“It’s your fault!” – Domestic abuse study in Cambodia
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 5:50 pm
“It’s your fault!” – Domestic abuse in Cambodia
Sheith Khidhir
9 July 2019
Some Cambodians are blaming domestic abuse on the victims. At least this is what the findings from several studies suggested, including a recent joint study conducted by three NGOs (Non-governmental organisations) – Klahaan, Urban Poor Women Development, and People in Need. These NGOs released their findings in a report entitled “Experiences of Gender-Based Violence in Urban Poor Rental Housing Communities of Phnom Penh”.
The survey was carried out between December last year and February in three selected districts in the Cambodian capital - Russey Keo, Mean Chey and Donkor – using 167 households, six focus group discussions and 20 key “informants” which included village chiefs, police and community leaders.
The survey found that while the perception from the majority of respondents was that gender-based and domestic violence was decreasing, the culture of “victim-blaming” still persisted.
In the quantitative (household survey) data, almost half of respondents felt that women were at least sometimes to blame for violence committed against them by their husbands.
“The findings show that women who experience violence still face a significant degree of blame apportioned to them by some members of the community, including by some community leaders and duty bearers,” the report noted.
But the numbers from the household do not nearly paint as dreary a picture as the responses gathered from key informants. Two different police officers felt that the woman was to blame if “the woman was gambling”, or “the woman was walking alone at night.”
As if these answers from those meant to protect and serve weren’t depressing enough, some women even felt that their own gender was to blame at times. “For example, when women don’t do housework.” said one female resident.
https://theaseanpost.com/article/its-yo ... e-cambodia
Sheith Khidhir
9 July 2019
Some Cambodians are blaming domestic abuse on the victims. At least this is what the findings from several studies suggested, including a recent joint study conducted by three NGOs (Non-governmental organisations) – Klahaan, Urban Poor Women Development, and People in Need. These NGOs released their findings in a report entitled “Experiences of Gender-Based Violence in Urban Poor Rental Housing Communities of Phnom Penh”.
The survey was carried out between December last year and February in three selected districts in the Cambodian capital - Russey Keo, Mean Chey and Donkor – using 167 households, six focus group discussions and 20 key “informants” which included village chiefs, police and community leaders.
The survey found that while the perception from the majority of respondents was that gender-based and domestic violence was decreasing, the culture of “victim-blaming” still persisted.
In the quantitative (household survey) data, almost half of respondents felt that women were at least sometimes to blame for violence committed against them by their husbands.
“The findings show that women who experience violence still face a significant degree of blame apportioned to them by some members of the community, including by some community leaders and duty bearers,” the report noted.
But the numbers from the household do not nearly paint as dreary a picture as the responses gathered from key informants. Two different police officers felt that the woman was to blame if “the woman was gambling”, or “the woman was walking alone at night.”
As if these answers from those meant to protect and serve weren’t depressing enough, some women even felt that their own gender was to blame at times. “For example, when women don’t do housework.” said one female resident.
https://theaseanpost.com/article/its-yo ... e-cambodia
