New report: Women are trapped in violent marriages
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Domestic violence occurs frequently in Cambodia. And a combination of customs and culture continue to prolong violence against women. This is the conclusion in a new report from DanChurchAid on domestic violence in Cambodia.
24.07.2009

Women are being interviewed for the report on domestic violence.

The report "Out of Court Resolutions of Violence Against Women" has been written as a part of the project "Ending violence against Women".

The aim of the report is to convey an idea of the perceptions of domestic violence and resolution of domestic violence at the community level. In interviewing over 300 people in five very different communities, impressions reflecting actual realities of the different kinds of domestic violence and resolution processes that exist in these communities are presented.

Domestic violence affects the whole society

About the project

"Ending violence against Women" began in Cambodia in 2007. The project is supported by DanChurchAid with EU funding over a period of three years. It will be concluded in December 2009.

It is clear that many people are affected by domestic violence – survivors who suffer violence and inept attempts at resolving their situations, authorities who would like to better assist domestic violence victims but are hampered by their low technical skills and traditional attitudes and community members who witness the violence, intervene and often assist parties in resolving the situation.

Lack of knowledge prevents resolutions

It is also clear that many people within these groups do not have the necessary attitudes, skills and the knowledge to resolve these
situations in order to prevent further violence and that cultural norms, traditional attitudes and discriminatory treatment of female domestic violence survivors continue to prevent meaningful and gender sensitive resolutions of domestic violence.

Cultural norms over safety and well-being

Both men and women have been interviewed for the report.

The communities in the report vary in size, population, socio-economic sectors, industries and job, age, sex, education, differing levels of NGO intervention, remoteness and isolation yet they have one thing in common. Across every community, perceptions of domestic violence are largely the same, resolution processes of domestic violence are much the same and the attitudes towards domestic violence survivors and towards domestic violence in general, discriminate against these people by placing value on cultural norms over the safety, wishes and well-being of the survivor.

Download report

It is interesting to see that in five very different communities in Cambodia women suffering domestic violence are not only suffering from the effects of violence but are suffering from the resolution process itself.

The report has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of the report are the sole responsibility of DanChurchAid and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.


Partners in the project "Ending violence against Women":

ADHOC, CDP, CWCC, Folkekirkens Nødhjælp/ Christian Aid and other DanChurchAid/Christian Aid-partners, who focus on violence against women: LICADHO, TPO, NGO CEDAW, GAD-C, PK