Whats next?

Knowing the facts is only half the battle.

Domestic Violence Incidence Report for the Cayo District

The next step is to act.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, remember that you are not alone. Just because domestic violence is common does not mean that it is okay. No one deserves to be abused.

Seek help immediately. Together we can break the silence.

Mary Open Doors:

Assisting Battered Women and Children in the Cayo District Statistics compiled by Melissa Beske with the assistance of the Women at Work Support Group of Mary Open Doors San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize

Women at Work: The Support Group of Mary Open Doors

Tel: 55 5 555 5555

824-0409 maryopendoors@gmail.com

2008-2009

Survey Results:
Out of all 623 people sampled for the survey, 564 reported being in some sort of past or current relationship (i.e. listed themselves as being married, common law, boyfriend/girlfriend, separated, divorced, or widowed). With reference to their partners, these coupled/previously-coupled respondents reported the following regarding their relationships:

Domestic Violence is one of the most serious yet underreported crimes in Belize.

In total, however, while a substantial 41% of all non-single respondents admitted to having at least one of these five types of violence in their relationships, in realitywhen considered together70% of them (397) were actually experiencing at least one form of domestic abuse.
Visually, these results can be represented as follows:

Background:
Defined as the financial, psychological, verbal, sexual, or physical abuse of one intimate partner/household member by another, domestic violence is a problem in many families today. Although the law is designed to protect individuals from its offences, many victims do not report their cases to authorities because they consider the matter a private issue and are afraid or ashamed to bring it to public attention. As a result, it is difficult to estimate just how many people are suffering in silence.

When asked about finances, only 20% admitted to having serious arguments with their partner over money matters, yet 230 out of this 564 also indicated that they experienced financially abusive behaviors (either as perpetrator, victim, or both perpetrator and victim) in their relationshipthats a reality of 41%. Regarding psychological and emotional care, only 24% admitted that there was often a lack of respect for emotions involved in their relationshipyet 47% of them (276) actually experienced emotionally abusive behaviors. As for verbal abuse, just 22% admitted that verbal insults play a role in their relationship, yet in reality 257 of them are perpetrators/ victims of the verbal forms of domestic violencea total of 46%. When asked about sexual activity within the relationship, only 18% admitted that they had disagreements with their partner about when to engage in intercourse. In reality, however, 26% (or 147 ) indicated that they were actually experiencing (either as perpetrator, victim, or both) sexually abusive behavior. Finally, regarding physical abuse, a mere 18% stated that they had ever taken part in this form of violence with their partner. In reality, however, 148 of themthats 26% indicated that they perpetrated or endured physical abuse.

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Perceiv ed Actual

Psychological

Physical

Now, however, thanks to a major research initiative to survey hundreds of people in the Cayo District about their relationship perceptions and behaviors, one small group of womenthe Women at Work Support Group of Mary Open Doors, led by anthropology doctoral student Melissa Beskeis ready to venture an educated guess. Read on for the informative results regarding what 564 people in Cayo had to say about the crime and about their

From these findings, we can see that the crime is not only incredibly common in that it affects nearly three-fourths of the population, but that it is also seldom recognized by even those who are going through it.

experiences with it.

In this case, perception is far from reality.

All Types

Financial

Verbal

Sexual