In 2022

Approximately 12 out of 25 persons aged between 18 and 74 have already experienced some type of violence throughout their lives

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira released today the results of the Survey on Public and Private Space Security-2022 on its website. The survey, conducted between July and October 2022, involved a sample of 1,189 accommodation units in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM).

The interviews were conducted voluntarily with persons aged between 18 and 74. The released data focused on the prevalence of violence in the following contexts, experienced in either public or private spaces:

• General victimisation;
• Violence experienced in the context of intimacy, by current and/or former spouses or partners, hereinafter referred to as partners;
• Violence experienced with persons other than partners;
• Sexual harassment in the workplace;
• Persistent harassment;
• Violence against children (up to the age of 15).

The experience of violence in different life contexts encompasses specific types of violence, such as violence in the context of intimacy involving acts of psychological, physical (including threats), and sexual violence; violence experienced with persons other than partners, encompassing only acts of physical and sexual violence; and violence against children, comprising acts of physical and psychological violence or physical and emotional abuse by parents towards children, as well as acts of violence or sexual abuse by any person, within or outside the family. The acts corresponding to each type of violence are described in the attached Methodological Note to this disclosure.

In 2022, in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM), considering all contexts of violence throughout life, 48.1% of persons aged 18 to 74 reported having experienced at least one violent situation (91.5 thousand persons). Nationally, the proportion was lower by 3.3 percentage points (44.8%), with the Autonomous Regions standing out with the highest percentages (Autonomous Region of the Azores (ARA) with 46.9%, a value lower than the ARM).

In the ARM, about one-fourth of persons aged 18 to 74 (24.4%; 39.8 thousand) reported having experienced some type of violence by any partner, a value higher by 4.5 percentage points than that of Portugal (19.9%) and the highest among the NUTS 2 regions.

Regarding violence perpetrated by the current partner, 10.5% of persons reported experiencing violence in this context (13.7 thousand). Nationally, this proportion was 8.9% (-1.6 percentage points), with Centro leading (10.9%), followed by the Autonomous Regions (RAA with 10.3%).

Violence perpetrated by a former partner was reported by 38.7% of persons (27.6 thousand), a proportion higher by 7.8 percentage points than the country's rate (30.9%). Once again, the Autonomous Regions stand out in this parameter (ARA with 36.3%).

Violence perpetrated by others who are not partners was reported by 16.1% of persons (30.6 thousand), the same proportion as in Portugal, with Área Metropolitana de Lisboa leading in this indicator (18.7%).

Concerning workplace harassment, the goal was to understand the proportion of persons who had faced unwanted sexually connotated behaviours from persons in the workplace (colleagues, superiors, clients, or patients). Victims of any of these types of violence were considered, including those currently working and those who have worked at some point in their professional trajectory.  

In the ARM, 9.1% of persons aged 18 to 74 (15.3 thousand) claimed to have been victims of workplace sexual harassment, a value higher by 0.3 percentage points than the country. Área Metropolitana de Lisboa stands out prominently in this indicator (11.1%).

In persistent harassment, intentional conduct that repeatedly threatens another person, causing them to fear for their safety, with the aim of intimidating and controlling them is considered. It includes situations that can occur in everyday life, where someone repeatedly threatens or offends others to the point of causing fear or concern for that person's safety, carried out by any person, male or female, including current or former partners.

In the ARM, more than one in five persons (21.1%; 40.0 thousand) has been a victim of persistent harassment, a proportion lower than that of the country (20.7%) by 0.4 percentage points. The Autonomous Region of the Azores has the highest value (23.7%) among the NUTS 2 regions.

Regarding violence in childhood, situations of psychological, physical, and sexual violence that occurred up to the age of 15 were considered. Approximately 45.5 thousand persons aged 18 to 74, representing 23.9% of the analysed population, were victims of these forms of violence during their childhood. Nationally, this proportion was 18.6%, a value 5.3 percentage points lower than that of the ARM, which stands out among the NUTS 2 regions with the highest value.

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