A new pilot scheme to deal with domestic violence

py2006

A new pilot scheme to deal with domestic violence, which is based in the family law District Court in Dolphin House in Dublin, supported 107 women over a six-month period in seeking court orders to protect them from violence.

The evaluation of the scheme was launched by the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, and the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Susan Denham, earlier today. The scheme is a partnership between Women’s Aid, Dublin 12 Domestic Violence Service, Inchicore Outreach Centre and the Courts Service.

The scheme offers a free and confidential drop-in service for women, and offers them emotional support, helps them prepare for court and refers them to other domestic violence services for ongoing support.

Launching the report, Mrs Justice Denham said the service was a fine example of the State and NGO sectors coming together to provide a better service for the people, which showed that at a time of pressure on resources, with some lateral thinking and goodwill, a better service can be delivered with very little additional expenditure.

Mr Shatter said: “The work being done at the Dolphin House Support and Referral Service is a shining example of cooperation and coordination in working to assist victims of domestic abuse.”

Margaret Martin, Director of Women’s Aid, said: “This service makes a real difference to women’s lives. We know that for 107 women the Dolphin House Support and Referral Service made their journey through the legal system easier.”

She gave the example of “Annie” a woman who made contact with the service when she was pregnant with her third child. Her husband was beating her and burning her with cigarettes, telling her she was worthless and a terrible mother.

Annie had tried over the years to get a protection order but each time she applied she didn’t go through with it because her husband threatened to kill her if she did. On one occasion he physically blocked her from leaving the house so she would miss her hearing.

Through the Dolphin House service she was able to apply for orders under the Domestic Violence Act and other orders, such as custody, access, maintenance, guardianship, production of infants and HSE care hearings.

“She and her children are now protected and are building a safer, happier life, free from her husband’s abuse and control. It is safe to say that without the help of the service, Annie and her children would still be living in an abusive home,” Ms Martin said.

Source: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0625/breaking48.html

Fantastic scheme but they forgot to add "....for women" at the end.

As somebody who has witnessed and to a much lesser extent experienced domestic abuse as a man it is yet another area were the male population of Ireland are let down.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want this thread descending into them versus us. There are countless women who really need this scheme and hopefully it will work but is it wrong that men are excluded here?

I know there are some that will say women have it far far worse and they are probably right, but I would imagine the figures aren't as contrasting as we may think. Its hard enough for a woman to report abuse, its 100 times harder for men.

Woodward

Research has shown that men and women are domestically abused at roughly equal rates and women are slightly more likely to initiate violence. To treat DV as a gendered issue is ridiculous

Varied

Woodward wrote: »

Research has shown that men and women are domestically abused at roughly equal rates and women are slightly more likely to initiate violence. To treat DV as a gendered issue is ridiculous

Well, that is the way it is going to keep going unless there is a group to protest. Mens rights seems to be a taboo subject.

Sauve

Varied wrote: »

Well, that is the way it is going to keep going unless there is a group to protest. Mens rights seems to be a taboo subject.

I wouldn't even say protest is needed, rather more mens' groups to come forward and raise awareness of how big an issue domestic violence is for men.
It's just not spoken about enough.

Fromthetrees

More than 40% of domestic violence victims are male, report reveals.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/05/men-victims-domestic-violence

You also have to factor in the stigma associated with men claiming to have been abused so it's far more likely to be under reported than the statistics reveal.

Mat the trasher

Fromthetrees wrote: »

More than 40% of domestic violence victims are male, report reveals.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/sep/05/men-victims-domestic-violence

You also have to factor in the stigma associated with men claiming to have been abused so it's far more likely to be under reported than the statistics reveal.

I would be very interested to know how this links to Male suicide rates? Have there ever been comparison studys into countries where suicide rates are low and level of domestice violence is well documented?

Dravokivich

For generalisation, I recon it's all down to the perception that is overly portayed in fictional media that men can be strong, brutish and violently enraged if their chips are too soggy. Very few times in fictional media you rarely see the woman as the abuser.

Although, in this instance they appear to be targetting a specific area to pilot the scheme. My supisicion been driven by 107 women coming forward seeking out help from this scheme over a 6 month period.

If anything, we shouldn't question why this was done for women and if men are being left out because of ill conceived perception as portrayed primarily by fictional media. We should be saying, "that seems to work, I'd like some of that support too please."

iptba

Dravokivich wrote: »

For generalisation, I recon it's all down to the perception that is overly portayed in fictional media that men can be strong, brutish and violently enraged if their chips are too soggy. Very few times in fictional media you rarely see the woman as the abuser.

Yes. This is one of reasons I'd like Men's Studies to be developed: Women's Studies have looked at literature, popular culture and the like to see how women are portrayed (and have been in the past); I think interesting work could also be done on how men are portrayed.

Dravokivich

iptba wrote: »

Yes. This is one of reasons I'd like Men's Studies to be developed: Women's Studies have looked at literature, popular culture and the like to see how women are portrayed (and have been in the past); I think interesting work could also be done on how men are portrayed.

Aye, but the harder part of that, could be for common perception to dissassociate from that portrayal.

py2006

Dravokivich wrote: »

If anything, we shouldn't question why this was done for women and if men are being left out because of ill conceived perception as portrayed primarily by fictional media. We should be saying, "that seems to work, I'd like some of that support too please."

I think in order for men to be aware that there is help out there for them and that it is okay to come forward a pilot scheme such as this should incorporate a policy of actively trying to reach out to men. As opposed to giving the impression that it is for women only.

liamhana

Woodward wrote: »

Research has shown that men and women are domestically abused at roughly equal rates and women are slightly more likely to initiate violence. To treat DV as a gendered issue is ridiculous

"While treating domestic violence as a gender issue is ridiculous, its also ridiculous to state that domestic violence is at roughly equal rates....

"1 in 7 women in Ireland compared to 1 in 17 men experience severe domestic violence. Women are over twice as likely as men to have experienced severe physical abuse, seven times more likely to have experienced sexual abuse, and are more likely to experience serious injuries than men. (National Crime Council and ESRI, Domestic Abuse of Women and Men in Ireland, 2005)"

This isnt to say that the men in these situations dont deserve support on par with what is available to women, but we're not dealing with like for like in terms of numbers or its affects - stats from the same source show that were men are the abuser they are more likely to also physically abuse the children whereas women engaged in spousal abuse limited it to the men.

py2006

liamhana wrote: »

"While treating domestic violence as a gender issue is ridiculous, its also ridiculous to state that domestic violence is at roughly equal rates....

"1 in 7 women in Ireland compared to 1 in 17 men experience severe domestic violence. Women are over twice as likely as men to have experienced severe physical abuse, seven times more likely to have experienced sexual abuse, and are more likely to experience serious injuries than men. (National Crime Council and ESRI, Domestic Abuse of Women and Men in Ireland, 2005)"

This isnt to say that the men in these situations dont deserve support on par with what is available to women, but we're not dealing with like for like in terms of numbers or its affects - stats from the same source show that were men are the abuser they are more likely to also physically abuse the children whereas women engaged in spousal abuse limited it to the men.

While I can't disagree that the figure for women is more than likely higher, you have to take into account that far less men would be willing/able to report these instances and even if they wanted to there isn't a lot of avenues for them.

With that in mind, I would suggest that the figures are closer than that report says.

Fromthetrees

Mat the trasher wrote: »

I would be very interested to know how this links to Male suicide rates? Have there ever been comparison studys into countries where suicide rates are low and level of domestice violence is well documented?

I don't know, it might be hard to compare as male suicide rates are higher in every country. It would be an interesting study though.

py2006

Dr Elizabeth Celi talking about men's health, domestic abuse and social bias against men.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgvHY--xeC4

liamhana

While I can't disagree that the figure for women is more than likely higher, you have to take into account that far less men would be willing/able to report these instances and even if they wanted to there isn't a lot of avenues for them.

With that in mind, I would suggest that the figures are closer than that report says.[/Quote]

Men may not report domestic violence but the rate of non reporting amongst women is just as high... There is no point in perpetuating the lie that men are as much victims of Dom violence as women. It does men's and fathers rights groups more harm than good and always leaves the issue as part of the fringe...

py2006

liamhana wrote: »

There is no point in perpetuating the lie that men are as much victims of Dom violence as women.

I don't think anybody was.

As difficult as it may be for a woman to report it, it is far more difficult for a man. I just don't believe they can provide accurate figures for male victims as I don't believe the figures of those that have come forward are anywhere near representative of the actual number if victims.

Domestic abuse includes psychological as well as physical which is something some people tend to not realise.

iptba

A lot of medical conditions are not balanced 50/50 gender-wise. I don't think people would accept it if medical services were only offered for the gender of the patients which predominate for that condition. (Just an analogy that occurred to me; perhaps not perfect).

A big problem in the area, highlighted in one or more previous threads on tGC, is that training for professionals seems to very often involve the model: male perpetrator/female victim. So stereotypes are enforced.

eviltwin

py2006 wrote: »

I don't think anybody was.

As difficult as it may be for a woman to report it, it is far more difficult for a man. I just don't believe they can provide accurate figures for male victims as I don't believe the figures of those that have come forward are anywhere near representative of the actual number if victims.

Domestic abuse includes psychological as well as physical which is something some people tend to not realise.

Spot on.

Services exist for people of both sexes but you can't force victims to call. Amen do offer a wonderful service and I think most people are aware they exist now but they can only offer help to men who pick up the phone and call.

I work in the area of DV dealing with women. Even though its a lot more socially acceptable to be a female victim there is still a shame in admitting it, a lot of women tell me they feel embarrassed to be admitting the abuse, they often don't realise its is abuse. I'm sure those dynamics are just as bad if not worse for men.

As well as that supports for female victims have had about a 30 yr head start on the same services for men. Organisations like Safe Ireland, Cosc, Women's Aid started small, usually around a kitchen table and have built up their name and reputation over time. The same will happen with Amen and as more men come forward and talk about it things will change.

I'm very hopeful that by the time my 2 yr old son is a grown man we will have as much support for men affected by violence as we will for women.

iptba

py2006 wrote: »

I don't think anybody was.

As difficult as it may be for a woman to report it, it is far more difficult for a man. I just don't believe they can provide accurate figures for male victims as I don't believe the figures of those that have come forward are anywhere near representative of the actual number if victims.

Domestic abuse includes psychological as well as physical which is something some people tend to not realise.

I too would think some psychological/emotional abuse might be missed by men as they haven't been taught to recognise it.

iptba

iptba wrote: »

I too would think some psychological/emotional abuse might be missed by men as they haven't been taught to recognise it.

It amazes me sometimes when "abuse" is shown on TV against women and if the roles were reversed at the very most the guy might be described as under the thumb or similar.

py2006

Deleted User wrote: »

It amazes me sometimes when "abuse" is shown on TV against women and if the roles were reversed at the very most the guy might be described as under the thumb or similar.

Violence against men (slapping/punching) whether it is deserved or not is seen as comical in the likes of soaps etc. Whereas the opposite is considered abuse and the man will get his just deserts soon enough which is right.

py2006

py2006 wrote: »

Violence against men (slapping/punching) whether it is deserved or not is seen as comical in the likes of soaps etc. Whereas the opposite is considered abuse and the man will get his just deserts soon enough which is right.

Never even mind physical violence, when people decide right off the bat that there's a victim and a perpetrator absolutely anything can be spun as abuse.

Pawwed Rig

Sauve wrote: »

I wouldn't even say protest is needed, rather more mens' groups to come forward and raise awareness of how big an issue domestic violence is for men.
It's just not spoken about enough.

When it is spoken about it is essentially gagged. The powers that be do not want to admit to an issue where they would have to change the policies and laws of 30 years