'47.6% of women in Tunisia are the object of at least a form of violence'

Tunis,Tunisia (PANA) – A national survey on violence to women in Tunisia carried out in 2010 has revealed that 47.6% of women have been subjected to, at least, one form of violence in their life.

The survey carried out by the Tunisian office for family and population and the Spanish international cooperation agency for development (AECID) had a sample size of 4,000 women between 18 and 64 years in various regions of the country.

The statistics say that the existence of a least one of the physical, sexual or economic violence against women is highest in the south-west regions of the country, reaching 72.2%, with the weakest rate recorded in the central-east regions (35.9%).

The survey results presented on Wednesday in Tunis showed that women at home face violence more than those at work.

Physical violence is the most frequent (31.7%), followed by psychological violence (28.9%), sexual violence (15.7%) and economic violence (7.1%).

The intimate partner is the instigator of physical violence in 47.2% of cases, psychological violence in 68.5%, sexual violence in 78.2% and economic violence in 79% of cases. Family members are instigators in 43% of cases for physical violence.

Violence instigated outside the intimate sphere and the family environment are sexual violence in 21.3% of cases, psychological violence in 14.8% of cases and finally, physical violence in 9.8% of cases.

Among women who said they were subjected to violence, 40.9% say they left their house because of violence and 17.8% lodged complaints. When they leave their houses 87.7% first return to their parents’ houses.

Even in regions relatively well equipped to take charge of women victims of violence, obstacles such as fear for stigmatization or fear to lose opportunity to keep the children prevent women from searching for aid.

A World Health Organization report in 2002 noted that violence against women is the main cause of death or obstacle for women between 16 and 44 years and that it is at the origin of serious prejudices of reproductive and sexual health for women and young girls.
-0- PANA FA/TBM/IBA/MSA/MA 1March2012