Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can be defined as an abusive behavior and because of the complexity there is no one strategy that works with all situations. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions to gain power and control over another. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone. You cannot put a face to this violence. It can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, gender, socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Frequent exposure to violence happens at home to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating. Although both men and women can be abused, most victims are women.

Domestic violence is a human rights violation, denying women equality, security, dignity, self-worth, their freedom. The sole purpose is the need for empowerment over another by punishment, intimidation, restricting and taking full control of the individual.

Children are predisposed to numerous social and physical problems, teaches them that violence is a normal way of life - therefore, increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers. They should be identified as victims of domestic violence and their safety has to be ensured.

Domestic violence can be preventable. Noticing and acknowledging the warning signs and symptoms of domestic violence and abuse is the first step to ending it. It requires the intervention of the community to provide safety plans, referrals to agencies and support/assist victim-survivors. Giving attention to needs of the individual and to develop a plan for the individual to decide her own future. Much emphasis must be placed on eliminating domestic violence through coordination and integrated policy; setting up mechanisms on awareness through documentation, monitoring, transparency, accountability. Giving women back their power and control and promote their dignity and safety.