Pathways to change: Three decades of feminist research and activism to end violence against women in Nicaragua

• This paper presents the results of nearly three decades of partnershipbetween feminist researchers and activists to prevent violence againstwomen and girls (VAWG) in Nicaragua. A household survey conductedin 1995 in León, the country’s second-largest city, revealed that 55 percent of women had experienced lifetime physical intimate partnerviolence (IPV), and 27 per cent had experienced IPV in the last 12months. The study results were instrumental in changing domesticviolence laws in Nicaragua. A follow-up study in 2016 found a decreaseof 63 per cent in lifetime physical IPV and 70 per cent in 12-monthphysical IPV. This paper examines possible explanations for thereduction, including the policy reforms resulting from feministadvocacy. We compare risk and protective factors for physical IPV, suchas changes in women’s attitudes towards violence, their use of services,and knowledge of laws, using data from both the 1995 and 2016surveys, as well as three waves of Demographic and Health Surveys. Weconclude that the decline in IPV can be partially attributed to the effortsof the Nicaraguan women’s movements to reform laws, provide servicesfor survivors, transform gender norms, and increase women’sknowledge of their human rights.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

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