More than one-third of women worldwide suffer physical or sexual violence during their lifetimes, the first systematic study by the U.N. World Health Organization recently reported. Of the 35 percent of women who experienced violence, 30 percent of the violence was perpetrated by their partners. Violence against women is a serious crime, a human rights violation and a health problem that has reached epidemic proportions.
In many countries, the violence against females starts young. The WHO report noted a South African study that found that 42 percent of females 13 to 23 years of age reported experiencing physical dating violence.
In Japan an increasing number of incidents against elderly family members is taking place. The concept of the battered wife has expanded to include the battered parent or grandparent.