Domestic Violence News World Wide

Domestic violence incidents double in decade
Domestic violence incidents double in decade Wellington,New Zealand 17 August 2006 New Zealand Domestic violence incidents and arrests have doubled in the past decade. Police Minister Annette King says this shows society is becoming more open about reporting and exposing the level of such violence. The minister yesterday released figures showing the number of recorded family violence occurrences over the past 10 years have increased from 31,654 in 1996 to 63,685 in 2005. Arrests have increased over that period from 9311 to 18,305. "The increase might seem dramatic, but sadly I still think we are uncovering only some of the tragedies occurring behind closed doors," Ms King said. More needed to be done to "expose what has been New Zealand's dark secret". Society was increasingly realising domestic violence could not be left for police and other agencies to deal with on their own. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Domestic violence occurs deep within families, within the sanctity and privacy of homes and if you know it is happening to someone in your family or who lives near you please tell someone who can stop it happening." Most people were horrified by domestic violence but that did not stop it being a shame on all. Society had condoned domestic violence for far too long "and we all have to take what responsibility we can for changing attitudes around". Ms King said she hoped increases in police numbers and in resources for call centres would encourage people to report domestic violence. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3766875a6160,00.html

Murdered woman is victim of domestic violence Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Cayman Islands The stabbing to death of a 25-year-old Nicaraguan woman in the early morning hours last Saturday has brought the problem of domestic violence back to the forefront. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service's (RCIPS) Press Liaison Officer, Deborah Denis, a 52-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder following the incident. It is not known whether the couple were married, but they were living together according to information gathered from witnesses at the scene. "Witnesses reported that they were seen at Meringue Town, Zodiac Club and the Sean Inn before the incident," said Ms Denis. "It is too early to tell if there was drinking or if drugs were involved. "We are waiting to reveal her name until the next of kin in Nicaragua are informed." She explained that the man is Nicaraguan and currently in custody and if he is charged then it will most likely be before the end of the week. According to RCIPS, someone called 911 to report a disturbance at 3:20 am on 12 August at an address in Pool Lane, George Town. When the police arrived at the scene they found a 25-year-old Nicaraguan woman with stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The police are calling for witnesses who may have seen or heard something that might assist the investigation. Moreover, the police are also interested in talking with anyone who may have seen either the man or the woman at Zodiac Club, the Sea Inn bar or the Meringue Town Bar on the night the incident occurred. Ms Denis explained that the Family Support Unit has noticed a rise in the reporting of domestic violence incidents and she believes that this is a strong indicator that more victims are coming forward. She stated that generally women form the highest percentage of victims, there are male victims but this abuse tends to be more emotional and financial rather than physical abuse. The Acting Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, Marlene Swanson, stated that this alleged incident of domestic violence tragedy is still common throughout the country. Furthermore, there appears to be an increasing number of women with two and three children who are seeking shelter from domestic violence. "Every individual has a right to live a life free of violence and fear," said Ms Swanson. "The incident, which occurred during the weekend, is an unfortunate tragedy. It highlights the fact that domestic violence does exist in the Cayman Islands. We, at Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, want to take the opportunity to remind victims that we do provide safe shelter at the Centre." She added that the Crisis Centre has a confidential 24-hour hot line, which is 943-CICC. But victims can also seek help at the Women's Resource Centre, the Counselling Centre and the Family Support Unit. The police continue to ask the public for help regarding this incident and they can call 949 4222 or Crime Stoppers on 800 (TIPS). The public is also reminded that callers to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward if their information leads to an arrest. http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000049/004963.htm

Domestic violence victims need a voice UK
Belfast UK Viewpoint: Domestic violence victims need a voice 16 August 2006 Violence against women and children within the home is one of the most despicable crimes, yet it has never received the attention it is due. A shocking UN report, "Behind Closed Doors: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children" indicates that as many as 1 million UK children could be affected - which would mean more than 20,000 in Northern Ireland. The title of the report indicates why domestic violence goes unnoticed - it takes place at home, behind a closed front door, and does not involve strangers or the public at large. Everyone knows it goes on, in all types of homes, but it seldom hits the headlines because the victims are too frightened to speak out in their own defence. That kind of attitude should be changing, in a society where people know their basic human rights, but it will take a lot more exposure of the problem, and talk about its long-term effects, before the perpetrators feel sufficient pressure to stop. Most importantly, they must feel the law will get to them, and that severe penalties will follow. The report provides some terrible statistics, showing how children suffer in homes dominated by a violent father, husband or partner. It is estimated that 20-50% of women worldwide are in a violent relationship, including one in five in the Irish Republic. As a direct result, the children are affected through lowered self-esteem, aggressive tendencies and lost educational opportunities. If children grow up with violence, there is the danger that they will regard it as normal behaviour. They may pass it on to the next generation, becoming violent themselves or accepting violence as their lot in life. It doesn't take an expert to conclude that such attitudes are bad not only for the individuals directly involved, but for society as a whole. Children can end up damaged for life, if their mothers stay too long in a violent home, and the cost in mental and physical illness, often resulting in suicide, is impossible to calculate. The first step, in remedying a problem that spans all cultures, nations and incomes, is to open the closed doors and get people talking about what has happened to them. Without real-life stories, indicating the scale of the disease, governments will not be moved to tighten the law, or demand better enforcement. Only 44 countries, worldwide, have specific domestic violence legislation. Children need to know that they are not alone, in their suffering, and that there is help at hand, through agencies like Women's Aid and the NSPCC. Northern Ireland's Childrens Commissioner should make tackling the misery of domestic violence a top priority http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/opinion/story.jsp?story=702674

UN Study Declares DV against Women Widespread in Afghanist
UN Study Declares Violence against Women a Widespread Problem in Afghanistan A new report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is shedding light on the extent of violence against women in Afghanistan. Uncounted and Discounted is based on over 1,300 incidences of violence against Afghan women between January 2003 and June 2005. Among the main conclusions of the report are that women are subjected to physical and psychological violence, often from an early age, and that neither employment, education levels, or marital status determines who will be victimized. Intimate partners are often the abuser and often act “with impunity,” as there are few repercussions, either legally or within families. Furthermore, Afghan women who are suffering violence at the hands of family members often have nowhere to turn to for support. The report suggests that while further research is necessary to understand the full extent of violence against women, the state must step in immediately to provide support to those against whom acts of violence are committed. Meanwhile, a resurgence of the Taliban in recent months has brought an increase in militia bombings, burnings of girls' schools, and the killing of teachers. Under the Taliban regime, education for Afghan women and girls was banned. Attacks on girls' schools began immediately following the reopening of the schools by the new Afghan government in 2002, but the current situation has reached crisis proportions, undermining the rights that Afghan women and girls were just beginning to enjoy. LEARN MORE about FMF’s Campaign for Afghan Women and Girls. http://www.feminist.org/afghan/ See on line pettion at above site http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=9831

Lawyers Killed in Iraq for Defending Women's Rights
Lawyers Killed in Iraq for Defending Women's Rights Since October 2005, some 38 lawyers in Iraq have been killed, many of whom were defending women's rights. IRIN News, a United Nations humanitarian news and information service, reports that at least 120 lawyers have fled to surrounding countries since January because of the threats to their safety. Lawyers at special risk for death threats and murder are those who take cases involving violations of Islamic law, such as adultery, so-called honor killings, and cases of women asking for custody of their children. In July, Iraqi lawyer Salah Abdel-Kader was found murdered in his office with a note that read, “This is the price to pay for those who do not follow Islamic laws and defend what is dreadful and dirty,” according to IRIN. He frequently took on cases involving custody disputes and honor killings. The threat of violence has had a chilling effect on lawyers willing to take these cases. “We are afraid and terrified by such killings, and many of my colleagues have stopped accepting such cases — even if it could bring good money — because our lives could be in serious risk,” said Iraqi lawyer Qusay Ahmed, according to IRIN News. http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=9835

Zimbabwe: Campaign Against Child Abuse Welcome
Zimbabwe: Campaign Against Child Abuse Welcome THE campaign against child sexual abuse that was launched on Monday this week in Epworth will certainly go a long way in curbing this heinous crime, which sadly, is a practice common both on and off school premises. The constant reports on child abuse as they relate to girls, are now a regular feature in our media and the time for everybody to take action and play a part in bringing to a stop this ugly crime was, to put it mildly, long overdue. What is refreshing about the campaign is that it is aimed at empowering children -- the victims -- so that they have the confidence to deal with abusers and potential abusers. This also gives them the confidence to report the various forms of abuse that would have been perpetrated on. We however, feel that the campaign should also focus on children in nursery schools because there have been many cases involving little children under the age of five that have fallen victim to paedophiles and other child abusers. It is also gratifying to note that the judiciary has been empowered to give a maximum jail penalty of a life sentence for rapists. This is a milestone in the justice delivery system. A retrospective study of reported child sexual abuse cases over an eight-year period (1990-1997) by Beyond Inequalities -- a series of publications that profile the status of women in southern Africa -- revealed high rates of sexual abuse committed by teachers in rural primary schools. Rapists are generally people who are familiar with the victim and children should be empowered to report culprits no matter how closely related they are to them. We have had instances where marriage is used to legitimise sexual violence against girls. Marrying off young children is a form of sexual violence since children involved cannot withhold their consent. Rape is a crime of violence that is worse than armed robbery. It is a crime that degrades and humiliates a victim for life. The psychological scars never heal. A rapist is a possible carrier of sexually transmitted infections and worse still could be living with HIV that causes Aids. There is therefore need to make children aware of this fact and ensure they get post-exposure prophylaxis treatment within 14 days to stop progression of HIV in their bodies. There are traditional practices in Zimbabwe, other than child marriages, that also result in sexual violence. The practice of compensating ngozi, where a child is given to a family as compensation promotes the sexual abuse of girls. On reaching puberty, the girl is expected to marry the deceased's relative so as to produce a son to replace the dead person. Their first sexual encounters are often forced. That is rape. All forms of sexual abuse against women and children should be eradicated. The legal and policy framework must go further to tackle violence against women and children. The link between gender violence and HIV has been recognised through the Sexual Offences Act, but there is need for protocol, to put in place laws, systems and services with the ultimate goal of ridding society of all forms of gender-based violence. Shocking too are revelations that 60 percent of murder cases in Zimbabwe have been attributed to domestic violence. This calls for the speedy ratification of the Domestic Violence Bill that seems to be collecting dust since 1996 when it was initially drafted. The magnitude of domestic violence is appalling as many cases go unreported because of lack of a law that specifically deals with this kind of violence. The time has come for the culture of violence to be eradicated. Many who live with violence believe it is an intrinsic part of their lives but violence can be prevented and it has to start at a personal level. http://allafrica.com/stories/200609200310.html

Uganda: 30 Children Kidnapped for Rituals Every Month
Uganda: 30 Children Kidnapped for Rituals Every Month The Monitor (Kampala) September 24, 2006 Mwanguhya. C, Mpagi At least 30 children are kidnapped each month across the country, police statistics show. This means each day a child goes missing in the country. Some children are taken for ritual murders. Police figures indicate that between January and May this year, 150 children were reported missing across the country. Police records show that 92 children were abducted but 21 of them were later recovered while 13 were still missing by the time of filing the report in May. Two had been confirmed murdered in ritual sacrifice while the status of 56 missing children was recorded as "not submitted." This means their fate was not yet established by the time of filing the report. Thirty nine children were reported to have "disappeared or gone missing" and 13 of them were safely recovered. But six were still missing, two were confirmed murdered while the status (fate) of 20 children had not been submitted. Eight children were kidnapped. Only three were recovered and one was reported still missing while one was confirmed murdered. The status of four children was not submitted by the time of filing the report. Desperate parents are resorting to circumcising the male children and piecing ears of female children following information that such children are not preferred for ritual murders. The parents have been told that the witchdoctors do not sacrifice children whose body parts have been tampered with. But the police spokesman Mr Edward Ochom said while some children are abducted for ritual sacrifice, these constitute the lowest number. Ochom said the majority of the missing children might be growing up girls who elope to get married. He also said some children are abducted by child traffickers. http://allafrica.com/stories/200609240196.html

Worrying new trend in sexual abuse of children /South Africa
Worrying new trend in sexual abuse of children Johannesburg, South Africa 23 October 2006 07:20 Child-committed sexual offences processed by the state have nearly doubled in the past year, the Star reported on Monday. It said 82 children are being charged in courts across the country every day for raping or indecently assaulting other children. Police, prosecutors, social workers and activists said between 25% and 43% of the perpetrators of sex and violent crimes against children are children themselves. Some are as young as six. The state processed 130 059 child sex offenders between 1999 and March this year. Of these, 146 were sentenced to prison terms and 161 are awaiting trial. A Gauteng academic and child abuse counsellor said a "huge" proportion of the perpetrators claim sexual abuse of other children is inspired by acts they see on television. Senior Superintendent Anneke Pienaar, national coordinator of the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit, confirmed a "definite increase" in the number of sexual-abuse allegations made against children. The alleged perpetrators of this abuse are "getting younger and younger", she said. -- Sapa http://www.mg.co.za/articlepage.aspx?area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/&articleid=287416

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