Challenging Social Norms and Legal Responses to Rape and Sexual Violence: Insights from a Practice–Research Partnership in Kenya

2021 ◽  
pp. 99-112
Author(s):  
Sarah R. Rockowitz ◽  
Wangu Kanja ◽  
Heather D. Flowe
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Research Partnership ◽  
Legal Responses

scholarly journals The ethics of care and transformational research practices in Aotearoa New Zealand

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tula Brannelly ◽  
Amohia Boulton
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Ethics Of Care ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
Research Partnership ◽  
Research Partnerships ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The People ◽  
Dialogic Approach ◽  
The Relationship

Democratising methodologies often require research partnerships in practice. Research partnerships between indigenous and non-indigenous partners are commonplace, but there is unsatisfactory guidance available to non-indigene researchers about how to approach the relationship in a way that builds solidarity with the aims of the indigenous community. Worse still, non-indigenous researchers may circumvent indigenous communities to avoid causing offense, in effect silencing those voices. In this article, we argue that the ethics of care provides a framework that can guide ethical research practice, because it attends to the political positioning of the people involved, acknowledges inequalities and aims to address these in solidarity with the community. Drawing on our research partnership in Aotearoa New Zealand, we explain how the ethics of care intertwines with Māori values, creating a synergistic and dialogic approach.

scholarly journals The impact of interventions to reduce risk and incidence of intimate partner violence and sexual violence in conflict and post-conflict states and other humanitarian crises in low and middle income countries: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Spangaro ◽  
Chye Toole-Anstey ◽  
Catherine L. MacPhail ◽  
Delia C. Rambaldini-Gooding ◽  
Lynne Keevers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Economic Empowerment ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Sexual Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
The Impact

AbstractSexual violence and intimate partner violence are exacerbated by armed conflict and other humanitarian crises. This narrative systematic review of evidence for interventions to reduce risk and incidence of sexual and intimate partner violence in conflict, post-conflict and other humanitarian crises, updates and expands our review published in 2013. A search of ten bibliographic databases for publications from January 2011 to May 2020 used database specific key words for sexual/intimate partner violence and conflict/humanitarian crisis. The 18 papers, describing 16 studies were undertaken in conflict/post-conflict settings in 12 countries. Six intervention types were reported: i) personnel; ii) community mobilisation; iii) social norms; iv) economic empowerment; v) empowerment; and vi) survivor responses, with the most common being economic empowerment (n = 7) and gendered social norms interventions (n = 6). Combined interventions were reported in nine papers. Four studies identified non-significant reductions in incidence of sexual/ intimate partner violence, showing an evident positive trend; all four evaluated gendered social norms or economic empowerment singly or in combination. Evidence for improved mental health outcomes was found for some economic empowerment, social norms and survivor interventions. Some evidence of reduced risk of sexual violence and intimate partner violence was identified for all intervention types. Qualitative studies suggest that experiences of social connection are important for women who participate in programming to address sexual and intimate partner violence. Interventions with multiple strategies appear to hold merit. Achieving and demonstrating reduced sexual and intimate partner violence remains challenging in this context. Future research should continue to explore how social norms interventions can be most effectively delivered, including the impact of including mixed and same sex groups. Work is needed with local partners to ensure programs are contextually adapted.

scholarly journals Utilising the due diligence standard to interrogate Kenya's accountability efforts with regard to survivors of sexual violence in the 2007-2008 post-election violence

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Buluma Bwire ◽  
Migai Akech ◽  
Agnes Meroka-Mutua
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Legal Services ◽  
Due Diligence ◽  
Special Rapporteur ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Legal Responses ◽  
Election Violence ◽  
Human Rights Violation

SUMMARY Sexual violence is a human rights violation and is addressed under a growing number of international agreements including the 1993 Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, among others. This article uses the due diligence standard, as elaborated on by the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, to interrogate Kenya's domestic accountability efforts with regard to sexual violence in the 2007/2008 post-election violence. It finds that Kenya suffered from a number of structural and systemic shortcomings that resulted in its failure to meet its obligation to prevent, investigate, prosecute and compensate for such acts of sexual violence perpetrated by both state and non-state actors. Key among them are a lack of well-coordinated multi-sectoral approaches to address sexual violence; human capacity gaps in the provision of medico-legal services to survivors; and systemic failures in the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence cases. The article further highlights the hope for future accountability inherent in the recent ruling in Constitutional Petition 112 of 2013 which held the state accountable for all gaps and shortcomings in responding to sexual violence during the post-election violence. The article concludes by advocating community-based multi-sectoral approaches in prevention and response to sexual violence in the Kenyan context with an emphasis on improving both human and technical capacities for provision of medico-legal services to survivors. Key words: sexual violence; human rights; Kenya 2007-2008 postelection violence; medico-legal responses to sexual violence

Accountability in an Era of Celebrity

2019 ◽  
pp. 150-174
Author(s):  
Martha C. Nussbaum
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Working Women ◽  
Historical Evolution ◽  
The Public ◽  
Great Progress ◽  
The Law ◽  
Made In

While great progress has been made in regards to sexual violence and accountability, Martha C. Nussbaum argues that the culture of celebrity remains a significant hurdle. In this chapter, Nussbaum traces the historical evolution and progress of the law and social norms concerning sexual violence. Identifying the obstacles and complexities that have faced those fighting for justice, she shows how working women, feminist lawyers, and recently the #MeToo movement have pushed forward the frontier of accountability. While history provides reason for hope, a recalcitrant problem remains: lack of accountability for celebrities and sports stars. Given the big money and structures of power behind the culture of celebrity, Nussbaum argues that the public must rise up and express outrage in order to bring about change.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the Communities Care programme on change in social norms associated with gender-based violence (GBV) with residents in intervention compared with control districts in Mogadishu, Somalia

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e023819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Glass ◽  
Nancy Perrin ◽  
Mendy Marsh ◽  
Amber Clough ◽  
Amelie Desgroppes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Care Programme ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Control ◽  
Intervention District

ObjectiveDetermine the effectiveness of the Communities Care programme (CCP) on change in harmful social norms associated with gender-based violence (GBV) and confidence in provision of services with residents in intervention compared with control district. We hypothesised that residents in the intervention district would report a decrease in support for harmful social norms and increase in confidence in services in comparison with control district.SettingThe study was conducted in Mogadishu, Somalia.ParticipantsIn the intervention district, 192 community members (50% women) completed baseline surveys with 163 (84.9%) retained at endline. In the control district, 195 community members (50% women) completed baseline surveys with 167 (85.6%) retained at endline.InterventionCCP uses facilitated dialogues with community members to catalyse GBV prevention actions and provides training to diverse sectors to strengthen response services for GBV survivors.ResultsResidents in the intervention district had significantly greater improvement in change in social norms: (1) response to sexual violence (b=−0.214, p=0.041); (2) protecting family honour (b=−0.558, p<0.001); and (3) husband’s right to use violence (b=−0.309, p=0.003) compared with control district participants. The greatest change was seen in the norm of ‘protecting family honour’ with a Cohen’s d effect size (ES) of 0.70, followed by the norm ‘husband’s right to use violence’ (ES=0.38), and then the norm of ‘response to sexual violence’ (ES=0.28). Residents in intervention district had a significantly greater increase in confidence in provision of GBV services across diverse sectors than the control district (b=0.318, p<0.001) with an associated effect size of 0.67. There were no significant differences between residents in intervention and control districts on change in personal beliefs on the norms.ConclusionThe evaluation showed the promise of CCP in changing harmful social norms associated with GBV and increasing confidence in provision of services in a complex humanitarian setting.

Social norms for sexual violence perpetration in college

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Louise Hackman ◽  
Tricia Witte ◽  
Marissa Greenband
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Influential Factor ◽  
Public Institution ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Social Norms

Purpose Sexual violence (SV) is a pervasive public health issue on college campuses. While much research has been conducted to determine factors contributing to SV, little work focuses on the role of perceived social norms. The purpose of this paper is to examine college students’ perceived descriptive norms for SV perpetration (i.e. prevalence estimates for SV). Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional survey, male and female college students from a large public institution in the Southeastern USA were instructed to estimate the prevalence of SV for “typical students” of their same gender on campus. Findings When compared to actual prevalence rates of SV perpetrated by females and males, both perpetrators and non-perpetrators overestimated the prevalence of SV among same-sex peers, but perpetrators made even higher estimates compared to those made by non-perpetrators for some sexually aggressive acts. Results demonstrate strong and consistent normative misperceptions surrounding SV perpetration. Research limitations/implications Findings lend support for testing social norms-based prevention programs for SV on college campuses. Originality/value This study is one of the first investigations into perceived social norms surrounding SV; perceived social norms may be an influential factor contributing to SV.

Mandating Inclusion: Critical Trans Perspectives on Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 531-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sid P. Jordan ◽  
Gita R. Mehrotra ◽  
Kiyomi A. Fujikawa
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Advocacy Organizations ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Violence Against Women Act ◽  
Legal Responses ◽  
Contingent Access ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Gender Specific

In 2013, the Violence Against Women Act became one of the first federal laws to explicitly prohibit discrimination against transgender people, yet little is known about its impact in practice. This qualitative study draws on in-depth interviews with transgender people working in domestic and sexual violence advocacy organizations. Building on critical and intersectional perspectives, the findings suggest that the persistence of inequities for trans survivors are tied to the reliance on criminal legal responses, contingent access to gender-specific services, compliance-focused approaches to inclusion, operating theories of gender-based violence, and the diversion of responsibility to LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) programs. This study highlights the participants’ recommendations for change.

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