Violence Against Women: Jordan, 20% Approve To Be Beaten

AMMAN. Around 20 percent of Jordanian women approve being beaten by husbands to discipline them, according to a survey conducted by the department of statistics that was published today.

The study included nearly 15,000 families and 11,000 women who got married, said the report. Most of the respondents aged between 15 to 49 years old. Luck Steve, representative of UN Agencies which helped conduct the study, said measures must be taken to fight violence against women following surprising results of the survey.

"The result of the survey shows we have work to do regarding state of women in the society and how they are being treated," said Steve. The study was conducted during 2007 and made public during a public ceremony held at the department of statistics.

Activists have been campaigning to improve conditions of women in this tribal community, but they are faced with resistance from traditional politicians (...)