Domestic Abuse - Basic Awareness
Women and Children First
Renfrewshire Multi Agency Training Consortium Tackling Violence
Against Women and Children
Renfrewshire Multi Agency Training Consortium Tackling Violence
Against Women and Children
BASIC AWARENESS
Domestic Abuse
The aim of this one-day training module is
o
to build a solid understanding of the nature
and the scope of domestic abuse as a gender
based violence (GBV)
o
o
recognise its impact on those who experience it
providing delegates with the confidence and the
knowledge to deal with the issue in their work
setting.
Objectives
You should :Be able to define Domestic Abuse as sexual, physical, mental/emotional abuse (as termed
by the Scottish Government) and how this relates to the wider Gender Based Violence
agenda
Have an increased awareness and understanding of both national and local policy drivers
influencing work within the Violence Against Women agenda
Appreciate the impact of domestic abuse on those who experience it and how it affects
their behaviours and choices
Understand the main issues of providing a sensitive and appropriate service to women,
children and young people experiencing domestic abuse
Be able to identify and list local sources of support and information for women and
children experiencing abuse.
To explore individual and organisational responses to women and children who disclose
abuse with particular regard to the implementation of Sensitive Routine Enquiry (NHS
GG&C)
Be able to recognise and utilise the 5 point plan within your daily practice
Training is Underpinned by The Five Point Plan
There a five stages to consider
•
Awareness of the abuse
•
Confidentiality and privacy
•
Asking the question
•
Crisis intervention
•
Provision of information about
options and resources
THE 5 POINT PLAN LINKS THE THEORY TO
YOUR PRACTICE
The terminology can be confusing!
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•
•
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Domestic Abuse
Domestic Violence
Gender Based Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Violence against women and children
Etc…….
Let’s try to clear that one up
Defining The Issue
Violence Against Women – Gender Based Violence
Physical,
sexual and
psychological
violence
occurring in the
family, within
the general
community or
in institutions,
including:
domestic
abuse, rape,
incest and
child sexual
abuse
Sexual harassment
and intimidation at
work and in the
public sphere
Activities such
as
pornography,
prostitution,
stripping, lap
dancing, pole
dancing and
table dancing
are forms of
commercial
sexual
exploitation
Dowry related
violence
Female genital
mutilation
Forced and child
marriages
Honour crimes
It is essential to separate sexual activity from
exploitative sexual activity. A sexual activity
becomes sexual exploitation if it breaches a
person’s human right to dignity, equality,
respect and physical and mental wellbeing. It
becomes commercial sexual exploitation
when another person, or group of people,
achieves financial gain or advancement
through the activity.
Defining Domestic Abuse as one form of GBV
Domestic abuse (as gender-based abuse) can be perpetrated
by partners or ex-partners and can include physical abuse
(assault and physical attack involving a range of behaviour),
sexual abuse (acts which degrade and humiliate women and
are perpetrated against their will, including rape) and mental
and emotional abuse (such as threats, verbal abuse, racial
abuse, withholding money and other types of controlling
behaviour such as isolation from family and friends)
A Gendered Definition in Scotland
“Domestic abuse is associated with broader inequalities in
society, is part of behaviours constituting male abuse of power,
and is linked to other forms of male violence such as rape and
child abuse.
Domestic abuse occurs in all social groups, is not caused by
stress, unemployment, poverty or mental illness, nor by the
women who experience the abuse.”
National Strategy to Address Domestic Abuse, 2000
International Policy Levers
The United Nation's Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
and the Global Platform for Action adopted at the
Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
National Policy Context
o
We live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger.
o
We have tackled significant inequalities in Scottish society.
o
We have improved the life chances for children, young people and
families at risk.
o
Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed.
o
We have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take
responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others.
o
Action on Violence in Scotland, Respect & Responsibility and Getting It
Right For Every Child which underpins the National Domestic Abuse
Delivery Plan for Children and Young People.
o
Frameworks include Achieving Our Potential, Early Years and Equally Well
o
Gender Equality Duty
Local Policy Drivers
o
Renfrewshire Community Plan and Single Outcome
Agreement 2008-2011
o
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Gender Based Violence
Action Plan 2008-2011
o
Clyde Violence Against Women Training Consortium
Strategy 2009-2011
Theories about the Causes of Domestic Abuse
•Models of individual pathology
•Interactional and family models
•Social Structure
•Feminist analysis of abuse
Models of Individual Pathology
Abusive Men
• Aberrant from norm
• Behaviour a consequence of stress, alcohol abuse etc.
Women viewed as contributing to their abuse
• Dysfunctional personality
• Addiction to abuse, sexual pleasure
Cycle of violence theory
• Transfer of violence from one generation to next
• Boys grow up to become adult abusers
• Girls grow up to be victims
Interactional and Family Models
Both Partners Contribute to the Abuse
Examples:
• Lack of skills to talk through issues
• Incompatibility
• Women goad partners
Social Structure
External Factors Cause Domestic Abuse
Examples:
• Unemployment
• Poor Housing
• Poverty
Feminist Analysis of Abuse
Roots in structural inequality between men and
women in society
Abuse of women tolerated because
Embedded within cultural norms; and
Historically, unchallenged dominance of men
External factors potentially contributed but
insufficient explanation for gender specific nature
What is Domestic Abuse?
“It is no longer scientifically or ethically
acceptable to speak of domestic violence
without specifying which type of violence to
which one refers.”
Apples and Oranges in Child Custody Disputes:
Intimate Terrorism vs. Situational Couple Violence
Michael P Johnson 2005
Training is Underpinned by The Five Point Plan
There a five stages to consider
•
Awareness of the abuse
•
Confidentiality and privacy
•
Asking the question
•
Crisis intervention
•
Provision of information about
options and resources
THE 5 POINT PLAN LINKS THE THEORY TO
YOUR PRACTICE
Nature, Prevalence and Impact
World Health Organisation Multi-Country study into Women’s Health and Domestic
Violence Against Women found that between 1 in 2 and 1 in 10 women will
experience some form of violence at some point in their lives.
One in 4 women will experience domestic abuse from a partner in her lifetime
Studies show that 40-60% of previous domestic abuse victims are beaten while
pregnant. Pregnancy may be the trigger factor for the very first assault.
There were 49,655 incidents of domestic abuse in Scotland recorded in 2007/08 (an
increase of just under 2% on the previous year)
54% of cases reported to the police in 2007/08 involved repeat victimisation
Women were the victims in 85% of the reported incidents of domestic abuse in
Scotland in 2007/08;
It is estimated that around 100,000 children in Scotland may be affected by
domestic abuse
There were 6,726 sexual crimes reported in Scotland. Of these 1123 were rapes or
attempted rapes.7 263 of these were reported to Strathclyde Police. There were
1664 incidents of indecent assault reported to police in Scotland with 951 of these
in the Strathclyde area;
prevalence rates for child sexual abuse are estimated at around 21% of girls and
7% of boys.8 Home Office figures report that 1 out of every 4 children in the UK
has been abused;9
the Foreign and Commonwealth office deal with around 200 cases
of forced marriage annually
Two women
are murdered
by their
current or former partner
every week
in the UK.
Six Stage Process:
Leaving & Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse
(Based on work by Liz Kelly)
1.
Managing the Situation
2.
Distortion of Perspective/Reality
3.
Defining Abuse
4.
Re-evaluating the Relationship
5.
Ending the Relationship
6.
Ending the Violence
Training is Underpinned by The Five Point Plan
There a five stages to consider
•
Awareness of the abuse
•
Confidentiality and privacy
•
Asking the question
•
Crisis intervention
•
Provision of information about
options and resources
THE 5 POINT PLAN LINKS THE THEORY TO
YOUR PRACTICE