Women’s economic empowerment is critical to achieve gender equality and sustainable development, but it is also critical to help women in leaving violent domestic contexts. In fact, most of the time they economically depend on their partners and it is well known that IPV survivors can be subjected to different forms of violence, including attempts by the perpetrator to undermine their economic independence. That is what is called “economic violence”.
Economic violence is a form of intimate partnership violence that has not received specific attention until very recently. Although its definition and boundaries are not so clear, it refers to a conduct directed to depriving the victim of all or any of its economic or financial resources. It may include any acts of control and monitoring of the behaviour of the IPV victim in terms of the use and distribution of money and the constant threat of denying economic resources such for example the partner preventing her from making independent decisions on family finances or giving her a monthly amount of money the use of which has to be justified or to oblige her to endorse guarantees in favour of the partner. Control mechanisms may also include controlling the victim’s access to healthcare services, forbidding her to work outside her home, depriving of her personal documents (passport, residence permit, health documents), etc.
What mentioned above urges to raise awareness about economic violence both among IPV survivors and public society.
The data provided by Centro Veneto Progetti Donna Annual Report 2018 prove that 33% of women who asked for help are unemployed, and economic violence emerged in 250 cases out of 1086.
To respond to these deep‐rooted issues, Centro Veneto Progetti Donna together with two other Italian anti‐violence centres have promoted specific researches and activities on the matter. The Project, called “I count on me”, is aimed at gathering specific information on socioeconomic conditions of women who asked for help to an anti‐violence centre, as well as detect episodes, behaviours or attitudes that can affect women’s autonomy and economic independence. Furthermore, the Project is designed to implement training and awareness‐raising activities on economic empowerment and independence towards IPV survivors.
This includes, in particular, an activity on self‐awareness on economic autonomy and a training on economic‐financial literacy for IPV survivors and the implementation of an awareness and information campaign on economic violence in the territories involved by the Project.
When considering women’s economic independence, it is also important to include economic security, referring to the ability to plan for future needs and risks and that basic needs will be met. Building security could include having insurance against loss or adversity, being able to save in different ways for retirement or for a child’s education, improving financial knowledge or new employment skills. Referring to this, the Project has produced specific communication material on financial and economic issues addressed to women, including simple advices, in order to raise awareness and empower them on economic choices and management.
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