Strategies to combatting violence in society, including violence against women and girls

Connelly, LJ; Roddy, JK; Rowland, AG

Abstract

For at least two decades it has been recognised that violence is not an intractable social problem or an inevitable part of the human condition. Our global society can do much to address and prevent violence. For every person who dies as a result of violence many more are being, injured. Violence places placing a massive burden on national economies, costing countries billions of US Dollars each year in healthcare, law enforcement, and lost productivity.

In 2021, the Crime Survey for England and Wales has shown long-term reductions in estimates of violent crime over the last quarter of a century. However, victimisation rates (the percentage of adults being a victim of violent crime) have remained fairly flat since March 2014 with approximately 1.2 million violent incidents still occurring each year in England and Wales.

At a global level violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence, remains a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights. It is estimated that globally about 30% of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Violence against women is preventable. The health sector has an important role to play to provide comprehensive health care to women subjected to violence, and as an entry point for referring women to other support services they may need.

Violence does not only affect women. In 2017, men made up almost 80% of all homicide victims recorded worldwide. Male homicide rates in the Americas is almost ten times that of females. Around 20% of deaths from domestic violence in the UK each year are men. 50% of children aged 2 to 17 years have suffered from violence in the past year, 12% of children were physically abused in the last year, and 25% of adults report being physically abused as children.

Violence can negatively affect physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, and may increase the risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in some settings. Within abusive relationships, violence can cease when psychological and emotional abuse and physical threat can maintain control of the victim. Such abuse can lead to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. Presentation of this array of symptoms, without physical harm, may provide important clues for mental health practitioners.

This briefing paper describes three key themes underpinning the steps that are necessary to reduce violence in society. Recommendations are made within these themes, the implementation of which it is envisaged ought to reduce violence in society in the future.

Citation

Connelly, L., Roddy, J., & Rowland, A. (2021). Strategies to combatting violence in society, including violence against women and girls

• Report Type: Discussion Paper
• Publication Date: Jun 7, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 8, 2021