The West Nordic conference was co-hosted on 2 September in Ilulissat in Greenland by the Government of Greenland and the Danish Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Various progress reports were presented from Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland on the status of gender equality in the West Nordic countries. All three have been hit hard by the global financial crisis and climate change. They also have a problem in which women from rural districts are becoming educated and moving to larger communities, while the men remain in the small communities.

The topic of male violence against women was raised both during the conference and during the NGO day held the day before the conference. A new Icelandic study of male violence against women was presented by Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir, Director of the Icelandic Centre for Gender Equality, Jafnréttisstofa. 2500 Icelandic women were interviewed in a quantitative part, while social workers, doctors, nurses, midwives, heads of schools, family lawyers, the police and NGOs were interviewed on how they meet women who have been victims of violence. The survey was conducted by the Research Centre for Child and Family Protection at the University of Iceland.

According to the study, 42 per cent of all women in Iceland have experienced some sort of violence after the age of 16. Four percent of them have experienced violence in the past year.

22 percent have experienced domestic violence at some time in their lives. 1.6 per cent have suffered from violence in the past year. This represents 1800 women in Iceland, which is significantly more than the 1100 women who said the same thing in a study in 1996.

26 per cent of the women who had experienced domestic violence said that they were in danger of their lives, and 41 per cent of them were physically injured. Only 13 per cent contacted the police.

Five per cent were pregnant and in 24 per cent of the cases there were children present.

Among the various professional groups that meet women who have been victims of violence, there are considerable gaps of knowledge, according to Kristín Ástgeirsdóttir.

"Groups at risk do not get the attention they require," she says.

This applies to pregnant women, elderly women, disabled women and women from a non-Nordic ethnic background.

"Children are also exposed to considerable risk, both as victims and as witnesses to violence in their homes," says Kristina Ástgeirsdóttir.

Break the taboo on violence
The study calls for training for all professionals involved and action plans for men's violence against women in all levels of society. Only the work of NGOs is totally accepted. These organisations also take the greatest responsibility for women and children affected by violence.

In Greenland the 8th March Group held several high-profile demonstrations against men's violence against women. Through various campaigns, they have managed to draw attention to an issue that has previously been unspoken.

"Violence has been taboo," says Kathrine Bødker of the 8th March Group. But now there are more and more women coming forward and talking about the violence they have suffered.

A major demonstration this past winter following the death of a woman was attended by several older women who showed physical signs that they had also been beaten by men.

"They walk with us in demonstrations and we are also approached by men who use violence," said Inge Olsvig Brandt, who works for the Council of Gender Equality in Greenland.

The number of cases reported has risen sharply in recent years, but the housing shortage in Greenland is still a major problem. Women who have been beaten by men they live with are stuck in relationships because it can take up to 20 years to get a new home.

"In Nuuk many people live in staff housing which is tied to the man's workplace," says Kathrine Bødker. These women have nowhere to go. Women think of their children first. If they cannot find a new home the children will have problems.

"There is no freedom of movement for women," says Inge Olsvig Brandt. The housing shortage helps to keep women as victims.

The small isolated communities of Greenland are also a problem. It is difficult to seek support and help when everybody knows everybody. Moving to another village to escape the violence is not easy either.

"A woman cannot just move to another town. It takes a lot of resources," says Inge Olsvig Brandt.

Processing the trauma
The 8th March Group would like to see greater support on many different levels for women who have been victims of violence. Psychologist Jonna Ketwa, who also took part in the conference, has met many women and children who have been victims of violence and sexual assault in her work. She also deals with convicted offenders. She can see a common trait among the men.

"Many have been victims of violence and have seen violence," says Jonna Ketwa. It has become the norm for them. They distance themselves from their own violence, but what they have been exposed to before overshadows their actions.

Men believe that they have trouble controlling their women. They use violence when they experience jealousy and powerlessness. Alcohol is sometimes involved, but not always.

"It's a myth that alcohol always needs to involved," says Jonna Ketwa.

When men undergo therapy they process partly their own trauma and partly go through a change of attitude in which they learn to resolve conflicts in ways other than through violence.

"Many Greenlanders say that it takes two to fight. Women are said to exert psychological terror and the men respond with violence. The women therefore share the responsibility.

"However, society must stress that violence is not acceptable and that violence has consequences," said Jonna Ketwa.

By Bosse Parbring, NIKK