NCJ Number
231532
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 16 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2010 Pages: 902-918
Date Published
August 2010
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined the incidence of violence against women in post-Tsunami Sri Lanka and the reasons for post-disaster violence.
Abstract
This article presents a qualitative study of violence against women in post-tsunami Sri Lanka. It examines the types of violence occurring throughout the disaster's emergency and later phases, and whether overall levels of violence increased. Explanatory factors and responses by different humanitarian actors are analyzed and recommendations made for future disaster management. It is argued that violence against women during natural disasters must be understood within the context of the violence against women that prevails in societies at "normal" times, which is exacerbated by disaster. Response therefore necessitates addressing both the social inequalities underlying women's vulnerability to violence and specific factors that "trigger" violence during disaster. References (Published Abstract)