Paraguay
Population size:
7.1 million [1]
Number of people experiencing domestic abuse each year:
Over 13,000 reported cases of domestic violence in 2017—the highest rate on record [2]
Ever-partnered women aged 15-44 years experiencing once in a lifetime Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence: 20.4 % Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence in the last 12 months: 8% [3]
No research on male victims or other gender identities.
Cost of domestic abuse to the economy each year:
No research.
Estimated % change due to COVID-19:
No research.
Current law and policy:
Paraguay commits to boost resources for rural women and improve coordinated action to prevent violence against women and punish perpetrators. [4]
Speaking in 2015 the former President, Horacio Cartes made a commitment to strengthen the actions needed to speed up the advancement of real and effective equality between men and women in Paraguay through the national regulatory framework. This was followed up by the passing of the Law for Comprehensive Protection for Women against Any Kind of Violence in 2016 and the subsequent formation of a task force to ensure its implementation.[5] This law recognised femicide and obstetric violence as criminal offences, and also outlawed online abuse against women and girls. It also provides for comprehensive measures, such as free legal assistance, access to shelter and skills training for survivors. Furthermore, it called for a unified standardised system to collect data on gender-based violence. [6]
In February 2019, The Minister for Women’s Affairs Nilda Romero, presented the National Equality Plan which was also attended by the President Mario Abdo Benitez and the First Lady Silvana Lopez. The Minister proposed a plan to create conditions which would allow the economic empowerment and autonomy of women and to ensure women’s access to the courts. Furthermore, it mandated for the creation of a body to monitor gender violence to achieve greater effectiveness in the prevention and punishment of offenders. [7]
Finally, the significant increase in domestic violence as a result of the COVID - 19 Pandemic, led to the launch of a public awareness campaign “Get involved so we can prevent femicide”. This campaign was launched by UN Women and the Ministry of Women with the support of Itaipu Binacional and the First Lady’s office . [8]
Sources
[1] Worldometer, “Paraguay Population (Live)”, (worldometers.info)
[2] https://www.cfr.org/blog/women-around-world-week-11
[3] Bott S, Guedes A, Ruiz-Celis AP, Mendoza JA. Intimate partner violence in the Americas: A systematic review and reanalysis of national prevalence estimates. Based on data from: Centro Paraguayo de Estudios de Población (CEPEP). 2009. Encuesta Nacional de Demografía y Salud Sexual y Reproductiva 2008: Informe Final. Asunción, Paraguay: CEPEP.
[4], [5] https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/step-it-up/commitments/paragua
[6] https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2018/3/news-paraguay-criminalizes-femicide