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ABSTRACT
This research aims to generate a better understanding of the abuse of women with disabilities through a qualitative study with 28 women with disabilities in five towns in Croatia. The results show that more than half of the research participants had experienced physical, psychological and sexual abuse, and financial exploitation. Participants stressed the need for education and empowerment of women with disabilities as well as better training for professionals and ensuring that a formal support system is available in every local community. The role of social workers in emerging countries like Croatia needs to include developing individual, group and community support for women with disabilities and raising public awareness of the abuse and violence shown towards women with disabilities through political and community networks and events.
SAŽETAK
Unatoč, u novije vrijeme sve većem broju zakonskih propisa koji reguliraju problematiku nasilja, i dalje je u Hrvatskoj nasilje nad ženama s invaliditetom zapostavljeno, nedovoljno istraženo i često puta neadekvatno sankcionirano. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bolje razumijevanje nasilja nad ženama s invaliditetom. Provedena je kvalitativna studija u pet većih gradova u Hrvatskoj u kojoj su sudionice bile žene s invaliditetom (n = 28). Podatci su prikupljeni kroz polustrukturirane intervjue. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da više od polovine sudionica istraživanja ima iskustvo tjelesnog, psihičkog te seksualnog nasilja i dodatno financijskog izrabljivanja. Sudionice istraživanja istaknule su potrebu za dostupnom boljom edukacijom i osnaživanjem žena s invaliditetom, te kvalitetniju edukaciju za stručnjake koji rade unutar sustava formalne podrške. Zaključno rezultati ukazuju na važnost podizanja javne svijesti o nasilju nad ženama s invaliditetom. Uloga socijalnog rada u zemljama u razvoju kao što je Hrvatska, treba uključivati razvoj individualne i grupne podrške, ali i formalne podrške u lokalnoj zajednici za žene s invaliditetom.
KLJUČNE RIJEČI:
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributors
Dr Marina Milić Babić is Assistant Professor at the Study Centre for Social Work at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. She has worked with Unicef and other NGOs in Croatia, and for Ministry of social policy and youth on research projects connected with the perspective of quality of life and availability of services and support for children with disabilities, students with disabilities, families, caregivers, person with disabilities and violence. Her research interest is related with parenthood, children with disabilities, social support, counselling, human rights and social work.
Dr Zdravka Leutar is a full Professor at the Study Centre for Social Work at the University of Zagreb, Croatia and Studies of Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prof. Leutar’s areas of scientific interest relate to social work with people with disabilities, spirituality and social work.
Dr Monica Dowling is Visiting Professor at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, The UCL Institute of Education, University of London. She was formerly Professor of Social Work at the Open University. She has worked with Unicef and The Open Society and other NGOs on research projects that document the experiences of children with disabilities and their parents in the UK and mid and Eastern Europe. She has published research in the areas of: children in institutional care, international adoption from China, NGOs and the provision of welfare, social service users and carers, refugees and asylum seekers, poverty and social work.