Innovative research examines domestic violence bystanders’ behavior

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted research in partnership with the UN Women and the Embassy of the Czech Republic. According to the data obtained, people who witness domestic violence and don't intervene, say that they don't feel they have the right to do so or they are not aware of how they can help.

National authorities have shown an effort to eliminate domestic violence, assist survivors and improve the rates of reporting crimes.

In Georgia, one in seven women is a victim of domestic violence. Bystanders-whether relatives, friends, or neighbors, are generally aware of the tendencies of domestic abuse in families. However, too often, they choose to refrain from interfering. UNDP attempted to find the reasons for bystanders' general inactivity.

Based on 400 personal narratives from individuals who have witnessed domestic violence cases, the study has shown that half of the respondents have opted to act in one manner or another and that most of them feel their actions have led to positive outcomes for the survivor.

The most common explanations for the other half who remained silent were that respondents did not know what to do to help or did not feel it was their place to do anything. As well, in many of the specific narratives, respondents pointed to the unwillingness of the victims to accept their help or to involve the police.

Bystanders who engaged do not regret engaging and would act the same way again. Bystanders who did not engage would handle it differently next time. Another interesting finding was that female bystanders have much higher engagement rates than male bystanders.

There was also a difference found between the areas of residence. Tbilisi inhabitants reported the highest engagement rates, while Guria residents – the lowest. Bystanders from other regions who reside in Tbilisi between 1 and 3 years reported the highest rates of engagement.

“The research confirms our assumption that a large share of the public still views domestic violence as a private family matter, rather than a crime that merits police intervention,” said UNDP Head Louisa Vinton in her opening remarks at the presentation of the study On 4 December, at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tbilisi. “Unfortunately, this attitude is costing lives. We aim to use the findings to shape measures that will encourage more bystanders to sound the alarm,” she added.

In Georgia, a 2017 study revealed that 14% of ever-partnered women between the ages of 15-64 report having been sexually or physically abused by their partners.

“One in seven women in Georgia reported having experienced domestic violence in their lifetime. This research presents some answers on what can trigger bystanders to take action, what may be stopping them from intervention and how they can help gender-based violence survivors,” said H.E. Petr Mikyska, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Georgia.

Interestingly, a large portion of those who took action chose to directly confront the perpetrator, while only a small minority (23%) contacted 112 or other emergency numbers to seek assistance.

22 percent of the respondents claimed they didn't know who to engage, and another 29 percent felt the emergency services wouldn't be effective.

While the number of calls to "112" alleging domestic violence has increased from 5,500 in 2013 to over 18,000 in 2016, the research suggests a need for improved outreach and emergency services' communication.

The research indicated that bystanders often hold negative social norms, for example, consider abuse to be a private matter between two people, and believe that others in their community would see it as interfering or breaking up a family if they intervene. They usually perceive women to be obliged to keep their family together.

In the wake of recent highly publicized policy changes, bystanders have good knowledge about what constitutes intimate partner violence (IPV), that it does not necessarily have to be physical violence, the study shows.

National surveys indicate a rapid decline in acceptance of IPV, but many abusive behaviors are still considered normal, particularly those related to a man’s “right” to control his wife’s decisions.

Comprehensive programs such as providing shelter, job training, and therapy are available for survivors and organized by state-sponsored service providers, but only recently, and there is little uptake. The study notes that one of the reasons for this is that accessing those services requires survivors to obtain a special legal “victim status,” determined by the police or an NGO council. Survivors who are not ready to share their experience in that setting, therefore, face additional barriers to receiving help.

The research included interviews in Tbilisi as well as Guria and Kakheti regions. It was conducted jointly by two UN agencies, UNDP and UN Women, in partnership with the UK’s Behavioural Insights Team and the Public Service Development Agency at the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. It was funded by the Czech and Danish Governments.

The presentation was part of the '16 Days of Activism' that the UN is undertaking between 25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and December 10 - International Human Rights Day, under the slogan 'Every Woman Has a Story,' which reflects the alarming prevalence of violence against women.

The 16-day campaign against gender-based violence has been celebrated worldwide since 1991.