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Fighting Domestic Violence: Fighting Domestic Violence: Changing Men and WomenChanging Men and Women

Presentation by: Presentation by:

Ms Phally HorMs Phally Hor

Executive Director of the Project Executive Director of the Project Against Domestic Violence Against Domestic Violence (PADV)(PADV)

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BackgroundBackground

• Before not even a name or a definition to Before not even a name or a definition to describe domestic violence.describe domestic violence.

• 1994 “Plates in the Basket will Rattle”1994 “Plates in the Basket will Rattle” study: 16% suffer from domestic violence in study: 16% suffer from domestic violence in Cambodia. Cambodia.

• Domestic violence seen as a private matter.Domestic violence seen as a private matter.• Effects of domestic violence significantEffects of domestic violence significant::

– WWomen and childrenomen and children;; – LLocal authorityocal authority;; – DevelopmentDevelopment..

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Actions taken (1) :Actions taken (1) :

Education/Training: Education/Training: • Local authorities (police). Local authorities (police). • Grass-root level.Grass-root level.

Awareness Raising:Awareness Raising: • IEC materials: TV- and radio spotIEC materials: TV- and radio spotss,, T- T-

shirts,shirts, poster posterss, calendar, calendarss, storybook for , storybook for children.children.

• Role play. Role play. • Lobbying politicians/government. Lobbying politicians/government.

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Actions taken (2): Actions taken (2): Support groupsSupport groups

• Pilot programme, “Men Stop Violence” 2002. Pilot programme, “Men Stop Violence” 2002. • Three level approach: Three level approach: 1) Peer (friends etc.) 1) Peer (friends etc.) 2) Group Discussion (men & women)2) Group Discussion (men & women) 3) Stakeholders3) Stakeholders (local authority) (local authority)• Topics: definition & impact of domestic violence, Topics: definition & impact of domestic violence,

responsibility of the man in the family, anger responsibility of the man in the family, anger management.management.

• Commune level closed group discussions with Commune level closed group discussions with abuser men and youth (age 15-25). abuser men and youth (age 15-25).

• Open discussions groups for women:Open discussions groups for women: advice to advice to support change of abuser, or offer support to get support change of abuser, or offer support to get out of abusive relationships. out of abusive relationships.

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Results regarding Results regarding behavioural change (1): behavioural change (1):

• Evaluation Evaluation on Man Stop Violence-on Man Stop Violence-project showsproject shows less violence less violence ( (see see handouthandout))

• Men changed from physical to Men changed from physical to emotional violence.emotional violence.

• Reduction in violence among youth Reduction in violence among youth gangs.gangs.

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Results regardingResults regarding behavioural change (2) behavioural change (2)

• People increasingly seePeople increasingly see DV as a public, not a DV as a public, not a private, matter. private, matter.

• Women victims seek, and find help, from Women victims seek, and find help, from NGO:s and government, MoWVA. NGO:s and government, MoWVA.

• Women speak out (Demographic & Health Women speak out (Demographic & Health survey in 2000: 25% suffer from domestic survey in 2000: 25% suffer from domestic violence).violence).

• Local authorities and police bring victims to Local authorities and police bring victims to PADV office and NGO-shelters. PADV office and NGO-shelters.

• Recognition from politicians that DV is a Recognition from politicians that DV is a violation of women’s rights, and that it hurts violation of women’s rights, and that it hurts development.development.

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Motivators for behavioural Motivators for behavioural changechange

• 1. 1. Peer pressurePeer pressure - Conflict: big brother/friends vs. - Conflict: big brother/friends vs.

teachers/wife or parents.teachers/wife or parents.

2. 2. Judgement/expectations of Judgement/expectations of community memberscommunity members

- The rights of women or the impact of - The rights of women or the impact of violence on women does not influence the violence on women does not influence the behaviour of men. behaviour of men.

3. 3. Religious and cultural expectationsReligious and cultural expectations - Cultural “code of conduct” for men and women. - Cultural “code of conduct” for men and women.

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Lessons learntLessons learnt

• Peer support important to sustain Peer support important to sustain changed behaviour. changed behaviour.

• Making DV a public issue leads to Making DV a public issue leads to change, political pressure: change, political pressure: importance of awareness campaigns, importance of awareness campaigns, lobbying, research. lobbying, research.