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50%
many forms (see Box 1, page 2). Violence against
women, whether perpetrated by husbands or others, sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; and
and whether it happens inside or outside the home, an increased risk of gynecological disorders and
undermines womens health and well-being. It can pregnancy complications, including serious harm to
of women surveyed in
also have far-reaching and long-term consequences the mother and fetus.4
Alexandria Governorate
said they experienced for the womens children and for society.2
physical violence by their
husbands. Today, patriarchal norms continue to relegate many
Egyptian women to a subordinate position relative to
men, providing fertile ground for mens abusive and Figure 1
damaging behaviors at home and in public. Harass-
Percent of Ever-Married Women Ages 15-49
Policies and programs ment of women in public has escalated to the point
Who Have Experienced Spousal Violence, by
aimed at addressing where Egypts national economy may be affected: A
Type of Violence, Egypt 2005
gender-based violence recent World Bank study showed that 15 percent of
must correct the imbal- men and 12 percent of women in Cairo who oppose
ances in rights and power-
the idea of women working outside the home cite 36
sharing between males 33
and females in Egyptian potential sexual harassment as the reason.3
families and society.
This policy brief presents an analysis of the 2005 21
18 18
and 2008 Egypt Demographic and Health Sur-
10
veys and the latest research on spousal violence 7
conducted in the Alexandria Governorate by the 4
The United Nations defines violence against women as any In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a reso-
act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to lution calling for an intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms
result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffer- of violence against women and for a coordinated database
ing to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or on the extent, nature, and consequences of violence against
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or women, and on the impact and effectiveness of policies and
in private life. programs for combating such violence. The database (www.
The terms gender-based violence and violence against un.org/esa/vawdatabase) compiles information on individual
women are often used interchangeably. Technically, the countries and serves as a forum to exchange ideas about how
termgender-based violence refers to violence directed best to tackle the problem at all levels, from informing and
against a person because of his or her gender and expecta- helping individuals and communities to adopting supportive
tions of his or her role in a society or culture. But it most often national policies.
is used when describing violence against women because
women are far more likely than men to experience discrimina- The information gathered in this database includes a number of
tion or abuse. Violence against women can take many forms, promising practices that countries have developed to address
including honor killing; domestic violence; harassment of
violence against women. In 2004, for example, legislators in
women and girls in public, in schools, and in the workplace;
trafficking of women and girls; and female genital cutting and
Spain passed Integrated Protection Measures Against Gender
other harmful traditional practices, such as child marriage. Violence, which was developed with strong involvement from
womens organizations. The law brought together and modi-
Similarly, the terms domestic violence and spousal vio-
fied articles of several Spanish laws (such as the Penal Law, the
lence are often used interchangeably and refer to husbands
Criminal Law, the Employment Act, and the Workers Statute Act)
as the perpetrators, the most common case. Domestic vio-
lence, a more general term, can also include abuse of other and included provisions for education and training of health care
family members such as children. Although women can be providers. And the government of Denmark has recently allo-
violent toward their husbands, the burden of spousal violence cated the equivalent of US$6.5 million to implement a three-year
is borne overwhelmingly by women. national strategy to combat intimate partner violence.6
The common types of spousal violence that women experi-
In Malaysia, womens crisis centers offer counseling and legal
ence are:
advice through a telephone hotline or face-to-face. If requested
Physical violence, including threats of physical violence by the woman, the center will also counsel the abuser that
and injuries resulting from the threat. domestic violence is not a solution to marital problems, and that
Sexual violence, including sexual harassment and rape. the violence can be a crime. The trained counselors are drawn
Emotional abuse, including being shouted at, insulted, put from various ethnic groups so that the service can cater to a
down, and restricted from visiting family and friends. wide range of clients. These centers also help women (and their
children) stay in temporary shelters. If needed, staff from the
Economic abuse, including being forced to work, to give
center accompany women to the police and hospitals, and to
income to the husband, or to borrow money.
other agencies such as the welfare department or the courts.
Sources: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 48/104, Declaration on
the Elimination of Violence Against Women (December 1993); and UNIFEMs
At government hospitals, the One-Stop Crisis Centers handle
Virtual Knowledge Center to End Violence Against Women and Girls, Defining cases of domestic violence. The center arranges for a medical
Violence Against Women and Girls, accessed at www.endvawnow.org, on July examination and treatment, and hospital social workers and
8, 2010.
volunteers from womens organizations are available to provide
counseling and coordinate further assistance.7
Alexandria Study Reveals Higher Physical violence. One-half of women in the Alexandria study
said that they experienced physical violence by their husbands at
Rates of Spousal Violence some point in their married life, and one-third mentioned a recent
Nearly three-quarters of women visiting family health centers in experience. The most common forms of physical violence were
the Alexandria Governorate have experienced spousal violence slapping and beating, pushing and grasping hair, and kicking and
in their lifetimes, according to a recent study conducted by the dragging on the floor. One-half of the women who experienced
Suzanne Mubarak Centre (see Figure 3). About one-half of the physical violence reported being injured as a result; among those
women who reported ever experiencing spousal violence were who were injured during the previous year, 22 percent were
subject to two to three types of violence, with emotional abuse injured three or more times.
and physical violence being the most common.
Figure 3
Figure 2 Percent of Married Women Ages 15-49 Who Have Ever
Percent of Married Women Ages 15-49 Who Experienced Experienced Spousal Violence, Alexandria Governorate
Spousal Violence During the Previous Year, by Wealth 2010*
Quintile*, Egypt 2005
71
42 40
26 25
23 50
12 43
37
Ever Experienced Experienced During the Previous Year Emotional Physical Economic Sexual
Abuse Violence Abuse Violence
*Wealth quintiles (five groups of equal size) were created using an index of household
assets. The first, third, and fifth quintiles are shown here. *Data refer to women visiting public health clinics.
Source: Egypt Demographic and Health Survey 2005: table 17.5. Source: Suzanne Mubarak Regional Centre for Womens Health and Development.
Figure 4 Figure 5
Percent of Married Women Ages 15-49 Who Experienced Percent of Married Women Ages 15-49 Who Experienced
Spousal Violence, by Womens Age at First Marriage, Spousal Violence During the Previous Year, by Length of
Egypt 2005 Their Marriage, Alexandria Governorate 2010*
40 40 Percent
70
31 60 Emotional Abuse
25 25 25 50
19 Physical Violence
40
14
30
20 Sexual Violence
10
<15 15-19 20-24 25+
0
Age at First Marriage <5 5-9 10-19 20+
Ever Experienced Experienced During the Previous Year Length of Marriage (years)
Source: Eman M. Monazea and Ekram M. Abdel Khalek, Domestic Violence Against *Data refer to women visiting public health clinics.
Egyptian Women and its Impact on Reproductive Indicators. Source: Suzanne Mubarak Regional Centre for Womens Health and Development.
70 69
66
57
Figure 7
Percent of Married Women Ages 15-49 Who Agree That a
42 Husband Is Justified in Beating His Wife, by Reasons for
Beating and Wealth Quintile*, Egypt 2008
38
31 55
30 30 52
40
21 33
18
14 20
11 9 3
7 1
Goes Out Neglects Refuses Argues Burns the Food
Emotional Abuse Physical Violence Sexual Violence Without the Children to Have Sex With Him
Telling Him With Him
Illiterate/Read and Write Primary/Preparatory
Poorest Quintile Richest Quintile
Secondary/Diploma University/Post Graduate
*Wealth quintiles (five groups of equal size) were created using an index of household
*Data refer to women visiting public health clinics. assets. The first and fifth quintiles are shown here.
Source: Suzanne Mubarak Regional Centre for Womens Health and Development. Source: Egypt Demographic and Health Survey 2008: table 3.14.
Source: Eman M. Monazea and Ekram M. Abdel Khalek, Domestic Violence High in
Egypt, Affecting Womens Reproductive Health.
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