Domestic Violence Is Not a Private Matter

The following is an excerpt from the Caribbean Training and Resource Manual on Domestic Violence: A Five day Training Course, which was produced by CAFRA in collaboration with the ACCP, with the financial support of the IDB/Finnish Trust Fund and UNIFEM.

1. The dominant form of domestic violence/spousal abuse is that perpetrated by adult men against their female partners or ex-partners. Freedom from abuse and violence is everyone’s basic right.

2. Research consistently reveals that domestic violence is widespread and cuts across all barriers of class, race, culture and religion.

3. Domestic violence is not a private matter. The effect on society is too far ranging socially and economically for it not to be taken seriously by all in our communities. Non-intervention leaves women and c hildren unprotected from violence and abuse- communities must take up responsibility to provide protection and see it as a crime, a denial of basic rights, not a ’private matter’.

4. Domestic violence involves a wide range of controlling behaviours of which physical violence is but a part. It is not ’argument that has got out of hand’ - which implies shared fault and that the woman could/should be able to find a solution.

5. Women do not enjoy being abused and they employ a wide range of skills to survive.

6. Many factors (external and internal) influence a woman’s decision to stay or leave; many may wish to keep the relationship (at least for the time being) but want the violence to stop.

7. Leaving involves a process of help seeking which is influenced by the availability of resources and by the nature of responses.

8. Men who are violent and abusing are wholly responsible for their behaviour, which is invariably instrumental, having a specific objective. They are not ’out of control’ since they will choose when and where they are violent and abusing.

9. Spousal abuse is learned behaviour - it is not caused by alcohol or by mental health difficulties and it is supported by socio-cultural norms.

10. Spousal abuse thrives on shame, secrecy and denial.

11. Society’s response to domestic violence has tended to increase the man’s domination and limit women’s options. This conveys social permission for domestic violence. Throughout the Caribbean, spousal abuse has been permitted and reinforced through religion, cultural traditions and social values. Replacing this with social condemnation will address this and the first measure is via policy, police action, support for all front-line workers (including resources for the development of resources), and public education/awareness.