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Domestic Abuse » BackgroundBackground What is Domestic Violence and Abuse?
According to the Regional Strategy to address domestic abuse in Northern Ireland
entitled "Tackling Violence at Home", "Domestic violence and abuse is essentially
a pattern of behaviour, which is characterised by the exercise of control and
the misuse of power by one person over another within an intimate relationship
or a family. It is usually frequent and persistent. It can include violence by
a son, daughter or any other person who has a close or blood relationship with
the victim."
Domestic violence knows no boundaries as regards age, gender, race, religion,
sexual orientation, wealth or geography, but in the majority of reported cases
women are the victims.
Domestic violence / abuse can go beyond actual physical violence. It can involve
emotional abuse – for example: undermining of self-confidence; the destruction
of property; threats to others including children; controlling behaviour such
as isolation from friends and family; control over access to money, personal items,
food, transportation and the telephone; and stalking.
Domestic violence can and may include violence inflicted on, or witnessed by,
children. The wide adverse effects for children living with domestic violence
must be recognised as a child protection issue and may link to poor educational
achievement, social exclusion and to juvenile crime, substance misuse, mental
health problems and homelessness from running away.
It is acknowledged that domestic violence can also manifest itself through the actions of immediate and extended family members through the perpetuation of unlawful activities, such as forced marriage, so called 'honour crimes' and female genital mutilation. Extended family members may condone or even share in the pattern of violence. (DHSSPS, 2005, Tackling Violence at Home, A strategy for addressing domestic violence and abuse in Northern Ireland – (available at http://www.nio.gov.uk/). |
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