Putting perpetrators in the picture

Abstract

Existing data on domestic and sexual violence focuses on victimisation—on how many women, men and children have suffered violence and the kinds of violence they have experienced. Although it is equally important to know about perpetration, this area remains under-researched. Little is known about what proportions of people have used violence against an intimate partner or family member. Who has perpetrated violence and when, how and why? Mapping the extent and character of violence perpetration is vital. It provides invaluable data to guide efforts to prevent and reduce domestic and sexual violence and help change how these problems are understood. Domestic and sexual violence is framed often in ways that make the perpetrator invisible—in media accounts, community views and even in the violence prevention field itself: ‘a man killed a woman’ becomes ‘a woman was killed by a man’ becomes ‘a woman was killed’. Violence is a problem for victims but not a victims’ problem. Instead, domestic and sexual violence is the perpetrators’ problem. As well as protecting and supporting victims and survivors, we must hold perpetrators and potential perpetrators to account to act safely and respectfully. To do this, we need good data on who uses violence and why.