24th March, 2004

DAVID ADAMS

At least one member in almost half of all families living in southern Iraq has been subjected to violent abuse, according to a new report from the US-based group Physicians for Human Rights.

A survey of some 2000 households living in three southern cities has found that 47 per cent of men and women reported themselves or household members had been the victim of abuses including torture, beatings, kidnappings, disappearances and murder.

The data shows that as many as 70 per cent of these abuses occurred in the family home and were witnessed by household members.

The study also found the rate of domestic violence was seven times that of the United States while suicide attempt rates were at between 5,000 and 7,000 attempts for every 100,000 people in the past year. Six per cent of women were found to have suffered sexual violence in their lifetime.

Physicians for Human Rights say the study underlines the “dire need of a comprehensive system to improve public health and healthcare services”.