Dispelling the myths of domestic violence
Most people tend to think of domestic violence as something that happens between men and women, with the former the aggressor and women and children the victims. But figures from earlier this year showed that the number of women accused of being violent to their partner had risen by 25 percent over the past five years. And a recent national study of abuse among same sex relationships showed that 32 percent of those surveyed had experienced violence and abuse. So are women really becoming more violent? How many men and women are victims of domestic violence in same sex relationships?
This episode is now available for download from the Radio National web site (www.abc.net.au/rn).
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Second article from Sun-Herald - Introduction of new laws in force
TOUGH domestic violence laws came into force in NSW to coincide with International Women's Day yesterday.
Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the changes meant perpetrators would have the words "domestic violence" recorded next to the name of an offence such as assault.
"Cowards who abuse and attack their own family members will, from this day forward, have a black mark against their name," he said.
"Should a transgression occur, those people will be able to be dealt with on the basis that they have a history of a specific domestic violence offence as opposed to a generic offence. The next time they come before a judge or magistrate, the fact they had already committed the despicable act of domestic violence will be abundantly clear."
Police would be given special kits containing digital cameras to assist their investigations, and apprehended violence orders would automatically extend to children, he said.
Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the changes meant perpetrators would have the words "domestic violence" recorded next to the name of an offence such as assault.
"Cowards who abuse and attack their own family members will, from this day forward, have a black mark against their name," he said.
"Should a transgression occur, those people will be able to be dealt with on the basis that they have a history of a specific domestic violence offence as opposed to a generic offence. The next time they come before a judge or magistrate, the fact they had already committed the despicable act of domestic violence will be abundantly clear."
Police would be given special kits containing digital cameras to assist their investigations, and apprehended violence orders would automatically extend to children, he said.
Two articles in yesterday's Sun-Herald
Caroline MarcusMarch 9, 2008
ONE in three women delays leaving an abusive relationship for fear her pet will be harmed, research has found. And, in more than half of the cases where women are abused, pets are also attacked.
The Relationship Between Family Violence And Animal Abuse: An Australian Study is the first research of its kind in this country and will be published this year.
Monash University researchers interviewed 102 women with a history of family violence and a control group of 102 women with no history of violence.
They found a pet cockatiel was beheaded because it had been "singing too much", a cat was hung by a leash like a noose and pets were shot, stabbed, kicked and thrown.
Co-author and psychology department associate professor Eleonora Gullone said actual or threatened harm to pets was one of the tools abusive partners used to keep women in the relationship.
"One of the concerns is that women stay in the violent situation longer, endangering themselves and their children, because they are afraid to leave the pets," Ms Gullone said.
The study found that 53 per cent of women in violent relationships reported their pets had also been abused. Only 6 per cent of the sample group had pets who were harmed and, in most of those cases, the harm was accidental.
The study found that 33 per cent of women had delayed leaving the relationship by up to eight weeks out of concern for the welfare of their pets.
Pets, including fish, birds and farm animals, and in some instances, multiple pets, were killed in 17 per cent of households where there is family violence. No pets had been killed in the control group.
Children were witness to the abuse in 29 per cent of cases, leading to concerns that they had an increased likelihood of growing up to be abusive adults.
The research recommended that the public be made aware that, in instances of pet abuse, there was a likelihood that humans in the household were also being abused and neighbours should be alert.
RSPCA NSW relaunched its Safe Beds for Pets program yesterday. It will take care of pets for as long as necessary, making the step of leaving an abusive relationship easier.
The program was introduced in 2004 in conjunction with the St George Domestic Violence Counselling Service, and was last week rolled out to the Central Coast.
Cases of pet abuse seen by vets in NSW include a dog, which had a broken leg after being thrown off a balcony. In another example, a Hunter Valley social worker reported that a woman's partner would hold the family dog to the phone, doing things to the animal to make it whimper, in a bid to manipulate the woman into returning to the relationship.
ONE in three women delays leaving an abusive relationship for fear her pet will be harmed, research has found. And, in more than half of the cases where women are abused, pets are also attacked.
The Relationship Between Family Violence And Animal Abuse: An Australian Study is the first research of its kind in this country and will be published this year.
Monash University researchers interviewed 102 women with a history of family violence and a control group of 102 women with no history of violence.
They found a pet cockatiel was beheaded because it had been "singing too much", a cat was hung by a leash like a noose and pets were shot, stabbed, kicked and thrown.
Co-author and psychology department associate professor Eleonora Gullone said actual or threatened harm to pets was one of the tools abusive partners used to keep women in the relationship.
"One of the concerns is that women stay in the violent situation longer, endangering themselves and their children, because they are afraid to leave the pets," Ms Gullone said.
The study found that 53 per cent of women in violent relationships reported their pets had also been abused. Only 6 per cent of the sample group had pets who were harmed and, in most of those cases, the harm was accidental.
The study found that 33 per cent of women had delayed leaving the relationship by up to eight weeks out of concern for the welfare of their pets.
Pets, including fish, birds and farm animals, and in some instances, multiple pets, were killed in 17 per cent of households where there is family violence. No pets had been killed in the control group.
Children were witness to the abuse in 29 per cent of cases, leading to concerns that they had an increased likelihood of growing up to be abusive adults.
The research recommended that the public be made aware that, in instances of pet abuse, there was a likelihood that humans in the household were also being abused and neighbours should be alert.
RSPCA NSW relaunched its Safe Beds for Pets program yesterday. It will take care of pets for as long as necessary, making the step of leaving an abusive relationship easier.
The program was introduced in 2004 in conjunction with the St George Domestic Violence Counselling Service, and was last week rolled out to the Central Coast.
Cases of pet abuse seen by vets in NSW include a dog, which had a broken leg after being thrown off a balcony. In another example, a Hunter Valley social worker reported that a woman's partner would hold the family dog to the phone, doing things to the animal to make it whimper, in a bid to manipulate the woman into returning to the relationship.
Monday, March 3, 2008
International Women's Day
International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the gains women have made over the years and to bring our attention to the issues that still face us. Most of all, it's a day to recognise that we, as women, have made and continue to make a difference. A day to celebrate women's contribution to making Australia and the world a better place for everyone.
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March each year. Activities and celebrations extend over a week, across the state.
A calendar of events taking place throughout NSW to celebrate International Women's Day is available on the NSW Office for Women website (www.women.nsw.gov.au).
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March each year. Activities and celebrations extend over a week, across the state.
A calendar of events taking place throughout NSW to celebrate International Women's Day is available on the NSW Office for Women website (www.women.nsw.gov.au).
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