Sexual Violence Perpetration Research Articles

Pooled analysis of the association between food insecurity and violence against women: Evidence from low- and middle-income settings.

Intimate partner violence impacts relationships across the socioeconomic spectrum, nonetheless its prevalence is reported to be highest in areas that are most socio-economically deprived. Poverty has direct and indirect impacts on intimate partner violence (IPV) risk, however, one of the postulated pathways is through food insecurity. The aim of this paper is to describe the association between food insecurity (household hunger) and women's experiences, and men's perpetration, of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence in data from Africa and Asia. We conducted a pooled analysis of data from baseline interviews with men and women participating in six Violence Against Women prevention intervention evaluations and present a meta-analysis using mixed-effects Poisson regression models. Data were from South Africa (two studies), Ghana, Rwanda (two data sets), and Afghanistan and comprised interviews with 6545 adult women and 8104 adult men. We assessed food insecurity with the Household Hunger Scale. Overall, 27.9% of women experienced moderate food insecurity (range from 11.1% to 44.4%), while 28.8% of women reported severe food insecurity (range from 7.1 to 54.7%). Overall food insecurity was associated with an increased likelihood of women experiencing physical intimate partner violence, adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) = 1.40 (95% CI = 1.23 to 1.60) for moderate food insecurity and aIRR = 1.73 (95% CI = 1.41 to 2.12) for severe food insecurity. It was also associated with an increased likelihood of men reporting perpetration of physical IPV, with aIRR = 1.24 (95% CI = 1.11 to 1.39) for moderate food insecurity and aIRR = 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02 to 1.37) for severe food insecurity. Food insecurity was not significantly associated with women's experience of non-partner sexual violence, aIRR = 1.27 (95% CI = 0.93 to 1.74) for moderate or severe food insecurity vs none, nor men's perpetration of non-partner sexual violence aIRR = 1.02 (95% CI = 0.90 to 1.15). Food insecurity is associated with increased physical intimate partner violence perpetration and experience reported by men and women. It was not associated with non-partner sexual violence perpetration, although there was some evidence to suggest an elevated risk of non-partner sexual violence among food-insecure women. Prevention programming needs to embrace food insecurity as a driver of intimate partner violence perpetration, however, non-partner sexual violence prevention needs to be shaped around a separate understanding of its drivers.

"I Don't Want to Be Known as a Weak Man": Insights and Rationalizations by Male Students on Men's Sexual Violence Perpetration against Female Students on Campus.

Understanding how men view rape is foundational for rape prevention, but it is not always possible to interview men who rape, especially in a college campus context. We explore male students' insights into and rationalizations for why men on campus perpetrate sexual violence (SV) against female students by analysing qualitative focus group discussion data with male students. Men contended that SV is a demonstration of men's power over women, yet they did not perceive sexual harassment of female students as serious enough to constitute SV and appeared to be tolerant of it. Men perceived "sex for grades" as exploitative and rooted in the power asymmetry between privileged male lecturers and vulnerable female students. They were disdainful of non-partner rape, describing it as acts exclusively perpetrated by men from outside campus. Most men felt entitled to have sex with their girlfriends, although an alternative discourse challenged both this entitlement and the dominant masculinity linked to it. Gender-transformative work with male students is needed to support them to think and do things differently while they are on campus.

Knowledge and Experience of Sexual Violence among Female Adolescents in Public Schools in Enugu State during the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Sexual violence among female adolescents is a pervasive problem. This is even worse in periods of unrest such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which heighten the vulnerability of these female adolescents’ victims to the potential perpetrators of sexual violence. This study assessed the knowledge and experience of sexual violence amongst female adolescents in public schools in Enugu State, Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three hundred twenty-five adolescents (aged 10–19 years with a mean age of 12.8 ±2.8) female school students were purposively recruited in this cross-sectional study to complete a scale designed to measure the knowledge and experience of sexual violence among female adolescents. Findings showed a high (90.8%) knowledge level of sexual violence among adolescents. The majority of the perpetrators were their uncles (40.4%) and cousins (28.6%). Among 9.8% of the participants who had forced to have sex, about two-thirds (65.6%) have been raped 2 to 5 times. A significant difference was noted only between the respondent’s class levels and their knowledge of sexual violence (p < .05) with higher classes having better knowledge. Female adolescents showed a good knowledge level about sexual violence, which might explain the low prevalence of sexual violence in the sample population. The study also provides evidence that females are most at risk of sexual violence from closer relations during times of crisis. Thus, these study findings add evidence to the literature that would guide policymakers, health, and social workers toward making campaigns and interventions that would prevent female adolescent sexual violence.

How aware are college students of sexual harassment and assault in Turkey?

ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to examine college students’ views on sexual harassment and assault. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 135 students (51.1% of women and 48.9% of men) from a state university in Turkey. Participants ages ranged from 18 to 27 (M = 21.69 years, SD = 2.49). Findings obtained from the content analysis show that the participants were not able to define sexual harassment and assault accurately and that their definitions included stereotypes regarding sexual harassment and assault. Other findings of the study show that participants had low awareness of online sexual harassment and did not have enough information about appropriate reporting avenues. According to these findings, there is a need for comprehensive prevention and education initiatives to raise awareness of this issue among Turkish college students. Practice impact statement Emerging adulthood (ages 18–24) is a particularly risky time for perpetration of sexual violence. This study draws attention to need for awareness raising among Turkish college students of the nature and risks for sexual violence. It is also important for professionals working with college students and university administrators to have in-depth information on students’ experiences of sexual assault, and preferred reporting avenues, to ensure there are tailored interventions and responses to support victims.

Comparison Legal Perspective of Criminal Sanctions for Sexual Crime Against Children in Indonesia

In Indonesia, protection for victims of sexual violence against children is inadequate, because the sanctions regulations are not oriented towards protecting victims. The purpose of this research is to analyze and find regulations on criminal sanctions in cases of sexual crimes against children in Indonesia that have not been based on justice for victims, to analyze and find weaknesses in criminal sanctions regulations in cases of sexual crimes against children in the perspective of victim protection in Indonesia. This type of research is normative juridical, and to solve research problems secondary data is used which is obtained by conducting literature studies. The results of the study were then analyzed using a qualitative descriptive method. The results of the study show that criminal sanctions in cases of sexual crimes against children in Indonesia have not been based on justice, because criminal sanctions that can be imposed are only imprisonment and fines where if a fine is paid, the money goes into the state treasury which results in the recovery of children in victims of violence psychologically and materially are not assisted in the payment of the fine. There is no regulation regarding the amount of restitution that must be given to victims of sexual violence and is still limited to the realm of prosecution of perpetrators of sexual violence against children, not preventive efforts.

Dyadic effects of minority stress and problematic alcohol use on sexual intimate partner violence in same sex couples.

Little is known about the factors that facilitate the perpetration of sexual violence within the context of same-sex romantic relationships (sexual intimate partner violence perpetration [S-IPV]). The present study sought to identify the effects of external and internal minority stress and problematic drinking on perpetration of S-IPV within a dyadic framework. A community-based sample of 137 sexual and gender minority (SGM) couples (N = 274; 59 male assigned at birth and 78 female assigned at birth couples) completed self-report surveys about minority stressors, alcohol use, and S-IPV perpetration. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were conducted within an actor-partner interdependence framework. This approach accounted for both actor effects (e.g., how much one's S-IPV perpetration is predicted by their own risk factors) and partner effects (e.g., how much one's S-IPV perpetration is influenced by their partner's risk factors). Both Actor external minority stress and internal minority stress were positively associated with Actor S-IPV perpetration. Actor problematic drinking was not associated with Actor S-IPV perpetration; however, Partner problematic drinking was positively associated with Actor S-IPV perpetration. Observed effects were robust above the addition of other risk factors. This research innovatively extricates S-IPV perpetration from other forms of IPV and indicates that Actor minority stress and Partner problematic drinking increase S-IPV likelihood. Results serve as a starting point for development of etiological models to inform the design of culturally-informed interventions to reduce S-IPV among SGM couples.

Implementation of Criminal Actions in Cases of Sexual Harassment of Children

&lt;p&gt;A criminal act is an act that is not in line with the law, is committed because of someone's fault, and is considered an act against the law. Criminal acts that are currently rife are criminal acts due to cases of sexual violence against children. Basically children are a nation's asset that must be given a good understanding for their growth and development instead of being damaged by problems of sexual violence. Every perpetrator of sexual violence that occurs to children is subject to criminal punishment that has been regulated in several laws in Indonesia. However, the main problem is that the appropriate punishment for the behavior is not yet optimal. It is felt that protection for victims has not been carried out optimally.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Keyword:&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;Crime, Law, Sexual violence, Children, Protection&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;

"Wherever There's Men, it can Happen": Constructions of Violence Against Women by Young Adults in Ireland.

Given the growing concern about perpetration of violence against women (VAW) amongst young adults, this article examines how a sample (n = 27) of Irish young adults (18-24 years) construct the term VAW. Participants drew on personal experiences to describe the term and were cognisant of the gendered perpetration of domestic, psychological, and sexual violence. A group of participants, however, constructed narrow understandings of VAW that did not align with their routinized experiences of unwanted touching and sexual microaggressions. We call for initiatives to enable young adults to name and link together different forms of VAW.

An RCT of Sources of Strength High School Primary Prevention Program on Sexual Violence Perpetration and Victimization and Dismissiveness of Sexual Harassment

Sexual violence among adolescents is a major concern. This study examined the impact of the peer-led Sources of Strength program on gender-based violence and attitudes dismissive of sexual harassment. Twenty high schools in Colorado were randomized to intervention (n = 11) or waitlist control (n = 9); students (N = 6461; 9th–11th graders) were surveyed four times (2017–2019); 45% Hispanic, 38% White, 2% Black, and 12% Multiracial; 78% straight/heterosexual, 11% bisexual, 4% questioning, 2% gay/lesbian, and 4% “other” sexuality. Baseline equivalence was not established for most outcomes. No direct intervention effects were found; however, self-reported exposure to Sources messaging was associated with small decreases in sexual harassment perpetration, forced sexual contact perpetration and victimization, and dismissiveness of sexual harassment in Year 2. Higher fidelity indicators were associated with exposure. School psychologists play key roles in identification and implementation of prevention programs, so suggestions to maximize implementation fidelity are provided. Impact Statement This study examined the impact of a peer-led intervention on reducing multiple forms of on help-seeking and connections to caring adults they were less likely to dismiss sexual harassment and less likely to perpetrate sexual violence. School psychologists and school administrators should implement programming to fidelity and ensure the school climate supports programming through policies and practices.

Social Media Communication About Sexual Violence May Backfire: Online Experiment with Young Men

Sexual violence harms millions of individuals each year in the United States. Survivors of sexual violence endure long-term hardships such as significant financial setbacks, physical and mental health consequences, academic challenges, and stunted career achievement. Digital feminist activism (DFA) has created space online where women can disclose experiences of sexual violence. Research thus far has been limited to documenting the existence and value of DFA for those who participate and has not addressed whether DFA can influence a key demographic for prevention, young men. We conducted an experiment to examine the impact of DFA on college-aged men’s reactance to messaging, rape myth acceptance, knowledge about severity, and susceptibility to perpetrate sexual violence. University men (n=230, 18–29 years old) were randomized to one of three conditions: (1) tweets from women challenging rape myths, (2) tweets from women providing information about sexual violence harms, or (3) no exposure control. Tweets challenging rape myths or providing information did not impact rape myth perceptions, knowledge, or susceptibility. Participants had greater reactance (unintended outcome) to tweets challenging rape myths, and subsequently higher rape myth acceptance and lower knowledge about the severity of sexual violence. Rape myth acceptance was associated with susceptibility to perpetrate sexual violence overall. Our finding that some forms of DFA have a negative, indirect influence among college-aged males highlights important unintended consequences and the need for more efficacious communication to prevent sexual violence perpetration.

Cognição e psicopatia em autores de violência sexual encarcerados

Abstract Objective: The objective was to investigate if perpetrators of sexual offenses against children and adolescents with and without psychopathy differ regarding cognitive aspects. Method: A total of 30 male inmates participated in the study, divided into two groups: one that included psychopaths and the other with non-psychopaths. The instruments used were: protocol for collecting information on criminal court records; Rorschach test according to the Performance Assessment System, considering the cognitive variables and the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised Scale. Results: The results indicate that psychopaths exhibit greater impairment in the organization of thoughts, as well as greater vulnerability to the general personality disruption. The best regression model showed that 55% of psychopathy can be explained by a greater propensity to a general personality disorder (EII-3 β: 4.77; p-value &lt; 0.001), associated with the predisposition to be arrested at a young age (β: -0.26; p-value = 0.004). Conclusion: The efficiency of the R-PAS is observed in the identification of cognitive failures in psychopath perpetrators of sexual violence and perpetrators of sexual violence, and its usefulness is enhanced, when associated with other behavioral measures in the identification of this type of personality profile.

Perpetrators of Sexual Violence against Minors in Casamance (Senegal)

Introduction: The causes of sexual delinquency against children are multifactorial and the motivations that drive the perpetrators of sexual assault are diverse. Nowadays, there is still no consensus on a single portrait of child sex offenders and studies that focus on sex offenders are still rare in Senegal and Africa. Objectives: To determine the profile of the perpetrators and to identify the circumstances of sexual violence against minors in Casamance. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive and analytical study from April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2019 was conducted. The study population was made up of perpetrators of sexual violence against minors whose legal proceedings were dealt with at the Ziguinchor High Court. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed using Epi InfoTM 7 software. Results: A total of 106 cases of sexual violence against minors were collected for 113 aggressors and 106 victims. Rape accounted for 66.03% of sexual violence. Male aggressors were 98.23%. Female victims accounted for 95.28%. The average age of the attackers was 32.52 years (±13.68). Offenders over the age of 35 committed the most rape (p = 0.043). The average age of the victims was 12.62 years (±3.42). Victims aged ten and over (p = 0.015) and who had a low level of education (p = 0.016) were more exposed to rape. The assault took place during the day (65.71%) and at the home of the aggressor (62.26%). Victims knew their attackers (84.47%). Victims were assaulted more than once by the same assailant (40.57%). Those aged 10 years and over (p = 0.0037) and who knew their attackers (p = 0.014) were more at risk of being repeatedly sexually abused. Conclusion: In Senegal, sexual violence against minors is perpetrated by young adult men, single, with little or no education and exercising low-income professions. Rape is the type of aggression preferred by perpetrators, most of whom were known to their victims. The policy to fight sexual violence against children must integrate sex education at school and community level, public awareness, monitoring of child sex offenders and possibly, their medico-psychological care.

Police Violence: Reducing the Harms of Policing Through Public Health-Informed Alternative Response Programs.

Police violence is a public health issue in need of public health solutions. Reducing police contact through public health-informed alternative response programs separate from law enforcement agencies is one strategy to reduce police perpetration of physical, emotional, and sexual violence. Such programs may improve health outcomes, especially for communities that are disproportionately harmed by the police, such as Black, Latino/a, Native American, and transgender communities; nonbinary residents; people who are drug users, sex workers, or houseless; and people who experience mental health challenges. The use of alternative response teams is increasing across the United States. This article provides a public health rationale and framework for developing and implementing alternative response programs informed by public health principles of care, equity, and prevention. We conclude with recommendations for public health researchers and practitioners to guide inquiries into policing as a public health problem and expand the use of public health-informed alternative response programs. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(S1):S37-S42. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307107).

Adverse Childhood Experiences: a study addressing the Perpetrators of sexual violence

Adverse Childhood Experiences: a study addressing the Perpetrators of sexual violence

Upaya Penangulangan Kekerasan Seksual Terhadap Anak di Aceh Barat dalam Persepektif Hukum Islam

This article examines efforts to tackle sexual violence against children in West Aceh from the perspective of Islamic law. This writing aims to find out the problem of sexual violence against children and how the proposed solution is based on the view of Islamic law. The data collection method in this article is using library research. Secondary data was obtained by studying the rules and regulations and literature related to this article. Cases of sexual violence against children in 2021 West Aceh Regency based on data from the Integrated Service Center for the Empowerment of Women and Children (P2TP2A) West Aceh had 5 cases of sexual violence. The percentage of cases of sexual violence is relatively high, namely 27.7 percent of the total 18 cases of violence against children. The sanctions that can be imposed on perpetrators of sexual violence against children in Islam are jarimah hudud, jarimah qishas and diat, and jarimah ta'zir. Special sanctions for perpetrators of child sexual violence can be subject to criminal sanctions in the form of Takzir whose determination of punishment is the right of ulil amri. The countermeasures that can be carried out are by socializing the 4P program (Assistance, Protection, Imposition of Sanctions, and Recovery) to the community.

Systematic Review : Kekerasan Seksual Terhadap Anak : Bagaimana Peran Ahli Forensik?

Cases of immoral crimes such as sexual violence never show an end. It is not only adults who are the targets of the perpetrators, but also children who are the targets of their crimes. There is no longer a safe and comfortable zone, be it a social environment or even a school. Perpetrators of sexual violence are not only strangers, even relatives to their own family can be the mastermind behind their crimes. This writing has the aim of knowing how urgency an act of proof is in a criminal case. Article 184 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code states that valid evidence consists of: witness statements, expert statements, letters, instructions and statements of the defendant. The important role of an expert in providing information and proving criminal cases relating to the body and soul are regulated in the criminal procedural law evidentiary system. So that it can produce conclusions and penalties that are relevant to the type of crime committed, both in the form of prison sentences and fines.

Tpks Law as an Effort to Prevent Relations of Power in Sexual Violence in Religious Education Institutions

&lt;p&gt;Cases of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools are currently a public concern. The existence of vulnerability to women as victims of criminal acts of sexual violence is caused by several factors, such as the occurrence of power relations in the pesantren environment. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the construction of sexuality, social, knowledge, and power relations that have an important influence on the persistence of patriarchal discourse in society, especially in religious education institutions or Islamic boarding schools. In analyzing the problems in this study, the author uses Michel Foucault's theory of power relations with the literature study data search method. The results show that asymmetric power relations are formed and abused to carry out various acts of sexual violence that are controlled under various pretexts of the principle of obedience that must be carried out by a santri against his kiai, gus, or ustaz. In addition, various forms of religious norms, stereotypes, and stigmatization that exist also perpetuate the power of knowledge that is used as a tool for sexual harassment in Islamic boarding schools. For this reason, various efforts are needed to prevent acts of sexual violence, such as the existence of sexual education in the pesantren curriculum, the post for complaints of sexual violence, and the role of national and regional governments to oversee the case. In this case, the ratification of the TPKS Law can also provide fresh air to ensnare perpetrators of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools.&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Profiles of Childhood Victimization as Predictors of Sexual Aggression and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration.

The study utilized a latent profile analysis to evaluate distinct combinations of men's childhood victimization experiences and their communal predictive ability for sexual aggression (SA) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Men living in the United States (N = 399) completed assessments of emotional, physical, and sexual childhood victimization, as well as SA and IPV toward women. The results indicated that members of profiles characterized by moderate to high frequencies of childhood victimization-especially sexual victimization-were at increased risk of SA and IPV perpetration. Contrary to expectations, adult- versus peer-perpetrated victimization did not appear to substantially alter risk of perpetration.

Hostile home environment predicting early adolescent sexual harassment perpetration and potential school-related moderators.

Using family systems theory, this longitudinal study of middle school youth examined the effects of abuse, family conflict, and sibling aggression on sexual harassment perpetration (N=1563; Mage 11.2, 51% boys; 39% Hispanic, 29% Black, and 19% White). Boys reported more sexual harassment than girls; perpetration increased for both. The association between a hostile home environment and sexual harassment perpetration was moderated by school experiences. School belonging buffered effects of hostile home environment on baseline sexual harassment perpetration for boys who experienced abuse and White adolescents with high sibling aggression. Academic grades moderated change in perpetration over time, but effects differed by sex and race. It is important to understand how early violence exposures relate to sexual violence perpetration during early adolescence.

Knowledge of sexual consent as a protective factor against sexual violence perpetration among first-year college men: a moderation analysis.

This study examined whether knowledge of sexual consent buffers the relationship between risk factors for sexual violence (SV) and SV perpetration among first-year college men. The study data were drawn from a longitudinal study with 1144 first-year college men. A series of generalized linear models were conducted to examine whether knowledge of sexual consent moderated the relationship between SV risk factors and SV perpetration. Knowledge of sexual consent moderated the effect of hypermasculinity (P < 0.001), binge drinking (P < 0.001), rape-supportive social norms (P = 0.007) and peer support for SV (P < 0.001) such that there was a positive association between risk factors and SV perpetration among those with lower, but not higher, knowledge of sexual consent. Knowledge of sexual consent did not significantly moderate the relationship between SV perpetration and outcome expectancies for non-consensual sex (P = 0.387) and pornography use (P = 0.494). Knowledge of sexual consent may counteract risk factors for SV perpetration among young college men. The findings highlight the need for consent education to be incorporated in youth comprehensive sexual education to increase knowledge of sexual consent prior to college and campus-based SV prevention programming delivered to college students.