Protecting Women from Violence : Bridging the Implementation Gap Between Law and Practice
For years, Marta was abused by her husband. Eventually she reached out to the police, the Carabineros de Chile – who are tasked with helping survivors of domestic violence. The police referred Marta to a public prosecutor for immediate protection a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/484591579068789708/Protecting-Women-from-Violence-Bridging-the-Implementation-Gap-Between-Law-and-Practice http://hdl.handle.net/10986/33222 |
| Summary: | For years, Marta was abused by her
husband. Eventually she reached out to the police, the
Carabineros de Chile – who are tasked with helping survivors
of domestic violence. The police referred Marta to a public
prosecutor for immediate protection and Marta and her
daughter were placed in a shelter run by a government-funded
non-profit organization Fundación Honra. With Fundación
Honra’s help Marta eventually rented an apartment and got a
job. Marta’s story is not unique to Chile. Many women
worldwide who experience violence do not readily report it
or seek help. This is often due to the lack of quality
services and adequate support networks, as well as social
and cultural norms.2 Survivors of violence3 may also feel
the police are unwilling or unable to help.4 A study
examining Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) data across 24
countries found that 40 percent of women experiencing
gender-based violence disclosed it to someone, but only 7
percent reported to a formal source.5 In many cases, even
when women seek help from the authorities, the response can
be inadequate. Recognizing the need to enhance efforts to
address violence against women, governments have started
implementing recommendations and adopting additional
protection measures and services set out in international
and regional instruments including the Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Belem do Pará
Convention and the Maputo Protocol. According to these legal
frameworks, adopting implementation measures aiming at
increasing effectiveness of legislation is part of the
State’s duty to act in protecting women from violence. |
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