equality and HIV pre- Partners: Hope Worldwide; EngenderHealth. ing a gender equality campaign in groups began to talk to their vention. The campaign consists of Donors: President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Brazil that changed how young partners about sex and HIV; used street plays, posters, pamphlets, Relief (PEPFAR); USAID. 4 5 Protecting vulnerable girls A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN SOUTH AFRICA WANTS desperately to continue her education, but her 12-year-old sister was raped on the way to school. The girl’s fear of the walk across town may condemn her to a lifetime of poverty and illiteracy. The Population Council is working to create and maintain safe spaces so that girls can fully participate in their communities. TOMASZ TOMASZEWSKI/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC/GETTY IMAGES THE PROBLEM More than they felt safe or unsafe. Their maps the communities to work with examining ways to use this low-cost one-quarter of girls in South Africa revealed problems that even the police and school officials to tool and to replicate this project as report rape as their first sexual adults in their communities hadn’t improve safety and to create spaces part of girls’ protection and empow- experience. As a result, many girls seen. Not one of the girls between where girls could feel safe. erment strategies and policies in are afraid to leave their homes to 10 and 13 could identify a commu- other countries. attend school, visit the health cen- nity space in which she felt more THE POTENTIAL The results of ter, or access other resources in than “somewhat safe” from harass- the mapping project created an their community. ment or sexual assault. Traveling to awareness of the issue that mobi- and from school was a particularly lized South African communities to Partners: Crime Reduction in Schools THE PROGRESS The Council dangerous activity. Clinics, libraries, focus on creating safe spaces for Project (CRISP); KwaZulu-Natal Department asked South African girls ages and welfare offices also were con- girls, especially along major streets of Education; Isithunzi Development.