Domestic Violence

According to the Deputy General Attorney’s Office, one of the main causes of violence against women and minors is the rise in alcohol and drug addiction in Baja California Sur.  In addition to physical violence, psychological abuse is increasingly common.  Also on the rise is violence against young women, which commonly occurs during dating. 

According to data from the National Survey on Violence against Women (ENVI) 2003, Baja California Sur’s rate of domestic violence (26.9%) is much higher than the national mean (21.5%).  Domestic violence in this context is defined as psychological, physical, economic or sexual violence by the victim’s fiancé, spouse, or companion.  This situation is even more serious than in Baja California, which records a rate of 25.5%.[1]

Psycho-social violence, or emotional battery, is defined as humiliation, contempt in front of others, jealousy, blows or kicks to objects or furniture, destruction of belongings, threats of blows, threats with a sharp weapon or firearm, and threats of killing directed against women, men or underage children.  Physical violence occurs when a person intentionally pushed, pulled, twisted an arm, punched or slapped, kicked, or beat with a stick, belt or other household object.  Sexual violence is defined as demanding sexual relations, threatening to go with other women if sexual relations did not occur, or has used physical violence to have sexual relations. Economic violence occurs when a partner controls all access to money, or uses the victim’s belongings against their wishes.

The following graph shows violence against women by category:

During the first half of 2004, there was a slight increase in the percentages of complaints for physical injury and aggression in comparison to the total percentages recorded for 2003. On the basis of these records, it is clear that physical injury and aggression are the principal forms of domestic violence against women and minors, followed by the non-payment of family assistance obligations.