Cases Of Domestic Violence Against Women Up 25% This Yr In Romania

Since 2004, Romania has registered 44,300 women who were victims of domestic violence and 633 cases where these victims died, Mostavi said.

In the first three quarters of the year, 8,484 new cases have been reported, almost equal to the entire number of cases reported last year, namely 8,787.

"We estimate a 25% increase in the number of victims. The real number however is much higher. A recent poll revealed nearly 800,000 such cases,” Mostavi said.

Data of the agency showed in 2005 and 2006 the highest number of reported cases of domestic violence, namely 9,500 per year.

Of the total number of victims of domestic violence, 70% are women, and 25% of them are underage. Among victims of domestic abuse there were also men, elderly people and people with disabilities.

Compared to the first five months of 2007, in the first five months of the year, 21.3% more rapes followed by the victim’s death were reported, and nearly half of them were registered in rural areas.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on global level at least one of three women was beaten throughout her life, abused or forced to have sex, and a fifth of women were sexually abused before the age of 15.

"Violence kills more women than road accidents and malaria together, and nearly 70% of the victims were killed by their own spouse,” UNFPA said.

If you liked this story, please follow MEDIAFAX.RO on FACEBOOK »

The content of mediafax.ro is for your information only. Republishing or using this content is forbidden without express consent of MEDIAFAX. For this consent, please ask for it by mail at vanzari@mediafax.ro.