Australia's Divergent Legal Responses to Women Who Kill Their Abusive Partners

Concerns over the legal treatment of women who kill in response to domestic abuse have driven several jurisdictions to reform their homicide laws in recent years. This article examines how abused women are currently treated within the Australian legal system by analyzing homicide cases involving women prosecuted for killing an abusive partner in Australia from 2010 to 2020. The findings reveal the limitations of legal reforms to improve access to justice for abused women. Instead, there needs to be an increased focus toward pre-trial stages of criminal proceedings and to address persistent misconceptions and stereotypes associated with domestic abuse.

Characteristics of Intimate Partner Homicide in China: Compared With Previous Studies in Other Countries

Advancing towards modernization and urbanization, China is currently witnessing a soaring increase in intimate partner homicide (IPH). The present study sought to explore the characteristics of IPHs in China. Data from 979 judgments of this lethal serious crime were analyzed. In comparison with studies from other parts of the world, this study determined the characteristics of IPHs in China in terms of perpetrators, victims, incidents, and types of intimate relationships. Although the previous theoretical research has given reasonable explanations for IPHs, the relationship between perpetrator and victim is actually a neglected area in the study of IPHs. In this study, we found that the relationship between them played a leading role in understanding IPHs in China.

Occupational violence among female workers in an Iranian industrial area

Few studies have examined violence against female workers in the industrial sector. This study explored the prevalence of various types of violence and associated factors among female workers in the industrial sector. This descriptive survey was conducted in eleven industrial sites in Kashan, Iran, from April through September 2014. We used a 78-item questionnaire to obtain data from 817 female workers. More than half of the participants reported having experienced at least one type of violence. The prevalence rates of verbal aggression, sexual harassment, and physical violence were 52.5%, 12% and 11.5%, respectively. Single female workers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.09-4.27), and age older than 35 years were (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.26-2.93) each significantly related to increased odds of verbal violence. Short duration of employment (≤ five years) was the most strongly associated factor for sexual harassment (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.7-2.94). Working the night shift was significantly associated with encountering verbal violence (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.69-3.06). The high prevalence of violence suggests that management in industrial workplaces should invest time and resources in addressing violence. Developing a reporting procedure and training programs are recommended in dealing with workplace violence risk.