Domestic Violence Prevention Month
May is Domestic Violence Prevention Month
โ ย ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ย โ
Surprising?
Family violence is any threatening, coercive, dominating or abusive behaviour that occurs between people in a family, โfamily-likeโ or intimate relationship that causes the person experiencing the behaviour to feel fear. The behaviour can include financial, emotional, sexual or physical abuse. Often perpetrators use multiple abusive tactics.ย
Usually the victim-survivor is a woman, although family violence can occur in any intimate relationship. Aboriginal women, immigrants, those with disabilities and LGTBQI+ individuals are at greater risk of family violence. Nevertheless, family violence is common in the general population.ย
One in four women are subject to family violence.ย
One in three women have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Of particular concern, children are present in one in three family violence incidents that police attend.
Rates of family violence have increased since the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions - there are more calls to helplines and police are attending greater numbers of violent incidents each day. The restrictions are increasing tensions and violence within the home, and are often being used by the perpetrator as another way to control. The circumstances can impact the likelihood that women will be able to reach out for help if the perpetrator and/or children are home.
๐พ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?
We often hear people ask why the woman didnโt leave the family violence. Even in the aftermath of a murder some people voice this and publish it online. If only it was that easy to leave. This type of attitude and questioning places responsibility and blame on the victim-survivor. This is not only unhelpful, it perpetuates victim blaming and contributes to women finding it difficult to leave. People need to shift their thinking and ask -ย
๐พ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐?
The reasons are complex and yet can be reduced to two words -
๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.ย
So letโs re-examine the question why the victim-survivor did not leave. Again, there are complexities and subtleties however there are some key themes -ย
๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐บ๐๐๐๐.ย ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.ย ๐ญ๐๐๐.ย ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐.ย
The victim-survivor can be concerned about the fallout if she leaves. Statistically, we know that separation is a time of heightened risk and violent incidents for the woman and her children.
Finances can be a worry, particularly if the perpetrator has been controlling the finances.ย
The victim-survivor may have nowhere to go, particularly at short notice. The family needs a roof over their head and somewhere safe from the perpetrator.
It is important for people to gain a greater understanding of family violence and for victim-survivors and perpetrators to receive support.
๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐.ย
๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐๐ง.ย ๐๐ง๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐.ย ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐.ย
.