14Review Article Economics of Agriculture 2/2015
UDC: 338.43.02:364.642
THE EFFECT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY ON DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
Ferhat Cejvanovic1, Alma Kovacevic2, Zoran Grgic3, Aleksandar Maksimovkf,
Vesna Miletic5
Summary
Rural development policy deals with achieving goalsfor rural areas anda wide range ofsocio-economic activities are included within it. This work intends to connect rural development policies with the occurrence of domestic violence in rural areas. The area of research is the territory of Tuzla Canton, which is, by definition of OECD (less than 150 habitants/km2), a predominantly rural area. Domestic violence is a wide spread form of violence and a discrimination against women. Domestic violence includes all forms of violence occurring in the family, expanding the possibilities that perpetrators ofviolence and victims of violence may even be persons who do not live in the family but are related to family members, e.g. former partners, relatives, etc.
Research results show that victims of domestic violence are in 90% of the cases women (wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, etc.) and that domestic violence is constantly increasing each following year. All forms ofviolence over women come stem from a principal discrimination towards women which results in coerce or use of force. For that reason, violence over women is a manifestation of a fundamentally unequal position of women and men, and it represents a form ofdiscrimination against women. This paper uses data acquiredfrom Federal Office of Statistics ofFederation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and statistical data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tuzla Canton. On the basis of the gathered data, we employed the descriptive method, the method of analysis and synthesis, as well as the comparative method
1 Ferhat Cejvanovic, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Government of Brcko District of B&H, an external associate, Faculty of Economics in Tuzla, Address: Univerzitetska Street no. 8, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Phone: +387 35 320 820, E-mail: ferhat.cejvanovic@gmail.com
2 Alma Kovacevic, M.Sc., Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tuzla Canton, Aleja Alije Izetbegovica no. 28, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Phone: +387 61 283 058, E-mail: alma.kr@bih.net.ba
3 Zoran Grgic, Ph.D., Full professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Svetosimunska cesta no. 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, Phone: +385 1 239 3760, E-mail: zgrgic@agr.hr
4 Aleksandar Maksimovic, M.Sc., High School of Computing and Business Communication -eMPIRICA, Bulevar mira no. 8, 76100 Brcko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Phone: +387 65 908 494, E-mail: a.maksimovic22@gmail.com
5 Vesna Miletic, Ph.D., Assistant professor, Faculty of Business Studies Vrsac, Megatrend University, Omladinski trg no. 17, 26300 Vrsac, Serbia, Phone: +381 64 234 54 89, E-mail: vmiletic68@gmail.com
ofanalysis. The hypothesis of this paper was the assumption that "women in rural areas are more frequently victims of domestic violence than women living in urban areas".
Key words: domestic violence, rural development policy, rural area, victim of violence, criminal act.
JEL: Q16, K14, Q19
Introduction
Violence against women represents a serious social problem and it reflects through the gender-sex discrimination of women (Antic, 2000). One form of the violence against women is domestic violence. Reports of World Health Organization (WHO, 1996) show that domestic violence is widespread and it demands a comprehensive answer from all states. Domestic violence is a complex and widespread phenomenon which requires a coordinated reaction from organs of state in order to ensure victims' safety and effective prosecution and punishment of the perpetrator. Domestic violence is a serious violation of human rights and therefore international standards for protection of human rights impose an obligation on states to ensure victims' protection and help. These mentioned standards are contained in the recommendations number V (2002) of Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the member states about the protection of women from violence (GRC, 2009). As a way of fighting this problem, numerous international documents and conventions that define domestic violence have been adopted, prohibiting it at the same time and demanding from the countries to undertake decisive measures to sanction the perpetrators of these crimes. International conventions, within which the regulation of domestic violence is recognized, are: the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (ADEPTA, 2011).
United Nations documents are of great importance to the recognition of domestic violence and violations of human rights according to the international law as well as the form of discrimination against women. The report of the Cantonal Attorney's Office (Tuzla Canton) shows that victims of domestic violence are, in 90% of cases, women. Having that in mind, the target of this research is to determine the level and ratio of violence against women in families in rural and urban area of Tuzla Canton, as well as the educational structure of victims of domestic violence in the area of Tuzla Canton (Kovacevic, Cejvanovic, 2013).
Materials and method
The paper used secondary data sources such as data from publications of the Ministry of Interior of the Tuzla County (MIATC, 2013a). Also there have been used data from B&H Agency for Statistics and the Department of Statistics of Federation Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on the data collected were used scientific methods: desk research, descriptive methods, methods of analysis and synthesis, methods of induction and deduction as well as a comparative analysis method.
The policy of rural development with regard to domestic violence
The policy of rural development deals with the realization of goals for rural areas and covers a wide range of socio-economic activities. What should be emphasized is that according to the definition of OECD (OECD, 2003) rural areas are those where the population density is below 150 inhabitants/m2. The goal of this research is to make the connection between the policy of rural development, women's education and the phenomenon of domestic violence in rural areas. The question that arises is whether the domestic violence occurs in rural areas? Probably the most common opinion is that it does not occur, because family members are always together (more often than in urban areas), that everyone has its own responsibilities, etc. However, the reality is much different since domestic violence in rural areas is more present than in urban (Kovacevic, Cejvanovic, 2013).
The claim is confirmed by the results of the inquiry and indicators for Tuzla Canton, because what has been analyzed is characterized as a group of people registered as victims and their residence in rural areas. In most cases of domestic violence, women victims from rural areas do not know whom to ask for help, how to seek for it and they are ashamed of the community's reaction. Furthermore, they are not familiar with the term "Women's Shelter", and therefore they choose to go to the Centre of Social Work only if they need temporary financial support.
This is the proof that the consciousness of the society in this country is still on a low level. All levels of government, legislation regulations and media as well do not solve the problems of domestic violence in a correct way. Majority of population who live in these rural areas consider domestic violence as a part of upbringing method or usual communicative skill. It is also important to add that the problem lies in the fact that people are uninformed and do not have enough knowledge about the problem both in rural areas and in urban areas. Women are also unwilling to talk about domestic violence because they consider it to be a part of private life which is not supposed to be shared with public.
Domestic violence as criminal offense
Bosnia and Herzegovina has managed to implement an adequate framework of law in accordance with international standards in the field of domestic violence. Based on that, criminal law has been reformed and prior to that, domestic violence was considered to be a part of private sphere and was not characterized as violation of fundamental human rights and freedom. With this reform of criminal law in 2003, Bosnia and Herzegovina defined domestic violence as criminal offense in the Criminal Law of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Domestic violence has been defined as specific criminal offense by the Article of Criminal Justice Law 222 (Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 36/2003). Incrimination of domestic violence enabled the analysis of this problem which was conducted by state institutions within their jurisdiction, as holders of human rights protection. Bosnia and Herzegovina is working to end it preventively (by giving a warning that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and society will not tolerate it) and repressively (by punishing the perpetrators). However, in order to fight with this behaviour more effectively, it is necessary to re-socialize the perpetrator by introducing special measures to protect victims (such as for e.g. psychosocial treatment and
treatment of addiction) in order to affect the perpetrator to change his attitudes and behaviour. Protective measures are prescribed by the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence (Official Gazette of FBiH, no. 20/2013). Despite of the domestic violence incrimination, all problems of victims have not been solved. The legal proceedings take quite a long time, and victims cannot get effective protection on time. Apart from this, another issue appeared, professionals (the police, prosecutors, judges, social workers) are not enough educated and there is also lack of multidisciplinary approach in solving the problem of domestic violence. One of the possible reasons of insufficient education in the first 2-3 years since the criminal law in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been established lies in the fact that domestic violence represents completely new criminal offense which did not exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina's criminal law before.
Women as victims of domestic violence
When the issue of domestic violence is being examined, it is necessary to isolate its manifestation and that is: violence against woman- wife and separately against other family members. It is interesting to notice that one ofthe main causes ofviolence is considered to be the system of relationships established in society in terms of unequal power distribution. Unequal distribution of power between men and women existed throughout history in all periods of society. Women are exposed to different types of violence: physical, sexual, psychological and economic, and the roots of violence lie deeply in the structure of society (Idzakovic et al., 2012). According to the analysis of domestic violence myths, violence against women recognizes no social and economic differences. It happens everywhere and on all social levels and groups. Apart from that, women's education also makes no difference when it comes to violence. Women's professions do not change their partner's violent behaviour. These mentioned myths characterize all states around the globe and domestic violence exists in all countries in the world.
Prevention and intervention in the field of domestic violence involves a system of measures and activities which society and its institutions use to confront a specific social problem. That is one of the questions connecting women around the globe. When discussing the presence of domestic violence, this research began with assembling the data about number of reports on committed criminal offense "domestic violence". The police officers have assembled the data in the area of Tuzla Canton according to canton's prosecution authorities for the period 2006-2012 (MIATC, 2013b). It is presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Coordinated statistics about reports on criminal offense "Domestic violence" in accordance with Article 222 of Criminal Justice Law of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period of 2006-2012
Period The number of reports on criminal offense "Domestic violence" according to prosecution's authorities of Tuzla Canton
2006 93
2007 115
2008 129
Period The number of reports on criminal offense "Domestic violence" according to prosecution's authorities of Tuzla Canton
2009 100
2010 129
2011 162
2012 183
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013b.
In this section of the work, the results in the past three years (2010, 2011 and 2012) will be analyzed. The presented data in Table 1 show that the number of criminal offenses of domestic violence tends to increase. In 2010, the number of reports on criminal offense "domestic violence" directed towards Tuzla Canton's prosecution authorities was 129 cases. In 2011, 162 reports on criminal offense "domestic violence" were registered. In 2012, there was even larger increase of criminal offences per 21 (183 reports to Tuzla Canton's prosecution authorities). The increase of reports has been visible since 2006. There is a striking increase of reports year in year out, which can be connected to the rise of victims' awareness, respectively women's awareness as the most common victims of domestic violence. That is the result of many campaigns by governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to prevent domestic violence by informing, counselling, distribution of leaflets, brochures, and other campaigns. The research conducted in the area of Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina) proves that domestic violence is present in our society and environment. In table 2, the number and structure of female victims are presented for the years 2010-2012. In 2010, the number of victims was 145,124 of which were women.
Table 2. The number and structure of female victims for the period of 2010-2012
Female victims of violence The number of victims according to their age and involvement in violence
2010 2011 2012
Total no. of victims No. of female victims % Total no. of victims No. of female victims % Total no. of victims No. of female victims %
Wives(current and former) 90 72.58 116 82.86 114 71.25
Mothers 14 11.29 16 11.43 20 12.5
Daughters 16 12.9 6 4.28 18 11.25
Sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmother, stepmothers 4 3.23 2 1.43 8 5
TOTAL 145 124 100 183 140 100 200 160 100
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013b.
In Table 2, it is evident that the most common victims are wives and ex-wives as well (72.58 Sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmothers, stepmothers Sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmothers, stepmothers %). In the same year, there were 12.9 % of daughters abused by their fathers, which is extremely concerning phenomenon in the society. Mothers of abusers are also (11.29%) their victims because they usually live in the same household with son and his family. Sisters, sisters-
in-law, mothers-in-law, and stepmothers are victims of domestic violence likewise (3.23%). In 2011, 183 victims of violence were registered, 140 of which were female victims. Table 2 also shows the structure of female victims in 2011. In this year the most common female victims were wives and ex-wives 82.86 %. After wives, there are mothers (11.43%), then daughters (4.28%), and in the end there are sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmothers, mothers-in-law and stepmothers as victims of domestic violence (1.43%). In table 2, the analysis of 2012 shows that out of 200 victims of domestic violence 160 were females. As victims of domestic violence there were registered: wives (71.25%), mothers (12.5%), daughters (11.25%), sisters, sisters-in-law, grandmothers, mothers-in-law and stepmother (5%).
Age structure of female victims of domestic violence
The aim of this inquiry was to establish the age structure of women who are victims in domestic violence. The data analyzed are just for 2012, because in this particular year, 160 women have been registered as victims of domestic violence in Tuzla Canton. The analysis shows (table 3) that the major number of victims is between 45-60 years old, them 63 or 39.6%, then victims of 30-45 years old, them 41 or 25.6%. After these, there are women who are between 18-30 years old, them 32 or 20%, then women older than 60 years, them 15 or 9.3%, and at the end there are children younger than 18 years, them 9 or 5.5%.
Table 3. The age structure of female victims of domestic violence for 2012 in the region of Tuzla Canton
The age of female victims Number of victims %
Below 18 years 9 5.5
From 18 - 30 32 20
From 30 - 45 41 25.6
From 45 - 60 63 39.6
Below 60 15 9.3
Total 160 100
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013b.
It can be seen in table 3 that the major population of women victims of domestic violence is between 45 and 60 years old (39.6%), then the age category from 30 to 45 years which matches the age category of married women. Also, in table 2, it can be seen that married women are most affected by domestic violence.
Women and education
Education is the strongest indicator of women's strengthening in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By careful examination of law regulations, it is established that everybody has the same right to education. The primary education is free and mandatory for everyone. Because of the patriarchal society in our country, education is not considered to be obligatory for women, but that her obligations need to be aimed towards home and family. The bad economic position is in the immediate relationship with the educational restraints. Therefore, the women's economic dependency gives the men the power to treat his wife in
a violent way (Berbic, 2005). According to the data from Agency for Statistics in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the number of unemployed people in 2010 is analyzed with regard to educational field and sex, and the results are presented in table 4.
Table 4. The number of unemployed people according to educational field in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (situation in 31.12.2011.)
Group Total Unqualified Semi-qualified and low-qualified Qualified and high-qualified Vocational education ISCED 4 ISCED 5A
Women 190,781 64,661 3,690 52,798 54,193 3,189 12,250
Men 180,309 54,137 5,612 76,901 35,754 1,745 6,160
Total 371,090 118,798 9,302 129,699 89,947 4,934 18,410
Source: Agency for Statistics in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2011.
It can be seen from the presented data in table 4, that the rate of unemployed women is smaller than the rate of unemployed men just in the case of semi-qualified and low-qualified field, and in the case of qualified and high-qualified field.
Table 5. Population's working ability according to activity and sex for 2011 in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group Working ability % Labour force Employed people % Unemployed people
Women 828,000 51.4 247,000 168,000 35 79,000
Men 783,000 48.6 431,000 312,000 65 119,000
Total 1,611,000 100 678,000 480,000 100 198,000
Source: Agency for Statistics in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2011.
The total number of people able to work according to activity and sex in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina can be seen from table 5, and that 828 000 (51.4%) are women and 783 000 (48.6%) are men. When analyzing the data, it is obvious that the total number of employed women is 35% and the total number of employed men is 65%. Using the sample on which the inquiry is conducted, the female victims' level of education is analyzed. The education is divided into four categories: uneducated, primary school, high school and college. It is possible to see the level of education in the Tuzla Canton from 2012 in Table 6.
Table 6. The victim's level of education
Level Number of victims %
Uneducated 18 11.26
Primary school 81 50.62
High school 60 37.5
College 1 0.63
Total 160 100.00%
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013a.
It can be seen from table 6, according to the sample on which the inquiry is conducted, that the majority of victims of domestic violence have finished primary school (50.62%), then high school (37.5%), and at the end come women victims who are uneducated (11.26%) and who have graduated from college (0.63%). The women of higher education are usually employed and independent of partner, which means that if they become victims, they tend to solve the problem quickly by divorcing from their partner and continuing their life without violence. The women who have low or no education are usually unemployed, and therefore are economically dependent of their partners. Except from that, they do not have any other property than the shared one with the partner, so they decide not to leave him and accept to be a victim for the rest of their lives.
Women in rural areas and domestic violence
Domestic violence is evident in the rural areas. That can be best seen from Table 7 in which the females registered as victims of domestic violence for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in Tuzla Canton are from the rural areas. It is necessary to point out that the actual number is much bigger and that women deny reporting this kind of discrimination due to fear, dependency and lack of information. Because of that, the problem stays within in a family. Small number of women knows from whom to seek for help and whom to call if the problem arises. Most of them have never even heard of the women's shelter, which is not the case in urban areas. The number of offenses "domestic violence" is presented in Table 7 by municipalities (divided rural and urban area) of Tuzla Canton for 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Table 7. The offenses "domestic violence" by municipalities in Tuzla Canton (period 2010-2012)
PERIOD Banovici Celic Doboj Istok Gracanica Gradacac Kalesija Kladanj Lukavac Sapna Srebrenik Teocak Tuzla Zivinice TOTAL
2010 2 3 1 6 19 12 6 4 2 9 2 43 20 129
2011 7 5 3 5 17 11 6 11 4 25 1 35 32 162
2012 2 2 4 8 22 20 1 18 1 17 / 59 29 183
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013b.
It can be seen from table 8 that the rate of domestic violence is 78.4% in rural area for 2010 in Tuzla Canton and in urban area 21.6%. From the same table, it is possible to notice that the rate of domestic violence in rural area in Tuzla Canton for 2011 is 66.6% and in urban area 33.34%. Table 8 also shows that the rate of domestic violence in rural area in Tuzla Canton for 2012 is 67.75% and in urban area 32.25%.
Table 8. Domestic violence in rural and urban area in Tuzla Canton (period 2010-2012)
Area Number of reports on criminal offense "domestic violence" of the Article 222 of the Criminal Justice Law of FBiH
2010 2011 2012
Number of victims % Number of victims % Number of victims %
Urban 43 33.34 35 21.6 59 32.25
Rural 86 66.66 127 78.4 124 67.75
Total 129 100 162 100 183 100
Source: Author's analysis according to data from MIATC, 2013b.
Measures for improvement of the quality of women's life in rural areas
The first thing that needs to be emphasized, when discussing measures in the rural development policy, is the importance of measures of economic and social policy and the process of education in rural areas. Likewise, it is necessary to promote the policy of rural development by increasing sex-gender equality, in a way where it is necessary to reallocate responsibilities of holders of rural development policy. It has been noticed that the active necessary infiltration of women into the labour market demands the mobilization of other resources. Holders of rural development policy could improve the programs for the care and education of children, or ensure social protection and public pensions in order to create opportunities for women to participate more actively and productively in the economies of the rural area. Likewise, it is necessary to increase the representation of women in employers' organizations, farmer or trade unions, and it represents an important element in creating the rural development policy. The negotiating power of women will increase with this approach, and it will also serve as a reminder to the creators of the policy that the empowerment of women is a good approach to fight poverty and improve the existential conditions of the rural population. It is interesting to emphasize here that the organization "Vesta" from Tuzla has conducted a research on the condition, needs and possibilities for the improvement of women's position in rural areas within the project "Socio-economic empowerment of the women's position from rural areas through active participation in local development plans".
The research is based on the surveys and workshops with a total of 450 women from the area of 17 rural municipalities in 37 rural local communities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research results indicate a high level of dissatisfaction with the evaluation of the role of women in the rural areas, according to the claims of about 80% of respondents. The conducted research and interviews with women in rural areas have pointed to a number of problems, including in particular difficult approach to institutions of support, resources, information-advisory support, while traditional stereotypes and barriers limit more significant involvement of women from rural areas in socio-economic processes. Family concept of farming includes the unpaid work of women and lack of social involvement in resolving common problems that isolates a woman from rural areas in decision-making processes. The research indicates the encouraging fact that even 59.56% (268) of respondents confirmed that starting small business initiatives (through the production of healthy food, medicinal herbs, rural tourism, greenhouse production, flower growing, handicrafts, etc.) can contribute to a better economic position of women in rural areas. There are 26.00% (117)
of the respondents who claim that it is possible to some extent. In contrast to these findings, 6% (27) of respondents pointed that it is possible but to a very limited extent, and that it is not possible at all thought only 1.11% (5), while 7.33% (33) stated that they did not know the answer to the question (VESTA, 2012). A significant percentage of 85.56% (59.56% + 26.00%) of respondents confirmed that starting small business initiatives can in a large or sufficient measure contribute to better economic position of women in the rural areas, which is encouragingly high percentage that indicates the need for development of support programs aimed at the improvement of the economic position of women from rural areas through diversification of products and services that women from rural areas can provide, with the necessary support.
Hence, educational support and financial incentives to the development of not only agronomic, but also small service businesses can be one of the key generators of improvement of the women's economic position in rural areas, and the revitalization and development of rural areas. The positive examples of support for the economic empowerment of women from rural areas and organized forms of action are encouraging. The analysis ofthe research results, regarding the willingness ofrespondents to engage in the work of women organizations, forming solidarity groups or similar forms of organization with the aim of better representation of interests and needs of women, indicated the positive attitude of women towards this form of action. The results of mentioned research project show that 84.66% of respondents confirmed their readiness to engage in the work of women organizations, forming solidarity groups or similar forms of organization with the aim of better representation of interests and needs of women. Based on the answers, as well as statements of respondents themselves, the projects which would support the organized activities of women are welcomed, because there are not many communities in which women can self-organize without initial external support. It is absolutely clear that for more serious progress towards strengthening the position of women in rural areas, it is necessary for all actors of policy of rural development to recognize problems and give comprehensive support that will ensure equal participation of women from rural areas in all socio-economic processes (VESTA, 2012). Furthermore, when problematics of rural development policies are observed, it is important to emphasize that services focused towards the support of entrepreneurship with women at the forefront in rural development is of utter importance, including better access to information, training-education and adequate professional prequalification.
Women need to invest their time in education to acquire professional skills, so they could improve their knowledge. However, the question of balancing work and familial obligations is current topic in most economical sectors, especially in agricultural and rural development sector. This is one of the main obstacles for increased engagement of women in managerial positions and bigger role of women from rural areas. In general, policy and rural development measures depend on legislation regulative. What is to be achieved here is a synthesis of the principles of rural development policy and the problems of domestic violence. Policy holders have tried, in that context, to adopt series of measures that would improve the quality of life in rural areas and reduce domestic violence. For example,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to abate the situation from 2006, brought in the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, which is primarily intended to protect the victims of domestic violence, until the criminal procedure is executed.
The protection of victims is conceived through the implementation of protective measures by the competent municipal courts, such as: removal from the apartment, home or other residential facility and prohibition of retracing in such, restraining order, prohibition of harassment or stalking victims of violence, mandatory psychosocial treatment, mandatory treatment of addiction, and the possibility for arresting the person who committed domestic violence. All of these are measures whose intention is to protect the victim from the bully -perpetrators of domestic violence, until the criminal procedure is executed. However, the practice of implementation of these measures is weak, and the difficulties which were encountered during the implementation of the old law on protection against domestic violence will try to be overcome by the adoption of the new Law on Protection against Domestic Violence, applied from 15.3.2013. In the context of legislative activities, it should be emphasized here that Bosnia and Herzegovina, by the reform of the criminal law from 2013, defines domestic violence as a criminal offence under Article 222 of the Criminal Justice Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. One of the possible measures of preventing domestic violence is providing safe shelters for victims. Usually the shelters for victims are established and organized by non-governmental organizations (NGO) which exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but according to the author, in insufficient numbers. Holders of public policies give symbolic support to the work of these shelters for victims. In the case of violence against women, they seek refuge in so-called 'Safe houses'.
What should be celebrated in the future in order to raise consciousness of women in rural areas is World Rural Women's Day (15th October). The very idea was launched at the conference of the United Nations dedicated to women held in Peking in 1995. It was decided that the 15th October is devoted to all women in rural areas in the world and to their problems. The purpose of celebrating this day is to strengthen in long term the position of women in rural areas, and to encourage them to participate more actively in society.
It is important to point out that it is necessary to gradually change the perception of gender and sex roles, spreading awareness about the importance of women's empowerment. Gender equality must not be seen as a threat, but as an opportunity. Rural societies are heavily influenced by traditional norms which predispose women to the role of mother and guardian, and in this way prevent them from developing their professional careers and limit their access to important property resources.
Violence against women, including the domestic violence, is a severe form of violation of human rights of women. The measures for suppression of domestic violence against women include raising the public consciousness about this phenomena, problems and ways of suppressing the gender-based violence, improving the protection of the rights of women who are victims of different sorts of violence, inter-sector cooperation, coordination of competent state bodies, institution and organization of civil society and training of competent authorities and other organizations dealing with situation of women in rural areas.
Conclusion
Domestic violence as a form of crime is on the rise, and the victims are mostly women. Through this research, which was conducted in the area of Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina), it can be seen that the victims of domestic violence are mostly females, namely: wives, mothers, daughters and other female family members. The research showed the continuing tendency of growth in the number of female victims (124 in 2010, 140 in 2011 and 160 female victims in 2012.) Moreover, it is noticeable that both wives and ex-wives are in the first place as the victims of domestic violence.
Furthermore, when analyzing the age structure of female victims one can see from the research that those are mostly women of the age between 45 and 60 and women of the age between 35 and 45, corresponding to the group of wives who are most abused at home.
When analyzing the educational field of the victims one can see that the victims are mostly women with primary and secondary education, then women with no education, and finally women with high education. Domestic violence is present in urban and especially in rural areas, and it represents a widespread problem that needs to be solved institutionally and multidisciplinary. Domestic violence is the initiator of other criminal offenses, and the most dangerous product of domestic violence is juvenile delinquency.
On the basis of the research in the area of Tuzla Canton, it is evident that domestic violence is more present in families in rural areas than in urban areas. One of the problem is that women in rural areas do not know whom to turn to when the violence occurs and how to seek help, or they are embarrassed of the community's reaction and are not familiar with the term 'Safe house'. It can be concluded that awareness of people in rural areas about the problem of domestic violence is still on a low level.
It should be noted that the problem of domestic violence should be the concern of not only all the levels of authority and law regulations, but also of media and the entire non-governmental sector (including non-governmental organizations, civil society and competent groups of society). It should also be emphasized that special attention should be paid to measures of rural development policy (Cernic Istenic, 2002) in the domain of economic independence of women in rural areas, social policy in order to alleviate poverty, and also to education of women with a view to long-term resolution of violence against women (Zutinic, 2003).
It is necessary that domestic violence is not considered as a part of educational method or an usual way of communication, but to consider it as economic, social and educational problem that needs to be solved. There is a lack of awareness of the public about the occurrence of this problem and people, especially in rural areas, are not sufficiently informed. Therefore, it is essential to solve this problem in long-term.
It is also essential that women become braver and bolder when talking about domestic violence and to stop considering this problem as their personal matter that does not concern the public. In the end, it can be concluded that social marginalization, lack of
opportunities for employment of women in rural areas, the dominance of discriminatory social practices, lack of victim's will to endure in the legal proceedings as well as the absence of help from the responsible institutions represent the problem of the continuing existence of domestic violence.
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UTICAJ POLITIKE RURALNOG RAZVOJA NA NASILJE U
PORODICI
Ferhat Cejvanovic6, Alma Kovacevic7 Zoran Grgic8, Aleksandar Maksimovic9,
Vesna Miletic10
Sazetak
Politika ruralnog razvoja bavi se ostvarivanjem ciljeva za ruralna podrucja i obuhvata sirok dijapazon razlicitih socio-ekonomskih aktivnosti. Intencija ovog rada je napraviti spoj i sponu politike ruralnog razvoja i pojave nasilja u obitelji na ruralnom podrucju. Podrucje istrazivanje je teritorijA tuzlanskog kantona (Bosna i Hercegovina), koja po definijci OECD-a (ispod 150 stanovnika/km2) spada u pretezno ruralno podrucje. Nasilje u porodici je rasprostranjen vid nasilja i diskriminacije zena. Nasilje u porodici podrazumjeva sve oblike nasilja koji se dogaâaju u porodici, prosirujuCi mogucnost dapocinitelji nasilja i zrtve nasilja mogu biti sve osobe koje ne zive u porodici ali su povezani clanovi porodice, kao sto su bivsi partneri, rodbina i sl.
Rezultati istrazivanja pokazuju da su zrtve nasilja u porodici 90% zene (supruge, majke, kcerke, sestre i sl.), i da je nasilje u porodici u stalnom porastu iz godine u godinu. Svi vidovi nasilja nad zenama proisticu iz nacelne diskriminacije prema zeni sto rezultira silu ili prinudu. Stogaje nasilje nad zenama manifestacijafundamentalno nejednakog polozaja zena i muskaraca i predstavlja vid diskriminacije zena. U ovom radu koristeni su izvori podataka Zavoda za statistiku Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine i statisticki podaci Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova tuzlanskog kantona. Na osnovu prikupljenih podataka koristena je deskriptivna metoda, metoda analize i sinteze, kao i komparativna metoda analize. U radu se poslo od pretpostavke da su „zene u ruralnom podrucju vise zrtve nasilja u porodici od zena koje zive u urbanom podrucju ".
Kljucne rijeci: nasilje u porodici, politika ruralnog razvoja, ruralno podrucje, zrtva nasilja, krivicno djelo.
6 Dr. sc. Ferhat Cejvanovic, vanredni profesor, Vlada Brcko distrikta, spoljni saradnik Ekonomskog fakultata u Tuzli, Univerzitetska 8, 75000 Tuzla, BiH, Telefon: +087 35 320 820, E-mail: ferhat. cejvanovic@gmail.com
7 Mr. sc. Alma Kovacevic, Ministarstvo unutrasnjih poslova tuzlanksoj kantona, Aleja Alije IzetbegoviCa 28, 75000 Tuzla, BiH, Telefon: +387 61 283 058, E-mail: alma.kr@bih.net.ba
8 Prof. dr Zoran Grgic, redovni profesor, Poljoprivredni fakultet, Svetosimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Hrvatska, Telefon: +385 1 239 3760, E-mail: zgrgic@agr.hr
9 Aleksandar Maksimovic, M.Sc., Visoka skola za kompijutere i poslovnu komunikaciju - eMPIRICA, Bulevar mira 8, 76100 Brcko, BiH, Telefon: +387 65 908 494, E-mail: a.maksimovic22@gmail.com
10 Doc. dr Vesna Miletic, Fakultet poslovnih studija Vrsac, Megatrend Univerzitet, Omladinski tig 17, 26300 Vrsac, Srbija, Telefon: +381 64 234 54 89, E-mail: vmiletic68@gmail.com
