ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY RELEASE: Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
26 Jun 2012
Refuge centres caring for victims of domestic violence have welcomed the Federal Government's expanded definitions that came into effect this month making it an offence to harm pets, cut people off from their families or withhold financial support.
"These changes are welcomed by refuges as they not only reflect a more contemporary understanding of abusive behaviour, but send a message saying any form of domestic violence should not be tolerated," says Ilknur Chaloupka, Service Manager at one of the city's St Vincent De Paul Society's refuges.
"Many people including the women who come to the refuge think that if there is no physical abuse, there is no domestic violence. These new definitions will help change this perception as they now include emotional abuse and emotional manipulation."
The new laws governing the definition of domestic violence were passed by the Commonwealth in December 2011 and became law this month.
"We have been waiting for these changes for many years. However we still see this as only a step towards acknowledging domestic violence does not only refer to physical abuse but to emotional abuse which can have a powerful and long lasting effect," she says. "Women who come to the refuge describe the emotional abuse they have suffered as one of the worst impacts of domestic violence as it creates harm so deep in their psyche they feel as if they are wounded for life."
Until now a man's attempts at control by isolating a woman and her children from extended family, friends and the community generally has not been regarded as domestic violence. Nor has withholding money in a bid to further manipulate and control the woman. But both are now important inclusions of the new definitions relating to domestic violence.
The emotional abuse suffered as part of domestic violence, not only has an adverse effect on the mental and emotional health of a woman, but has a damaging effect on children and on their relationship with their mother.
"The inclusion of pet abuse in these new changes to the law are also especially welcome," Ilknur says.
At the refuge she manages she says there have been quite a few incidents over the years where perpetrators of domestic violence have deliberately harmed a beloved family pet as a way of intentionally causing distress to his partner and children.
In some cases, fear an adored family pet could be harmed may even keep a woman from leaving a dangerous situation. Leaving a pet behind and at risk can also be traumatic.
"We've had many families who have been forced to leave their personal belongings behind as well as a beloved pet or pets," Ilknur says, explaining that being parted from a pet may not only contribute to despair, but can also give rise to agonising feelings of guilt.
If a pet is harmed, victims often blame themselves rather than the perpetrator, and feel responsible for the animal's injury or death.
Incidents of domestic violence continue to rise. In NSW last year, police recorded 26,673 domestic violence-related assaults, up from 26,084 the previous year. Equally shocking are recent statistics that found as many as one in five Australian women have been victims of domestic violence.
Attorney General, Nicola Roxon who lobbied for the changes to the law, says family violence had remained "invisible to the legal system" for too long.
As a result, from now on the Family Court will be required to ask parents if there was abuse or the threat of abuse during the relationship. The Court will also be required to ask whether children were exposed to abuse from a parent, with the results of this question taken into consideration in subsequent custody hearings.
But despite endorsing these changes, Ilknur and others working with victims of domestic violence would like to see the law go even further.
"Other issues still need to be addressed such as women and children having to face the perpetrator of violence in mediation under the Family Law system," she says and explained that not only are women and children filled with fear at these face-to-face meetings but frequently feel forced or coerced into agreeing to 50-50 custody arrangements which simply exposes them and their children to further physical and emotional abuse.
SHARED FROM SYDNEY ARCHDIOCES
26 Jun 2012
Some would like to see
the law go even further
the law go even further
"These changes are welcomed by refuges as they not only reflect a more contemporary understanding of abusive behaviour, but send a message saying any form of domestic violence should not be tolerated," says Ilknur Chaloupka, Service Manager at one of the city's St Vincent De Paul Society's refuges.
"Many people including the women who come to the refuge think that if there is no physical abuse, there is no domestic violence. These new definitions will help change this perception as they now include emotional abuse and emotional manipulation."
The new laws governing the definition of domestic violence were passed by the Commonwealth in December 2011 and became law this month.
"We have been waiting for these changes for many years. However we still see this as only a step towards acknowledging domestic violence does not only refer to physical abuse but to emotional abuse which can have a powerful and long lasting effect," she says. "Women who come to the refuge describe the emotional abuse they have suffered as one of the worst impacts of domestic violence as it creates harm so deep in their psyche they feel as if they are wounded for life."
Many believe if there is no physical abuse
there is no violence
there is no violence
The emotional abuse suffered as part of domestic violence, not only has an adverse effect on the mental and emotional health of a woman, but has a damaging effect on children and on their relationship with their mother.
"The inclusion of pet abuse in these new changes to the law are also especially welcome," Ilknur says.
At the refuge she manages she says there have been quite a few incidents over the years where perpetrators of domestic violence have deliberately harmed a beloved family pet as a way of intentionally causing distress to his partner and children.
New domestic violence definitions
will also help protect children
will also help protect children
"We've had many families who have been forced to leave their personal belongings behind as well as a beloved pet or pets," Ilknur says, explaining that being parted from a pet may not only contribute to despair, but can also give rise to agonising feelings of guilt.
If a pet is harmed, victims often blame themselves rather than the perpetrator, and feel responsible for the animal's injury or death.
Incidents of domestic violence continue to rise. In NSW last year, police recorded 26,673 domestic violence-related assaults, up from 26,084 the previous year. Equally shocking are recent statistics that found as many as one in five Australian women have been victims of domestic violence.
Attorney General Nicola Roxon says
domestic violence has remained invisible
to the legal system for too long
domestic violence has remained invisible
to the legal system for too long
As a result, from now on the Family Court will be required to ask parents if there was abuse or the threat of abuse during the relationship. The Court will also be required to ask whether children were exposed to abuse from a parent, with the results of this question taken into consideration in subsequent custody hearings.
But despite endorsing these changes, Ilknur and others working with victims of domestic violence would like to see the law go even further.
"Other issues still need to be addressed such as women and children having to face the perpetrator of violence in mediation under the Family Law system," she says and explained that not only are women and children filled with fear at these face-to-face meetings but frequently feel forced or coerced into agreeing to 50-50 custody arrangements which simply exposes them and their children to further physical and emotional abuse.
SHARED FROM SYDNEY ARCHDIOCES
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