This report examines the factors that encourage witnesses of intimate partner violence to intervene (including reporting the violence to the relevant authorities).
It draws on EU-wide desk research and in-depth qualitative research in Denmark, Germany, France and Portugal. As the desk research found a lack of data and evidence examining witnesses’ support for victims of intimate partner violence, this report provides new evidence on when witnesses intervene and in which types of environment.
Some factors can act as both enablers of and barriers to witness intervention. For example, witnesses are generally more likely to report intimate partner violence to the authorities if dependent children are involved. However, this is not always the case as some witnesses are concerned about children being separated from their parents, or experiencing trauma as a result of a police investigation.
This report was prepared by RAND Europe (EU) AISBL in association with Oxford Research and Alternative and Response Women’s Association (União de Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta) in close cooperation with European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) staff.
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