Sex abuse and violence still at high levels

More than one in four women in Hong Kong have experienced violence inflicted by husbands or boyfriends, a survey found.

Sexual violence against women also proved a serious issue, with 37 percent of survey respondents having been victims of it.

The study, sponsored by Zonta Club of Kowloon and Lingnan University, was conducted by the Hong Kong Women's Coalition on Equal Opportunities.

The results of the survey were released yesterday - a day before International Women's Day.

Lingnan University's sociology and social policy department polled 1,044 women and girls aged between 15 and 64 last year.

The study was previously conducted in 2013 and results had shown a similar severity in the prevalence of sexual violence against women.

"The survey shows that the situation of violence against women has not improved over the years," said Lingnan University professor Annie Chan Hau-nung, the leader of the study.

The study reported that sexual violence can range from verbal abuse to assault. It can occur in the home, on the road or even at school.

The study also found that 75 percent of respondents who had experienced sexual violence were unable to react to the abuse as it took place.

"We ran some tests to see if there were any significant differences in the sociodemographics of those who did and did not react and we did not find any significant differences, meaning that it's in general very difficult to summon up any reaction in those moments," Chan said.

More than 90 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence were men, with three out of 10 having been strangers.

Perpetrators could also be found among victims' partners, friends, family members, classmates and colleagues.

According to the survey, over 40 percent of the women who suffered from violence were willing to seek help from their friends or family. Only about 10 percent of them turned to professionals due to feelings of shame, fear of being blamed and fear of repercussions.

Many women were afraid to seek help because of conservative social norms and a culture of victim blaming. They added that it could be even harder for women to speak up against partner violence.

Researchers concluded from in-depth interviews that women who experienced violence at the hands of intimate partners suffered severe mental-health impact.

"The psychological impact of sexual violence on women is obvious," said Chan.

The group called on authorities to provide emergency funds or housing expenses to help victims of gender-based violence and their families.

It added that the government should strengthen training for those assisting victims, such as law enforcement officers, legal professionals and social-service workers.