Survey on Violence against women: experience of the Republic of Moldova

1. Survey on Violence against women:experience of the Republic of Moldova UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

2. Background Why NBS has conducted the survey? • Criminal statistics do not provide the real evidence on the phenomenon of domestic violence; • The latest available data refers to DHS 2005; • Growing public attention primarily due to the efforts of international organizations and civil society, but also of Ministry of Labour, Social Protection and Family; • Step forward in setting up the legal framework: Law on ensuring Equal Opportunities between Women and Men (2006), Law to Prevent and Combat Violence in the Family was adopted in 2007, entered into force in 2008 BUT: no recent evidence! UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

3. Survey methodology (I) • The main objective: to asses the prevalence and incidence of different types of violence by partner and non-partner, frequency and severity of violence; and to understand the attitudes and believes surrounding the issue of violence against women both by the Moldovan citizens in general and the relevant policy-makers and service providers • Type of survey: stand-alone quantitative survey conducted by NBS and qualitative survey conducted by local NGO. • Reference population group: women aged 15 to 65 years, who live in the private households at the moment of interview UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

4. Survey methodology (II) • Sampling strategy: • 1st stage:150 PSUs originally drawn for a master sample of LFS and HBS; • 2nd stage: selection and screening of hhs with women aged 15 to 65 years; • 3rd stage: 1575 hhs have been randomly selected; • 4th stage: selecting one woman according to criteria of “the closest birthday” to the day of interview. • Data collection: • Face to face interview; • Mobile team of interviewers; • Only women, preferably having an intimate relationship UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

5. Survey methodology (III) • Training of interviewers: • 2 days training: i) overview on gender based violence issues and ii) structure and definitions of questionnaire • !!! Not all interviewers who collect data for regular quantitative survey are good enough for surveys on sensitive topics • Basic skills how to conduct survey are not sufficient, additional abilities needed • Trial period: every interviewer has to interview 5 women • Non response rate 17%, refusal rate 5%. !!! Women are willing to speak about violence. UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

6. Survey methodology (IV) • Survey questionnaire: starting point was UNECE VAW Module version 1, but adjusted to national needs. The questionnaire was divided in six sections: • Household composition • Section R – general information about respondent • Section V – relationship with current or more recent husband or intimate partner • Section N – non-partner violence • Added section A – attitudes and knowledge about violence and gender stereotypes • Section Z – completion of interview. UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

7. Survey methodology (V) Definition of partner/intimate violence • Women aged 15 to 65 years living with a man, regular partner without living together hasn’t been considered • Partner violence has been restricted only to two partners: current or most recent partner plus previous one. In case of more than one previous violent partner, only the most violent has to be considered. Screening techniques: - helps to remember the every episode, but in some case women got annoyed or even irritated; • the interview has to start with partner violence, BUT if the privacy was not possible to obtain, they were allowed to start with “non-partner section” or even with “attitudes” UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

8. Survey methodology (VI) New questions related to characteristics of women: • Occupational status: current occupation, reasons for working or not working, willingness to work. • The length of relationship with current or most recent partner and the reasons for ending the relationship New questions related to characteristics of intimate partner: • Occupational status: employed or unemployed • Level of education • Specific problems: alcohol abuse, irritation, stress, drug addiction and other problems • Fear of current or most recent intimate partner • The experience of specific forms of violence in women’s family and partner’s family UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

9. Main survey results, partner violence (VII) • Over a lifetime since 15 years old, 59,4% of women have experienced psychological violence from a current or most recent partner; the prevalence of physical violence is 39.7%, sexual violence has been reported by 18,6% of interviewed women. UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

10. Main results, partner violence (VII) • Overall, rural women report higher prevalence rates for all forms of partner violence • The prevalence rate increases by ages up to 59 years then it goes down, but still remains higher comparing to young women probably due to longer exposure period • Divorced and widowed women are less reluctant in sharing experience on violence !!! Survey allows to disaggregate data by a number of socio-economic variables, but the quality should be considered. - For example: prevalence of physic violence for 15-24 years old women and cohabiting as well should be used with precaution. UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

11. Main results (VII) • As in other countries prevalence of sexual violence might be underestimated due to a disclosure problems. • No reliable data was obtained on sexual non-partner violence: only a few cases were reported Frequency of violence: • Majority of women that are victims of violence have been subject to all types of violence more than one times, including severe forms of physical violence and sexual as well. Counting number of incidents: • Not possible, as 63% of victims of physical or sexual violence in the last 12 months could not provide the number of incidents • 5% of victims of physical violence refused to answer and in case of sexual one-21% UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

12. Conclusions: • Survey provides a number of important knowledge and evidence on prevalence of different types of violence • It was a challenge for NBS and it turned out to be a good experience that will improve its ability to conduct survey on sensitive topics • Due to sensitiveness of studied topics a stand alone survey is preferred to ad-hoc modules • The UNECE module is well structured and allows to capture the prevalence of violence over the life time and in the last 12 months • Selection and training of interviewers are one of the crucial step in getting a reliable data • Further discussions should be focused on sampling strategy to ensure the accuracy of the data not only for national level, but for a specific categories of women as well • How to count the number of incidents is still an open questions. UNECE Work Session on Gender statistics, 12-15 March 2012, Geneva, Switzerland

13. Thank you for your attention! Ala Negruta Social statistics and living conditions department ala.negruta@statistica.md