Domestic and Home Violence

This is just not about men beating up women

What is domestic violence?

In Women's Aid's view domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage and so-called 'honour crimes'.

Section 2 of the The Domestic Violence Act 1994 states that domestic violence means the commission of any of the following acts: (i) wilfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place the victim in fear of physical injury; (ii) causing physical injury to the victim by such act which is known or ought to have been known would result in physical injury; (iii) compelling the victim by force or threat to engage in any conduct or act, sexual or otherwise, from which the victim has a right to abstain; (iv) confining or detaining the victim against the victims will; or (v) causing mischief or destruction or damage to property with intent to cause or knowing that it is likely to cause distress or annoyance to the victim, by a person against a) his or her spouse; b) his or her former spouse; c) a child; d) an incapacitated adult; or e) any other member of the family.

What are the signs of domestic violence?

Destructive criticism and verbal abuse: shouting/mocking/accusing/name calling/verbally threatening

 Pressure tactics: sulking, threatening to withhold money, disconnect the telephone, take the car away, commit suicide, take the children away, report you to welfare agencies unless you comply with his demands regarding bringing up the children, lying to your friends and family about you, telling you that you have no choice in any decisions.

 Disrespect: persistently putting you down in front of other people, not listening or responding when you talk, interrupting your telephone calls, taking money from your purse without asking, refusing to help with childcare or housework.

 Breaking trust: lying to you, withholding information from you, being jealous, having other relationships, breaking promises and shared agreements.
Isolation: monitoring or blocking your telephone calls, telling you where you can and cannot go, preventing you from seeing friends and relatives.

 Harassment: following you, checking up on you, opening your mail, repeatedly checking to see who has telephoned you, embarrassing you in public.
Threats: making angry gestures, using physical size to intimidate, shouting you down, destroying your possessions, breaking things, punching walls, wielding a knife or a gun, threatening to kill or harm you and the children.

 Sexual violence: using force, threats or intimidation to make you perform sexual acts, having sex with you when you don't want to have sex, any degrading treatment based on your sexual orientation.

 Physical violence: punching, slapping, hitting, biting, pinching, kicking, pulling hair out, pushing, shoving, burning, strangling.

The Cycle of Violence at Home

 Video\Cycle of Domestic Violence against Women - YouTube.webm

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

STATISTICS

Violence Against Women According to Race from 2006 to July 2011

Sabahan, 79 Others, 31 Sarawakian, 47

Chinese, 487

Malay, 1,635 Indian, 705

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

CASES

 14 Februari 2005, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Seorang guru sekolah menengah di Rantau berusia 43 tahun membuat laporan polis kerana sering didera suaminya yang juga pegawai kastam berusia 47 tahun selama dua tahun. Mangsa yang berasal dari Kelantan didera suaminya di rumah mereka di Taman Tuanku Jaafar, Senawang. Lelaki itu menolak isterinya ke lantai beberapa kali hingga mencederakan badan mangsa. 6 April 2000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur Seorang suami memperlakukan isterinya seperti binatang apabila mengikat leher dan kaki mangsa menggunakan rantai besi sepanjang tiga meter dan dikunci dengan mangga besar. Mangsa turut diikat pada dinding rumah. Kadangkala suaminya mengheret keluar rumah dan mengikatnya pada tiang pagar di depan rumah di depan anak serta jiran. 1 Februari 1997, Kuala Terengganu Seorang wanita hamil terpaksa melarikan diri ke rumah ibunya bersama anak sulung berusia 13 bulan selepas dikatakan tidak tahan sikap panas baran suaminya yang kerap memukul dan menderanya hampir setahun. Hadarulyani Shamsi, 20, dipercayai mengandung anak kedua, berlindung di rumah ibunya di Kampung Rahmat Felda Chalok, Setiu.

 25 Julai 1997, Petaling Jaya Akibat terlalu mengikut perasaan, seorang pekerja binaan berusia 33 tahun menerima padah apabila ditahan reman tujuh hari bagi membantu siasatan polis selepas mendera isterinya di Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, Damansara. Lelaki berkenaan enggan memberi wang diminta isteri untuk membeli beras dan keperluan dapur, sebaliknya menyepak serta menumbuk isterinya. 9 Ogos 1996, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur Jamilah Hassan dari Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, membuat pengakuan mengalami tekanan jiwa berikutan sering didera suaminya yang kaki mabuk dan judi selama tujuh tahun. Dia sering memukul dan mencaci saya selain memaksa saya melakukan hubungan seks, katanya. 21 Februari 1995, Pontian, Johor Seorang lelaki berusia 43 tahun ditahan polis kerana disyaki mendera isterinya berusia 61 tahun sehingga mati di Kampung Belokok, Peradin. Siasatan polis mendapati lelaki itu dipercayai mencekik isterinya sebelum menolaknya sehingga jatuh di tangga rumah. Mangsa cedera teruk di kepala dan dada manakala leher dan mukanya lebam.

 2 Mac 1995, Klang Polis menahan suami seorang pekerja kilang kerana dipercayai memukul isterinya hingga parah di rumahnya di Jalan Young, Pandamaran, Klang, Selangor. Isteri lelaki itu yang berusia 35 tahun luka pergelangan tangan kanannya dipercayai terkena benda tajam serta bengkak pada mata, belakang badan, pipi dan punggung. 27 Disember 1995, Kuantan Harapan seorang suri rumah untuk hidup bahagia bersama suami hingga ke akhir hayat punah apabila dia didera sehingga memaksanya meninggalkan rumah untuk mendapatkan pertolongan. Sarimah Suan, 17, cedera di dada dan perut dipercayai didera suami, terpaksa menahan sakit untuk pulang ke rumah bapanya di Tanah Putih Baru, Kuantan, Pahang. 22 Ogos 1994, Hulu Klang Wanita berusia 30-an dan isteri kedua seorang imam dikejarkan ke wad kecemasan Hospital Kuala Lumpur oleh ibunya selepas tidak sedarkan diri dipercayai menghadapi tekanan jiwa berpunca daripada perbuatan suaminya. Wanita itu kemudian membuat satu laporan bahawa ada beberapa tanda kecederaan pada tubuhnya berpunca daripada penderaan. Sumber : Harian Metro

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

LAW

 The Domestic Violence Act 1994 Akta Undang-undang Keluarga Islam 1984 [Akta 303]/Enakmen Undang-undang Keluarga Islam for muslim. Akta Membaharui Undang-undang (Perkahwinan dan penceraian) 1976 [Akta 164] Akta Perempuan Bersuami dan Anak (Nafkah) 1950 [Akta 263] Akta Perintah Nafkah (Kemudahan bagi Penguatkuasaan) 1949 [Akta 34]

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

WHY ABUSED WOMEN DO NOT GO FOR A REPORT?

SOCIETY
Women will stay in an abusive relationship/marriage because they may fear the stigma of being divorced. They will be looked upon as having failed in the marriage. They are also made to bear the burden of being responsible for the make and break of the marriage. Many women fear being branded as a bad mother and wife who does not keep the wedding vows they made. Her knowledge of available community services may be limited and therefore she believes she has no other choice but to stay in the abusive relationship.

EMOTIONAL
B. Emotional The longer the woman lives in an abusive relationship the harder it is to leave as the woman loses her sense of worth and dignity along the way. This may cause her to have a very low self-esteem, and consequently contributes to her inability to leave. Other reasons may include her fear of the unknown and uncertain future, her love for the spouse and the hope that the spouse will change for the better. These women too are made to believe that they provoke the violence and that her children need their father, hence an abusive father is better than no father.

ECONOMIC
In many cases involving domestic violence, husbands have made sure that their wives do not work even though they are unable to provide for the family. This is a form of control over his wife. It becomes a problem for the woman because she cannot leave home, having no money and being unemployed. One of the other reasons why women stay is because they may have nowhere else to go. The children may be young and therefore she is unable to get a fulltime job as she has to take care of the children. She may feel bad that she cannot provide her children with the best food, shelter and security.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

WAYS TO STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMAN

 The victim, a guardian or relative of the victim can do the following:(i) lodge a police report; (ii) lodge a complaint at the nearest District Social Welfare Department. (iii) Talian Nur-15999 : 22 cases since 2010

a. Duty of the Social Welfare Officer (i) assist a victim in getting medical aid and lodging a police report (if one has not been made); (iii) apply for an Interim Protection Order from the Magistrates Court; (iii) initiate investigations on the abuse and meet the parties at counseling sessions; (iv) provide temporary shelter to the victim who has nowhere else to go; (v) settle new arrangements for the children's school, accommodation, etc.

b. Steps to be taken by the Police (i) The police will contact the Welfare department and if the victim is injured, the victim will be sent to the hospital. (ii) An investigation into the alleged abuse will be conducted by the Investigating Officer; (iii) If required, the police will detain the aggressor for 24 hours; (iv) The police may detain the aggressor for more than 24 hours but not more than 14 days after obtaining an Order from the Magistrates Court

 The court has the power to grant (i) an Interim Protection Order i.e an Order restraining an aggressor which is valid for 12 months and can be renewed for a further 12 months. (ii) right of exclusive occupation of the home regardless of whether it is jointly or solely owned or rented (iii) an order prohibiting entry to the victim's school or place of work; (iv) any other Order that may be required for the safety of the victim

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MALAYSIA

INTEGRATED APPROACH

 The Ministry of Health has set up One-Stop Crisis Centres in all major hospitals to handle survivors efficiently without having to go through much hassle queuing up with other patients.

 Another on-going programme launched by the Department of Womens Development under the same ministry is a campaign known as Wave (Women against Violence). This programmes major concern is to educate the public about their rights, the law and procedures governing them and also the different forms of abuse that are prevalent in society. It also provides information on options on how to deal with the situation when it occurs. Recently, the department has recruited, vetted and trained 388 volunteers nationwide to help these battered women

 The National Social Policy was recently launched. It is a holistic approach to incorporate physical, emotional and intellectual prowess in the race to attain economic development. The Social Welfare Department is one of the main referral resources. They provide shelter for abused women and todate there are a total of 28 safe houses run by the Welfare Department. These facilities are adequately equipped to ensure the comfort and safety of the victims and their children.

 AWAM (All Women against Violence in Malaysia) and WAO (Womens Aid Organisation)have been very active, vocal and work hard to combat this menace. They also provide counselling; conduct training for trainers and organize seminars and workshops to enhance knowledge and awareness.

 The Islamic Religions Department has set up temporary shelters for Muslim survivors of domestic violence throughout Malaysia. They also provide legal and counselling services to their clients.

CONCLUSION

THANK YOU
AINUR NISA SYAFINAZ ARINA KAMIL