Violence against women in the domestic environment is a significant societal problem and a violation of inherent human rights, both globally and in Lithuania.
This crime is a very widespread phenomenon in Lithuania, which must be combated in order to contribute to the creation of a more open and mature society that respects and upholds human rights.
In 2017, Human Rights Monitoring Institute experts and partners conducted a study to investigate and analyse the factors that influence women’s decisions to leave, continue or return to violent relationships and the consequences of these decisions.
It examined which forms of violence – psychological, economic, sexual, physical – are most and least recognised by the women who experience them, how women experience different forms of violence and what attitudes in society support this systemic problem.
It also looks at women’s subjective experiences of the support they receive from the police, the medical profession, social workers and specialists from child protection units.
The publication “Intimate Partner Violence in Lithuania – Women’s Perspective” provides an analysis of the main internal and external triggers, motivating factors and/or environmental factors reflected in the study.
These factors may encourage or discourage women from recognising that they are being abused and that it makes sense to seek help in the situation they are experiencing.
The report concludes with recommendations that may enable women to better speak up about their experiences and to seek and receive help, as well as recommendations for further research in this area.
Economic and sexual violence least recognised
The study showed that economic and sexual violence and abuse by a partner is the least recognised in Lithuania.
This situation is strongly linked to prevailing social and gender ‘norms’and their influence, as well as to socially constructed gender roles for men and women.
Although the women in this study recognised psychological violence, in many cases the turning point for seeking help was the physical violence used against them.
The study also revealed a clear tendency among the different target groups to blame the situation on the women victims themselves.
This problem, together with widespread stigmatisation, prevailing gender stereotypes, the patriarchal context, and the lack of effective and accessible services, has a significant impact on women’s thinking, behaviour and their decision to seek (and in many cases not to seek) help.
The study was carried out in the framework of the project “STOP violence against women: from awareness-raising to zero tolerance of victim blaming” supported by the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme.
The project is implemented by the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, the Human Rights Monitoring Institute, the Centre for the Development of Equal Opportunities and the Nomoshiti Initiative.
Supported by the European Union.
The contents of this research report do not reflect the official views and opinions of the European Commission.
