Gender-Based Violence Country Profile CHILE Contents INTRODUCTION 3 PREVALENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: PRE- AND POST-COVID 4 POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK 6 GBV RESPONSE MECHANISMS AND SERVICES 7 APPENDIX 1 – INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN CASES OF VAW 9 APPENDIX 2 – UN WOMEN: MEASURES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST 11 WOMEN (CHILE) GLOSSARY 12 REFERENCES 13 World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 3 INTRODUCTION With a total population of approximately 19.493.185 women experienced one or more forms of intimate by 2021, Chile’s economy is undergoing an adjustment partner violence in the past 12 months.3 The types phase after a remarkable expansion in 2021, with of violence reported included psychological violence real GDP growth dropping to 2.4 percent in 2022 (17 percent), economic violence (11 percent), sexual due to normalized consumption and contractionary violence (4 percent), and physical violence (3 percent).4 policies. This economic adjustment is predicted to Despite government efforts, data from the UN Office continue during the first half of 2023, as consumption on Drugs and Crime showed that the female homicide is expected to fall further amid weakened household rate increased to 1.97 per 100,000 in 2020, with sexual liquidity and labor market. violence (89.8%) and domestic violence (78.8%) being the crimes that mainly affect women.5 Only 22 percent The Chilean economy is based on the exploitation of of women who claimed to have suffered violence from agricultural, fishing, forest, and mining resources. their partner or ex-partner reported their cases to the Chile developed historically on the basis of a few police, and only a small proportion of cases resulted agricultural and mineral exports, as was common in in a conviction.6 As the COVID-19 pandemic has Latin America.1 Moreover Chile’s HDI value for 2021 exacerbated the problem of gender-based violence, which is 0,855— ranking the country in the Very High women’s labor force participation rate reduced by 10 human development category—positioning it at 42 percentage points as well as several other indicators out of 191 countries and territories.2 have been affected negatively. Chile has made several improvements in gender parity, but violence against women remains a significant problem in the country. For instance the 2020 Survey on Intrafamily Violence-Violence Against Women (ENVIF- VCM) stated that 25 percent of currently partnered 1 Chile | History, Map, Flag, Population, & Facts. (2023, April 11). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile/People#ref24685 2 United Nations. (n.d.). Specific country data. Human Development Reports. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/CHL 3 Saavedra, T., Contreras-Urbina, M., & Inchauste, G. (2022). Intimate partner violence against women: Prevalence, formal reporting, and risk factors in Chile. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099827204252277102/pdf/IDU0c982aacd0b- 315041630b33e038a0620a397d.pdf 4 Ibid 5 Police cases and citizens apprehended for crimes of major social connotation and domestic violence. Police cases are those crimes known to the police and include arrests in flagrante delicto and formal complaints made by citizens to the Carabineros de Chile or the Investigative Police of Chile. 6 ibid World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 4 PREVALENCE OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: PRE- AND POST-COVID UN Women Prevalence Data on Different Forms of The 2020 Survey on Intrafamily Violence-Violence Violence against Women7: Against Women (ENVIF-VCM) provides the best information available about the prevalence of — Lifetime Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner intimate partner violence in the country. According Violence: Official National Statistics Not Available to the survey, 25 percent of currently partnered women — Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence experienced one or more forms of intimate partner in the last 12 months: Official National Statistics violence in the past 12 months. By type of violence, Not Available 17 percent of women reported having experienced psychological violence, 11 percent economic violence, — Lifetime Non-Partner Sexual Violence: Official 4 percent sexual violence, and 3 percent physical National Statistics Not Available violence.8 — Child Marriage: Official National Statistics Not Available Among Latin America and the Caribbean Chile has improved their gender parity scores the most with Chile has a GII value of 0,187, ranking it 47 out of 170 an overall rank of 47th according to the Global countries in 2021. Gender Gap Index 2022, but despite the government efforts to eradicate violence against women in Chile, Regarding the Global Gender Gap Index, Chile has an much remains to be done. Data from the UN Office on overall rank of 47th according to the Global Gender Drugs and Crime, states that the female homicide rate Gap Index 2022 a considerable advance compared to in Chile in 2019 was 1.0 per 100,0009 increasing to 1.97 the previous year rank 70th. per 100,00010 in 2020; as for 2021, the female homicide rate decreased to 0.5 per 100,00011. Nevertheless, as 7 UN Women Global Database on Violence against Women. (n.d.). Chile. https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/chile 8 Saavedra, T., Contreras-Urbina, M., & Inchauste, G. (2022). Intimate partner violence against women: Prevalence, formal reporting, and risk factors in Chile. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099827204252277102/pdf/IDU0c982aacd0b- 315041630b33e038a0620a397d.pdf 9 World Bank. (n.d.). Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) – Chile. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/VC.IHR.PSRC.FE.P5?locations=C 10 This figure includes “frustrated”/incomplete as well as completed femicides perpetrated by the partner or ex-partner. 11 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Gender Equality Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean. Chile - Country profile https://oig.cepal.org/es/indicadores/feminicidio World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 5 stated in the last report of the Center for Crime Studies violence in the last 12 months, 26 percent report and Analysis, the crimes that mainly affect women are having survived of more than one type of violence, and sexual violence (89.8%) and domestic violence (78.8%)12, state that physical violence and sexual violence are reporting 42 femicides and 178 attempted femicides in most often accompanied by psychological violence. the past year13. Accordingly 17 percent of women report having been a survivor of physical and/or sexual violence in addition Intimate partner violence is one of the most common to psychological violence, while just 8 percent report forms of violence against women. As specified by the having survived of psychological and economic violence Social Institutions & Gender Index (SIGI), 21% of ever without physical or sexual violence.16 partnered women and girls aged 15-49 years have suffered from physical and/or sexual violence by a Despite the high levels of violence against women, a current or former intimate partner throughout their very small proportion of those who suffered violence lives . In addition, in the Survey of Violence against 14 by their partner or ex-partner file a complaint and Women in the Field of domestic Violence and in Other even fewer cases result in a conviction. A recent Spaces (ENVIF-VCM), the indicator of prevalence of study by the World Bank17 stated that only 22 percent domestic violence15 in the lives of women, increased of women who claim having suffered violence by their from 32.6% (2012), to 78.8% in 2022; the regions of partner or ex-partner chose to report their cases to the Aysén (81.5%), Ñuble (80.8%), Coquimbo (80.4%), Maule police, this due to a lack of trust in the network of state (80.3%), Atacama (80.1%) and Arica and Parinacota services. Disaggregated by type of violence the data (80.1%) were the cities with the highest incidence of reveals that 34 percent of the survivors of physical cases of female survivors of domestic violence. violence, 21 percent of the survivors of psychological violence, and 15 percent of the survivors of sexual A significant proportion of women who report violence said they formally reported the abuse18. having survived from partner or ex-partner violence, In addition, of a total of 131 femicides perpetrated experience multiple types of violence. Of the total between 2018 and 2020, only 14.5% of the trials were number of women between 15 and 65 years old who concluded and 51% were still in process by 202119. report having suffered some type of intimate partner 12 Police cases and citizens apprehended for crimes of major social connotation and domestic violence. Police cases are those crimes known to the police and include arrests in flagrante delicto and formal complaints made by citizens to the Carabineros de Chile or the Investigative Police of Chile. 13 Ministerio de la Mujer y la Equidad de Género (SERNAMEG) 2021 14 Social Institutions & Gender Index. Chile https://www.oecd.org/stories/gender/social-norms-and-gender-discrimination/sigi?country=CHL 15 This indicator includes psychological and/or physical violence perpetrated by a partner, ex-partner, or other family member as well as sexual violence by the partner or ex-partner. 16 ibid 17 Data from the 2020 ENVIF-VCM was used to conduct the analysis. 18 ibid 19 Intersectoral Circuit on Femicides (CIF) and the National Service for Women and Gender Equality (SernamEG) 2022 World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 6 24 of every 1,000 girls ages 15 – 19 gave birth in attempted femicides.22 Between March and April 2020, Chile in 2020 (24.1%). The percentage of boys and calls to the national domestic abuse hotline increased girls aged 15-19 years who have been or are still by 81 percent.23 As for 2021, The Intersectoral Circuit married, divorced, widowed or in an informal union was of Femicides (CIF) reported 44 completed and 163 6% in 201920. Moreover, the Center for Crime Studies attempted femicides24. and Analysis, stated that 1312 girls and adolescents between the ages of 0 to 19 years old were survivors of Regarding female labour participation rate, the sexual violence in 202221. As for education, Chile female COVID–19 pandemic erased progress made in the students are far from parity, according to the Global last years, as women and girls were forced to return to Gender Gap Index 2022 Edition, regarding Educational traditional roles and responsibilities, such as care work Attainment Chile ranks 62nd a significant decrease at home due to the lockdowns. As a consequence, since their rank in 2021, 31st. Chile reduced the female labour force participation rate by 10 percentage points. This is also reflected on Despite limited data, the COVID-19 pandemic does the Global Gender Gap Index 2022, as on the Economic appear to have exacerbated the problem of GBV. Participation and Opportunity subindex Chile ranks as The first semester of 2020 alone saw 65,990 reports one of the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean of domestic violence and 43 completed and 151 at 105th. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK Gender equality in the legal framework: With regards to constraints on freedom of movement, and laws to overall gender equality in the legal framework, affecting women’s work after having children, resulting according to the World Bank’s 2023 “Women, Business in a perfect score.25 However, when it comes to laws and the Law” study, Chile scores 80 out of 100 (over affecting women’s decisions to work, laws affecting 8 indicators). The country does well when it comes women’s pay, constraints related to marriage, 20 OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index. (2023). OECD. https://www.oecd.org/stories/gender/social-norms-and-gender-discrimination/sigi?country=CHL 21 Center for Crime Studies and Analysis Chile (2022) 22 Gandara, F. (2020). Violence against women in Chile intensifies during the pandemic. Chile Today. https://chiletoday.cl/violence-against-women-in-chile-inten- sifies-during-pandemic/ 23 National Service for Women and Gender Equity. (2020, May 27). Covid-19 contingency plan. [Presentation]. 24 Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, The Intersectoral Circuit of Femicides Annual Report (2021). 25 The World Bank. (2023). Women, Business and the Law 2023 https://wbl.worldbank.org/content/dam/documents/wbl/2023/snapshots/Chile.pdf World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 7 constraints on women starting and running a business, Moreover, a recent study by the World Bank on gender differences in property and inheritance, and perceptions of the supply of state services concluded laws affecting the size of a woman’s pension, Chile that the design and operation of the Institutional needs improve legal equality for women. 26 Critical Route (ICR) is highly oriented towards the prosecution of VAW cases, which prevents prevention International treaties on GBV: Chile is a member of and a comprehensive response.27 Most of the services several international treaties that guarantee equality, offered by the State in the area of violence against non-discrimination, and freedom from violence for women are activated after the survivor makes the women and girls, including the Convention on the complaint. The obligation to prosecute cases in Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against order to access the range of State services weakens Women (CEDAW), the Inter-American Convention comprehensive management of violence against on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication of women. Thus, the current legal framework limits Violence against Women “Convention of Belem Do having a comprehensive look at the phenomenon of Para,” the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, violence against women. and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). GBV RESPONSE MECHANISMS AND SERVICES Currently, the Chilean State offers survivors of GBV a policies, plans, and programs that benefit women and series of services mainly oriented to accompany them aims to eliminate all types of gender discrimination. in judicial processes that seek to punish their offenders, The State offers: 1) orientation services, through protect them, and provide redress for their experiences communication channels such as telephones, Chat, of violence. (Appendix 1 presents a summary of the WhatsApp, and e-mails for women seeking to file a institutions involved in VAW cases and their respective complaint; 2) awareness, dissemination, and training functions) Within these institutions, the Ministry of actions for prevention of VAW through the Program for Women and Gender Equity oversees the creation of Prevention of Violence Against Women of the National 28 Ibid Saez et al. (2021). Qualitative study of Institutional Critical Route (ICR). https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/648241627069382501/pdf/Resu- 27 men-Estudio-Cualitativo-Actualizaci%c3%b3n-de-Ruta-Cr%c3%adtica-de-Violencia-Contra-la-Mujer.pdf World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 8 Service for Women and Gender Equality (SernamEG); Nonetheless, the normalization of violence remains and 3) psychosocial and legal support services through one of the main barriers that women face when the SernamEG Program for Attention, Protection, and making a complaint. This is due to a number of Reparation in Violence Against Women. If an act of factors, including the naturalization of violence by violence occurs, the model of the state services network officials, a delegitimization of stories, and situations is designed in such a way that most of the services are in which officials dismiss stories that do not explicitly activated once the survivors or third parties make a conform to the legal descriptions of VAW (e.g., there complaint to the police. are no physical injuries, the woman is not attacked by a relative, among others).28 To improve institutional coordination in the case of extreme violence and femicide, the Chilean State has established the Intersectoral Circuit Against Femicide (CIF) which aims to coordinate the response of state institutions for registration, care, protection, reparation and access to justice in these cases. Appendix 1 presents the institutions and programs that are part of the CIF. Saez et al. (2021). Qualitative study of Institutional Critical Route (ICR). https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/648241627069382501/pdf/Resu- 28 men-Estudio-Cualitativo-Actualizaci%c3%b3n-de-Ruta-Cr%c3%adtica-de-Violencia-Contra-la-Mujer.pdf World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 9 APPENDIX 1 – INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED IN CASES OF VAW Institution Function Ministry of Women and Gender Equity* Develops policies, plans and programs that benefit women and works to eliminate all types of gender discrimination, making Chile a more equitable country. It is the institution that coordinates the Intersectoral Circuit against Femicide (CIF in Spanish). Carabinero Police* The Chilean national police force, which has authority over all national territory through its Prevention Zone. Chilean Investigative Police (PDI)* This police force is responsible for controlling and investigating serious crimes. Prosecutor’s Office* This autonomous public institution oversees the investigation of crimes, files criminal charges where appropriate, and provides protection to survivors and witnesses. Constitutional Guarantee Courts These courts rule on cases where the complaint refers to a crime. While the Prosecutor’s Office is exclusively responsible for investigating and filing charges, the constitutional court judges are responsible for ruling on these cases and have no power to investigate them. Family Courts A system of specialized courts that deal exclusively with family conflicts from a comprehensive, multidisciplinary perspective, with the ongoing support and of psychologists and social workers specializing in family issues. The hearings are all oral, transparent and immediate. The judge and all parties involved must be present at all hearings and the proceedings must be carried out without the intervention of intermediaries. Ministry of the Interior and Public This ministry manages the Crime Victim Assistance Centers through the Undersecretary for Crime Prevention and Safety* its Victim Assistance Program. World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 10 Institution Function National Service for Women and This agency works in GBV prevention, care, protection and reparation through its national, regional and territorial Gender Equity (SernamEG)* centers. SernamEG has 109 women’s centers throughout the country, 15 centers for men involved in GBV, 49 shelters for survivors of violence, one shelter for survivors of human trafficking, three care and reparation centers in cases of violence and a hotline that provides emergency assistance and follow-up services through the national police force. National Specialized Protection Service This agency provides protection to the children of GBV survivors or other children affected by this violence. for Children and Adolescents* Legal Medical Service (SML)* Through the Gender and Human Rights Area, this agency provides forensic information for the classification of femicides, including to the woman’s relatives. Ministry of Health (MINSAL) This ministry plays a key role in identifying cases through the consultations it receives and as part of its responsibility to inform users of their rights and encourage them to file a complaint. It offers support services to users. Source: The World Bank. Note: (*) Indicates institutions that are part of the CIF. World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 11 APPENDIX 2 – UN WOMEN: MEASURES AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN (CHILE)29 https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/chile 29 UN Women. (n.d.). Global Database on Violence against Women. (n.d.). https://evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/americas/chile?formofviolen- ce=7b8d7298a96749eea9d64c16f104c540 World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 12 GLOSSARY Gender Roles that are determined socially, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women. These roles are contextual and influenced by a society’s culture and traditions, as well as by prevailing religious beliefs. Gender-Based Any act of violence that results in, or the nature of which causes, physical, sexual, or Violence (GBV) psychological harm or suffering to someone because of his or her sex. This including threats through similar acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether in public or private life (UN, 1993). Sex Refers to the biological and physiological characteristics which differentiate men and women. Sexual Exploitation Any real or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power differential, or relationship of confidence for a sexual purpose, including, but not limited to, taking financial, social, or political advantage of another through sexual means. Sexual Abuse Real or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether it be by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Sexual Harassment Unwelcomed sexual advances, demand for sexual favors, or any other verbal or physical behavior of a sexual nature. In the workplace, submission to these advances or behaviors may made either implicitly or explicitly a condition of continued employment, promotion, or other decisions affecting a person’s employment. World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 13 REFERENCES — “Chile: Only 27% of femicide cases got a sentence.” (2021, March 9). https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Chi- le-Only-27-of-Femicide-Cases-Got-a-Sentence-20210309-0010.html — Gandara, F. (2020). Violence against women in Chile intensifies during the pandemic. Chile Today. https://chileto- day.cl/violence-against-women-in-chile-intensifies-during-pandemic/ — Intersectoral Femicide Circuit, Chile (2021). The Annual Report of the Intersectoral Femicide Circuit. https://min- mujeryeg.gob.cl/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Informe-Anual-CIF-2021.pdf — National Service for Women and Gender Equity (SernamEG). (n.d.). See for reference: https://www.worldbank. org/en/results/2022/04/21/roadmap-for-an-integrated-case-management-platform-for-survivors-of-violen- ce-against-women-vaw-in-chile — National Service for Women and Gender Equity. (2020, May 27). Covid-19 contingency plan. [Presentation]. — Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Social Institutions and Gender Index. (2023). OECD. https://www.oecd.org/stories/gender/social-norms-and-gender-discrimination/sigi?country=CHL — Saez et al. (2021). Qualitative study of Institutional Critical Route (ICR). https://documents1.worldbank.org/ curated/en/648241627069382501/pdf/Resumen-Estudio-Cualitativo-Actualizaci%c3%b3n-de-Ruta-Cr%c3%adti- ca-de-Violencia-Contra-la-Mujer.pdf — Saavedra, T., Contreras-Urbina, M., & Inchauste, G. (2022). Intimate partner violence against women: Prevalence, formal reporting, and risk factors in Chile. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper. https://documents1.world- bank.org/curated/en/099827204252277102/pdf/IDU0c982aacd0b315041630b33e038a0620a397d.pdf — Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (2022). IV Encuesta de Vio- lencia contra la Mujer en el Ámbito de Violencia Intrafamiliar y en Otros Espacios (ENVIF-VCM) Resultados País. Center for the Study and Analysis of Crime. https://eol.uchile.cl/assets/courseware/v1/96612bc7ce05a8915e- 32ca2b73c654f6/asset-v1:eol+MED-GO+2021_1+type@asset+block/Presentacio_n_de_Resultados_IV_ENVIF-VCM. pdf World Bank GBV Country Profile: CHILE Page 14 — UN Women. (n.d.). Global Database on Violence against Women. (n.d.). https://evaw-global-database.unwomen. org/en/countries/americas/chile?formofviolence=7b8d7298a96749eea9d64c16f104c540 — World Bank. (2021). Women, Business and the Law 2021. https://wbl.worldbank.org/content/dam/documents/ wbl/2021/snapshots/Chile.pdf — World Bank. (n.d.). Intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) – Chile. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ VC.IHR.PSRC.FE.P5?locations=CL Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice, Latin America and the Caribbean Region Published: June 2023