Statistical Terms Glossary

Abandonment is known in Christian sects, but not in Muslim ones. It’s when each spouse, by an order issued by the religious court, lives independently away from the other during their eating, sleeping, because of major conflicts such as daily fights, inability to live with each other, adultery, or the presence of a risk or danger to one member of the couple. Abandonment can be permanent or temporary and would not be in effect when the reason behind the ceases to exist.

Includes all legally and illegally induced early foetal deaths. Excludes spontaneous abortions (miscarriages). Generally, data is only available for legal abortions. Abortion rate is the number of abortions during a given year per 1000 live births.

Mistreatment, whether physical, sexual, emotional, economic or in combination, that is reasonably likely to cause death or that causes or is reasonably likely to cause serious physical or psychological harm to a person, or significant loss to the person's property (The Protection for Persons in Care Act, 2009). As for violence, the definition used by the World Health Organization associates intentionality with the committing of the act itself, irrespective of the outcome it produces. Excluded from the definition are unintentional incidents – such as most road traffic injuries and burns. (WHO, 2002-a) - The terms “Abuse” and “Violence” are often used synonymously, yet it was agreed in the discussion sessions to use the word abuse to refer to the broader concept of maltreatment (including violence, neglect, exploitation, assault...)

Single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust and which causes harm or distress to an older person.

This concept has three parts: resources, access, and control. The first, resources, refers to means and goods, including economic (household income) or productive means (land, equipment, tools, work, credit); political means (capability for leadership, information and organization); and time. Access and control have slightly different meanings. Access refers to the ability to use and benefit from specific resources (material, financial, human, social, political, etc.) whereas control over resources also entails being able to make decisions over the use of that resource. For example, women’s control over land means that they can access land (use it), own land (can be the legal title-holders), and make decisions about whether to sell or rent the land. Access and control over resources is a key element of women’s empowerment, and by extension, the achievement of gender equality. 

The availability of a resource that includes several components such as geographic or physical accessibility, financial and social accessibility.

Health-related consideration of the WHO Gender Analysis Matrix. Gender norms, roles and relations impact access and use of health services that includes the following components: availability, affordability, accessibility, accommodation and acceptability.

The notion that individuals, including public officials, should be held responsible for their actions. Political accountability means the responsibility or obligation of government officials to act in the best interests of society or face consequences. Legal accountability concerns the mechanisms by which public officials can be held liable for actions that go against established rules and principles. In cases of crimes against humanity, accountability means that individuals should be held accountable by the state they occurred in or by the international community.

Annual number of births to women aged 15-19 years per 1000 women in that age group. It is also referred to as the age-specific fertility rate for women aged 15-19 years.

Sexual contact by a person (male or female) with someone other than his/her spouse.

Having a strong feeling against someone who has behaved badly, making you want to shout at them or hurt them.

is the invalidation or voiding of a legal marriage by a competent authority, according to the laws of the country, thus conferring on the parties the status of never having been married to each other.

Antenatal care (ANC) constitutes screening for health and socioeconomic conditions likely to increase the possibility of specific adverse pregnancy outcomes; providing therapeutic interventions known to be effective; and educating pregnant women about planning for safe birth and emergencies during pregnancy and how to deal with them.

The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people.

A crime- related term meaning: to attack a person using force.

A person who is assigned as guardian by a specialized judge according to the jurisdiction of the Islamic laws (Shari’a), conditional on the absence of a guardian or of a selected guardian. The assigned guardian doesn’t have the authority to appoint another guardian. According to the personal status laws, the assigned guardian, the judge and the quarantined should be of the same religion.

Spouses of people who are engaged in work usually of a self-employed or independent nature, where the spouse is an important contributor to the work but does not necessarily receive direct remuneration for it, and is often not entitled to social protection benefits.

Women or girl who has left her country of origin in order to seek international protection.

The person who assisted the mother in giving birth, whether a physician, a midwife, a nurse, other paramedical personnel, a lay person etc.

Refers to people’s capacity to make free and informed decisions about their lives, enabling them to be and act in accordance with their own aspirations and desires, given a historical context that makes those possible. Women’s autonomy is often conceptualized as having three dimensions: Physical autonomy, Economic autonomy and Autonomy in decision-making.

Women’s participation in all branches of government, signing of CEDAW optional protocol, positioning of national machineries for advancement of women.

Remuneration, usually in cash, paid to full time full year employees for work. Should relate to gross remuneration.

Awareness-raising is a fundamental component of primary prevention strategies aiming at: changing attitudes, behaviours and beliefs that normalise and tolerate domestic violence among general public; preventing men and women from becoming victims or perpetrators of abusive relationships; and informing wider public and especially victims and perpetrators about the resources available to tackle the problem.

Admonitions or proclamations of intended marriage between the parties whose names, in full, and addresses are provided in public places from legally specified period of time.

Injuries sustained by a child as a result of repeated mistreatment or beating.

A variety of symptoms caused deliberate and repeated demonstrable injuries from her partner, the minimal injury being severe bruising.

The Beijing Platform for Action is a landmark document that came out of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, convened in Beijing, China in September, 1995. Member States, in dialogue with a vast mass of women and men representing civil society from around the world, reviewed past progress and new requirements to accelerate the global march towards gender equality and the empowerment of women. The articulation of their understanding and agreement was contained in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Declaration embodies the commitment of the international community to the advancement of women and to the implementation of the Platform for Action, ensuring that a gender perspective is reflected in all policies and programs at the national, regional and international levels. The Platform for Action sets out measures for national and international action in critical areas of concern for the advancement of women for the five years leading up to 2000.

Accumulation and application of knowledge about what works and what does not work in terms of promoting gender equality and non-discrimination against women in different situations and contexts.

Gender-related consideration of the WHO Gender Analysis Matrix. Refers to those factors only related to physiology such as: reproductive and/or conditions related to physiological and/or hormonal changes; genetic or hereditary conditions (or those transferred from parent to child through chromosomes).