Victimization of Women and Girls in Urban Areas: The Cause Study of Novi Pazar

Paraušić Marinković, Ana and Ivanović, Aleksandar (2024) Victimization of Women and Girls in Urban Areas: The Cause Study of Novi Pazar. In: International scientific thematic conference The Position of Victims in the Republic of Serbia, Palić, 12-13 June 2024. Institute of Criminological and Sociological Research, Belgrade, pp. 151-162. ISBN 978-86-80756-66-0

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Abstract

The study aims to explore the various facets of victimization of women and girls in public urban areas and perception of security of spaces they use in everyday life. For this purpose, 776 girls and women aged 10 to 65 from the area of Novi Pazar was surveyed. Research results indicate that women and girls greatly fear for their safety in public spaces and are daily exposed to different forms of violence and harassment. Unlit streets, lack of video surveillance, absence of police officers, lack of adequate night public transportation, presence of male persons abusing PAS are some of the occurring factors that make women and girls uncomfortable when using urban public spaces. Although respondents fear physical violence, especially sexual harassment, rape, being followed or stalked, the types of victimization they frequently experience are related to verbal violence such as intrusive and offensive questions about private life, insults, sexually suggestive jokes, comments about their appearance, inappropriate looking etc. Bearing in mind that these experiences greatly influence their daily lives, mobility, social activity, and overall quality of life, it is important to create urban security policies and strategies which will take into consideration women`s and girls` experience of victimization in urban areas.

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