Victims Of Violence Research Articles

Proximity, Family Lore, and False Claims to an Algonquin Identity

This article examines the type of family lore that leads white Canadians and Americans to claim Indigenous identities. Using a case-study approach, I demonstrate how 2000 descendants of a French-Canadian couple, born in the early 1800s near Montréal, joined one of the largest land claims in Canadian history as “Algonquins”. The tools of critical settler family history provide the necessary theoretical scaffolding to unpack how genealogical and geographical proximity to Indigenous people in the past are the bases for the family lore that propelled these individuals to become card-carrying, voting members of the land claim. Despite continued opposition to their inclusion by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, the only federally recognized Algonquin community involved in the land claim, these fake Algonquins remained potential land claim beneficiaries for over two decades, until an independent tribunal finally removed them in 2023. Family lore resolves the crisis in the family: no longer the colonizers responsible for Indigenous displacement and dispossession, white pretendians become the victims of settler colonial violence.

Social work research from a gender perspective into intimate partner violence against older women in Spain

ABSTRACT Intimate partner violence against older women is a hidden problem in Spain, which needs the involvement of institutions, professionals and families. This research aimed to shed light on social workers’ practices, and how they propose to perform ethical, efficient social work with older women who have been victims of intimate partner violence. In this descriptive, qualitative and exploratory study, we have compiled the expert voices of various social workers from urban and rural areas of Spain using a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The results reveal the role of the family and social workers in early detection, together with the need to provide a more efficient professional response, and to create specific resources and devices to provide comprehensive, individualised solutions for each woman.

Violence Reduction Units: What is a public health approach?

The World Health Organization (WHO) (2017: para 3), illustrate that a public health approach to reducing violence involves ‘improving the health and safety of all individuals by addressing underlying factors that increase the likelihood that an individual will become a victim or perpetrator of violence… programmes for primary prevention of violence… are designed to expose a broad segment of a population to prevention measures to reduce and prevent violence at a population-level’. These approaches to violence reduction are not a new concept, but they are becoming increasingly popular in dealing with the increasing the threat, exposure, and fear of violence in the UK. Serious Violence among all ages groups in England and Wales has significantly increased, increasing by almost 12% since 2022, nearly returning to pre-COVID-19 figures (Violence Research Group, 2023). This paper explores what is meant by adopting a public health approach to violence reduction, demonstrates how violence is a worldwide public health issue, and outlines how this underpins the recent Violence Reduction Unit initiatives in the UK. This paper provides important context for the violence prevention and reduction intervention focused papers in this special edition.

Researching gender-based violence remotely during a pandemic: challenges, opportunities and methodological implications

There has been increased awareness of the unique challenges faced by those researching gender-based violence (GBV) in recent years. While much of the literature has rightly focused on the needs of participants (as victim/survivors), less has been written around the needs of researchers. Yet we know that researching GBV can have both positive and negative impacts on researchers (Nikischer, 2019) and it has recently been recommended that researchers have access to clinical supervision when regularly exposed to traumatic material (Williamson et al, 2020). This article draws on reflections from research carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the reasons why victims of domestic abuse and/or sexual violence may withdraw from the criminal justice process. The research team were provided with independent clinical supervision by a qualified therapist with expertise in interpersonal abuse throughout the duration of the project. Analysis of the researchers’ reflections suggest that while the move to remote research during the pandemic created opportunities in terms of flexibility there were additional emotional challenges to those experienced pre-pandemic. Importantly, this exploratory article shares reflections on the value of clinical supervision for addressing these challenges and recommends that all GBV researchers have access to this vital resource.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION ORDER APPLICATION GAPS AS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The article examines the main gaps of the implementation of the new version of the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence, which entered into force in Lithuania on the 1st of July 2023, and its accompanying legislation. The topic analysed in the article is of great relevance today, because the number of criminal offences related to domestic violence in Lithuania is increasing. Domestic violence is defined as any form of physical, emotional, sexual or psychological abuse, it is a violation of human rights. The new version of the Law on Protection Against Domestic Violence introduced a new concept called the Domestic Violence Protection Order, which is a preventive protection measure designed to protect a victim of domestic violence, and which obliges abuser to move temporarily from the place of residence. This is an important step towards creating a secured society, however, there is a lack of information addressed to the problems of the implementation of Domestic Violence Protection Order in Lithuania in the context of the protection of human rights. It is therefore reasonable to investigate what problems are faced by police officers when issuing a domestic violence order and by the courts when dealing with complaints about compliance with the terms of the order issued. Thus, the object of the investigation is the Domestic Violence Protection Order. The aim of the article is to investigate the Domestic Violence Protection Order application gaps as a violation of human rights. The Objectives of the study are 1) To explore the concept of domestic violence and its legal regulation; 2) To carry out a case study of Lithuanian court practice of the Domestic Violence Protection Order application problems. The methods used for the investigation: analysis of literature and legislation and a case study of a court decision. To fulfil the purpose of the research, a specific case of court practice was analysed. In this case even several violations committed by police officers when issuing a domestic violence order for a person and checking the person's compliance with the terms of the domestic violence order were recorded and analysed in the court decision. It was found that despite police officers play an important role in ensuring the safety of the public, in some cases they decide without analysing and investigating the factual circumstances, without giving reasons and legal arguments. This creates several problems in terms of human rights protection. Thus, police officers in some cases violate the rights of the violent person and this highlights the problems faced by police officers when issuing a Domestic Violence Protection Order and by the courts when dealing with complaints about compliance with the terms of the order issued. A special attention of Lithuanian legislators should be given to these gaps of Domestic Violence Protection Order application as they can lead to the violation of human rights.

Silences of Memory: Liberator Sexual Assault in the East at the End of World War II

ABSTRACT Allied accounts of the liberation of Jewish survivors of Nazi camps and forced marches near the end of World War II highlight the long-awaited release of prisoners from captivity and the threat of annihilation. Missing from most accounts, however, are the voices of women whose victimization did not end with the arrival of their liberators. This article examines the phenomenon of sexual violence at liberation, specifically, assaults committed by Soviet soldiers against Jewish women survivors of Nazi camps. It posits that most accounts of camp liberation contain a memory void, that is, a space in historical narratives that obscures events or actors that are an ill fit with the dominant collective memory. This work fills this gendered memory void with the voices of Jewish women survivors and witnesses and seeks to construct a more nuanced account of liberation in the East. It draws on testimonies and memoirs which reveal that sexual violence against Jewish survivors has commonalities and differences with the mass rapes committed by the Soviet army against non-Jewish German women. The voices of Jewish women confirm that Soviet troops often viewed the fact that women had survived Nazi persecution as evidence of complicity with the Nazis, fueling a thirst for revenge. Many Jewish women became victims of sexual violence at liberation, yet they also exercised agency in protecting themselves, family, friends, and sometimes strangers. After the war, stories of women helping women to hide, escape, and survive are more central in many testimonies than those of men helping women.

Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence and Levels of Hope in University Students in Health-Related Departments.

Intimate partner violence, is a major public and clinical health issue. Health institutions are one of the institutions to which a violence victim applies first. That is why the attitude of future health professionals is important. Hope is a concept that supports well-being and mental health. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between attitudes towards intimate partner violence and hope levels of university students studying in the field of health. The research was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The research was carried out in December 2021 with 934 students. Data were collected using the sociodemographic data form, the acceptance of couple violence scale, and the trait hope scale. %65have a date or an ex-date, and %3.1 of them have experienced dating violence. 2.1% of the female students and 6.9% of the male students reported having experienced dating violence, and this was significantly higher in male students. Acceptance of couple violence among students are low in all dimensions. Acceptance of violence by men was significantly higher in all dimensions. Acceptance of male violence was significantly higher in those who use cigarettes and alcohol, and those who have experienced domestic or dating violence. The hope scale scores were close to high in all dimensions. The findings of the study showed the attitudes of students studying in health fields against violence. Students have dating relationships, are exposed to any violence in dating relationships, had low levels of acceptance of couple violence and high levels of hope. Students will start working with hope.

Laws and Issues in Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation: A Case Study in Thailand

Today, violations of children’s rights have become more intense and have taken on new forms. Child protection laws provide a legal framework designed to shield children from harm and abuse, especially sexual abuse. These laws define the rights and responsibilities of parents, the state, and others involved with children. The objectives of this research are 1) to study the legal measures regarding child protection laws and issues related to the sexual exploitation of children in Thailand, compared to international and foreign laws, and 2) to explore ways to amend and improve Thai laws on child protection from sexual exploitation of children in Thailand to align with international standards. The study found that significant child protection laws in Thailand include: 1) the Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), 2) the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), and 3) the Domestic Violence Victims Protection Act, B.E. 2550 (2007). However, due to various factors and ambiguous definitions, the child protection laws have not fully achieved their objectives, allowing offenders to receive lighter punishments. Therefore, this article examines ways to amend and improve Thai child protection laws regarding sexual exploitation of children to be consistent with international law. The recommendations on legal action can be divided into three approaches: legal measures and child protection issues regarding sexual exploitation of children, child protection issues from sexual exploitation, and measures to suppress those who sexually exploit children.

EMDR therapy and treatment of child victims of violence in peace and war

The paper deals with the analysis of experiences in the application of EMDR therapy in working with children who were victims of trauma and violence in war and peace. The effectiveness of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) lies in the effect of bilateral stimulation on brain neurophysiological mechanisms of traumatized children. EMDR treatments, as well as CBT therapy, have shown success in working with children with PTSD based on several criteria. However, analyzes show that positive effects are achieved with the application of EMDR in a shorter time, and the results are more permanent and stable. Based on the results published in numerous clinical trials and meta-analyses, in 2013 the WHO (World Health Organization) recommended EMDR therapy for the treatment of PTSD in children, adolescents and adults. Exposure to war stress in all wars, in all areas, leaves severe consequences, especially for children. The increase in traumatic events in recent years creates a great need for preventive action and the application of EMDR to eliminate the consequences of children's exposure to trauma in war and peacetime conditions. The national EMDR associations of Russia and Serbia (https://www.emdrse-europe.org/) are increasingly focusing their activities on working with children who are victims of violence in war and peace. The mentioned advantages and facts were one of the reasons for the organized inclusion of EMDR therapy in work with trauma victims of mass murders that happened in May 2023 in Serbia. The treatment is very responsible and complex, but it shows significant effects. The evaluation is ongoing and will provide valuable experience in this area.

International human rights commitments to protect victims of domestic violence: Refugee recognition as the first step for an integrated approach under EU law in Case C-621/21, Intervyuirasht organ na DAB pri MS (women victims of domestic violence)

The judgment by the Grand Chamber of the Court of in Case C-621/21 Intervyuirasht organ na DAB pri MS case has already attracted significant attention for the finding of the Court that women victims of domestic violence can be considered as members of particular social group for the purposes of recognition of refugee status. This case note presents the facts of the case and analyses reasoning of the Court. It highlights the importance of the case both for its outcome, which has already guided subsequent findings of the Court on the refugee status of women of Iraqi origin identifying with the values of the EU, but also for placing the international human rights commitments of both the EU and its Member States at the core of the reasoning. At the same time, some contentious points of the judgment are also raised. These relate to the ‘hiding’ of the ECtHR case law in the reasoning of the Court and to the fragmented way in which international human rights obligations towards victims of domestic violence appear in other areas of EU law and case law.

Dynamics of gender justice in the state’s negation of victims of sexual violence

This article examines the complexities surrounding the construction and understanding of gender justice for women victims of sexual violence who are overlooked by the state. Addressing the need for justice for these victims is vital, as women frequently face discriminatory treatment that can lead to victim-blaming. The study uses a qualitative, phenomenological approach based on Creswell's framework, emphasizing the interpretation of 'Gender Justice' through the experiences of key informants, which highlight varied perspectives influenced by their life experiences. The research primarily incorporates Gender and Feminism Theory and Gender Justice to analyze the issue. Key findings reveal a lack of empathy and insufficient training among law enforcement regarding sexual violence cases, along with stigma and intimidation from officers, coupled with inadequate legal protections for victims. Additionally, the legal bureaucracy is convoluted and unresponsive, making the current legal system ineffective in achieving gender justice and often neglecting the rights and needs of sexual violence survivors. These results indicate that the existing legal and governmental frameworks fail to provide equitable gender justice, often overlooking the requirements and rights of survivors. Legal certainty should be clear and consistent; however, in reality, victims often do not experience this certainty. The injustices faced by survivors stem not only from legal shortcomings but also from entrenched discriminatory and patriarchal social norms.

Tentative Causes of Brain and Neuropsychological Alterations in Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence.

Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (IPVAW) experience neuropsychological and cerebral changes, which have been linked to several tentative causal mechanisms, including elevated cortisol levels, psychopathological disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI), hypoxic/ischemic brain damage, and medical conditions related to IPVAW. While these mechanisms and their effects on brain function and neuropsychological health are well-documented in other clinical populations, they manifest with unique characteristics in women affected by IPVAW. Specifically, IPVAW is chronic and repeated in nature, and mechanisms are often cumulative and may interact with other comorbid conditions. Thus, in light of existing literature on neuropsychological alterations in other populations, and recognizing the distinct features in women who experience IPVAW, we propose a new theoretical model-the Neuro-IPVAW model. This framework aims to explain the complex interplay between these mechanisms and their impact on cognitive and brain health in IPVAW victims. We anticipate that this theoretical model will be valuable for enhancing our understanding of neuropsychological and brain changes related to intimate partner violence, identifying research gaps in these mechanisms, and guiding future research directions in this area.

Impressive Factors of the Victimization of Shiite Muslim Minorities in Afghanistan: A Case Study District 13 of Kabul during the Pre-Taliban Period.

Shiite Muslims are one of the most influential ethnic minorities in Afghanistan. It appears that they are more victims of violence than other population groups in Afghanistan. On the other hand, the victimization rate in society is one of the most critical issues in criminology. Being victimized can lead to property loss, psychological trauma, and even death. Sensitive ethnic minorities are particularly pronounced in these challenges, especially in traditional societies such as Afghanistan. Therefore, the victimization rate and its influential factors among Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan need to be carefully analyzed. This is a survey study whose statistical population includes all residents of District 13 of Kabul, 285 of whom were selected using a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher and a multistage cluster sampling method. In addition, a multiple-choice Likert scale was used to measure the dependent and independent variables. The study's results indicate that more than 75% of the respondents and, in the past 5 years, more than 80% of their friends and family members have been victimized. In addition, respondents reported that the overall average probability of victimization over the next 10 years is 3.41 (the probability rate ranged from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 5). Women were more likely to be victimized than men, with average victimization rates of 1.38 and 1.24, respectively (the probability rate ranged from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 2). There was also a significant positive correlation between victimization and other variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, and economic status.

Parental socialization and adolescent dating violence victimization

There has been a great deal of research interest on intimate partner violence, but comparatively less research has been focused on adolescent dating victimization. The available research, however, shows that adolescent dating victimization is often a precursor to adulthood intimate partner violence victimization as well as a range of other maladaptive outcomes. The current study sought to examine whether parental socialization was associated with being the victim of adolescent dating violence. To do so, data from the National Longitudinal of Adolescent to Adult Health were analyzed. The results revealed that most of the parenting measures were unrelated to adolescent dating violence victimization, but that measures of self-control and delinquent peers emerged as consistent predictors for both males and females. These findings underscore the complex nature of adolescent dating victimization and highlight the importance of future research addressing this pressing social issue.

The Intersectionality of State Violence, Gender Violence, and Historical Victimization: Focusing on Sexual Violence against Women by Martial Law Forces during the May 18 Democratization Movement

The Intersectionality of State Violence, Gender Violence, and Historical Victimization: Focusing on Sexual Violence against Women by Martial Law Forces during the May 18 Democratization Movement

Youth exposure to violence and victimization in a South African community sample

Background: Studies show that youth in low socioeconomic communities suffer significant disturbances in mental and emotional health because of exposure to violence and peer victimisation, manifesting in internalising disorders such as depression, anxiety and traumatic stress.Aim: To examine the relation between risks and exposure to community violence and peer victimisation.Setting: Low socioeconomic communities in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: Data were collected via school and home interviews with youth and maternal caregivers using standardised schedules and instruments. These included the Demographics and Questions about Child’s Health schedule, the Family History of Risk Questionnaire, the Child Behaviour Checklist, the Social Experiences Questionnaire and the Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence. Youth sample comprised 256 participants, with age range from 9 to 18 years, and 65% being female.Results: Sociodemographic risks were significantly associated with lifetime witnessing violence, victimisation and hearing about violence. Low maternal education was associated with overt peer victimisation and cyber-victimisation. Internalising conditions such as worry and oversensitivity, fear and concentration, youth anxiety and maternal anxiety were also significantly associated with violence exposure and peer victimisation.Conclusion: Predisposing risks for exposure to violence and victimisation occur in all domains, suggesting that interventions should target these domains to minimise their impact. Co-occurring experience of violence at the personal, proximal and distal levels perpetuate a cyclical loop of violence, intersecting and influencing each other.Contribution: Risk factors such as anxious attachment, avoidant attachment and anxiety, conceptually often seen as maladaptive outcomes, also serve as predisposing risks for violence exposure.

Flying under the radar: Gender, violence and grade point average

Sexual assaults continue to be a prevalent issue on college campuses. Research has shown that being sexually assaulted is associated with adverse outcomes in college students' grade point average (GPA). However, self-reported history of sexual violence perpetration and its associations with GPA has not been studied at the college level. A history of sexual violence as either perpetrator or victim has not been extensively explored, particularly in individuals at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Questionnaire data were collected on 2068 students attending an HBCU who self-identified as men and women on various demographic and academic outcomes. The experience of sexual violence (perpetrator or victim) in the past year, age, and self-identified gender were evaluated as predictors of GPA. Results indicated that women and older individuals had higher GPAs (p <0.001), and these factors accounted for about 1% of the variance in GPA. In comparison, the addition of being a perpetrator of sexual violence augmented the variance and accounted for 2.3% (p < 0.001). These effects are small but significant predictors and open a new line of research into the traits of those who commit sexual assault on college campuses.

Handling child labor in Banda Aceh City: An analysis in optimizing stakeholder participation

In Banda Aceh, it is common to see children who are not yet of working age selling in cafes and at traffic lights. Their working hours exceed 3 hours a day, and the work they do can threaten safety and interfere with children’s education, which is in conflict with law number 13 concerning employment. This study aims to determine stakeholder participation in handling child labor in Banda Aceh City. Employing qualitative research methods with a descriptive framework, researchers identified multiple actions undertaken by stakeholders in addressing child labor in Banda Aceh City. First, the Banda Aceh City Social Service has the authority to provide guidance to child workers. Second, DP3AP2KB Banda Aceh City has the authority to prevent and handle violence against children. Third, the UPTD PPA Banda Aceh City has the authority to respond quickly and is psychoeducational to child victims of violence. Fourth, Banda Aceh City Satpol PP and WH have the authority to supervise, control, and safeguard child workers to maximize public order and community security. Furthermore, the challenges in handling child labor in the City of Banda Aceh are: 1) the behavior of people who easily feel pity; 2) the behavior of child workers who are used to working on the streets; 3) the limited authority of the government; 4) weak applicable laws and no special regulations regarding child labor.

Risk Factors and Moderators of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Versus Perpetration Among Women in Spain.

Bidirectional intimate partner violence (IPV) appears highly prevalent, but the extant literature, which has been dominated by work in North America, has not adequately accounted for how victimization overlaps with perpetration and how potential resources may interact with risk factors. A community sample of Spanish women completed measures of IPV approval, mental health risk factors (psychological distress and problematic substance use), and interpersonal resources (partner and social satisfaction). Using Mplus accounting for victimization and perpetration overlap, findings indicate that greater psychological distress and substance use were associated with IPV perpetration, and lower IPV approval was linked to victimization. Stronger partner satisfaction did not serve a buffering role but rather interacted to increase IPV perpetration; low social support was associated with victimization and exacerbated risk of perpetration.

An Empirical Investigation of Disability-Related Interpersonal Violence Through an Intersectional Research Paradigm: Methodological Considerations and Implications.

The study uses an econometric approach to disaggregate data on disability-related violence reported in Accident and Emergency departments in London to investigate the extent to which the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and age characteristics of disabled people increase their risk of experiencing interpersonal violence. Our empirical findings suggest that females and older individuals are generally more likely to be interpersonal violence victims. The disability dummy is positive and significant, irrespective of gender or ethnicity. This implies that persons with disabilities are more likely to be victims of interpersonal violence than individuals without disabilities, regardless of gender and ethnicity. The most important discovery concerns the magnitude of the dummy coefficient regarding the disability of individuals. The coefficient is the largest for females of Black origin with disabilities, followed by Asians, with white origin exhibiting the smallest coefficient. This suggests that people with disabilities of Black origin are more likely to experience interpersonal violence than the Asian or white community. The study outcomes provide novel and rigorous empirically validated knowledge of the intersectional vectors of power that impact the risk of experiencing disability-related interpersonal violence while informing the development of intersectionality-based policy approaches to tackling disability-related interpersonal violence.