Survey on the Understanding of Violence against Women and Children

Brief Description

In 2009, in coordination with the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Unit for the Suppression of Violence against Women and Children of the Ministry of Justice conducted a survey on understanding of violence against women and children.  Khartoum was chosen in its capacity as the capital, and the availability of a variety of social groups.  The questionnaire elicited respondents' views on various aspects of the concept of violence against women and children.  The target number of respondents was 800, of which 509 replied, including representatives of the following social groups: schoolchildren, university students, staff of certain ministries, leaders, media, organizations, and the general population.

The academic level of the target group was secondary school and above, and respondents included men and women aged between 10-14 and 54-59 years of age.  A very small proportion of respondents were aged over 60 years.

Respondents ranked the following eight types of violence: beating, use of force, cruelty, ill treatment, deprivation of rights, coercion, oppression, and rape.  Beating and the deprivation of rights were considered the most serious.

An analysis showed that slightly more women than men replied, whatever their age and level of education.  Most respondents had university-level education, and the next largest group had secondary-level education.