Domestic Violence

            Domestic violence entails a pattern of aggression or any other type of violence by a person to another in domestic setting such as cohabitation and marriage. This domestic violence may take place in both same and hetero sex family relationship. This goes further deeper as this form of violence is also subjected against children in the family. Domestic violence takes different forms such as verbal, physical emotional, religious and even sexual (Weiss, 2004). Globally domestic violence overwhelms women as they are the major victims. Domestic violence victims are trapped in such situation through power, isolation, and lack of financial resources, cultural acceptance and to protect children (Weiss, 2004). Different countries around the world have a different definition of domestic violence.  In some countries mostly the developing ones who still have strong roots in culture and traditions see domestic violence as a justification of particular cases especially if a woman is suspected of infidelity. In such countries, gender inequality is significant as women are taken as properties rather than human being (Cefrey, 2009).

    In many countries, domestic violence goes unreported worldwide, mostly if it is a man who is affected. This is because of the social stigma in regard to male victimization and increased overlook by health care providers. It is a norm in many countries for women to be abused and no action taken as they opt to go silent about it as it is acceptable and justifiable.  Many societies believe that the action of domestic violence is as a result of social acceptance as a way of instilling discipline especially to women and children (Weiss, 2004).

    Due to the continued awareness and civilization, different countries have implemented laws and policy to curb down domestic violence.

This is done to prevent victims from having physical disabilities, mental illness, persistent health troubles and deprived ability to generate healthy associations (Cefrey, 2009). Such policies also prevent the victims from experiencing psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Different countries also aim at preventing such situation from occurring especially for children living in such household where violence occurs. This is done to prevent psychological problems at a tender age such as dysregulated aggression to prevent the children from continuing the legacy of abuse at adulthood (Cefrey, 2009).

    Different countries have different ways of addressing domestic violence. In countries like England and Wales, they have an approach to protecting victims of domestic violence who no longer live with the offender who is an aggrieved ex-partner. England and Wales are the only jurisdiction approach where all persons regardless of the gender and the sexuality domestic violence can be experienced. No person is limited in a common household (Weiss, 2004). For countries such as France, Malaysia, South Korea and Germany require the offender and the victim to be cohabiting at the time when the abuse occurred to qualify for domestic violence. In all these different forms of jurisdiction, domestic violence is considered as psychological, physical and sexual abuse. In some jurisdiction such as the Ukraine, they have been able to expressly recognize the interrelation between psychological and economic abuse (MacGee, 2000).

    Offenders of domestic laws are punished in different ways. This involves imprisonment and fines depending on the severity of the offense. In a country like Ukraine, there are other punishments such as public works or corrective labor while in France the offenders are restricted to perform certain types of works or working at particular fields and in the Czech Republic, they are subjected to community service (Weiss, 2004).

In the majority of jurisdiction including America, a court may order that the offender may undergo psychotherapy or counseling as a form of rehabilitation. This helps in addressing the underlying issue in the household that caused domestic violence. Some of these countries have a non-governmental organization that helps to run voluntary programs by setting up crisis centers to help address the issue such as Indonesia and Russia.  They provide counseling and anger management to prevent any form of violence to the offenders (Cefrey, 2009). Such programs are also found in England, Wales, Ukraine and Czech Republic. Across this jurisdiction, they have come up with ways to support the victims. They vary from one jurisdiction to another but the common one is giving a protection order to the victims from the offenders (In Salisbury, In Donavin & In Price, 2002). This includes contacting the victims, restricting certain distances and returning to the share homes. In countries such as south Africa, Ukraine, south Africa and Malaysia the victims have the right to claim monetary compensation from the offender for any loss cause such as loss of income, medical expenses and the cost of any temporary shelter (MacGee, 2000).

    In the United States, they are policies that already exist in relation to domestic violence. They both punish the offenders and offer support to the victims. It would be advantageous of America to make sure that every person is subjected to such policies regardless of the age and the gender. It should not also limit domestic violence to occur when the two parties involved are cohabiting together (In Salisbury, In Donavin & in Price, 2002). The victims are offered support and training in the programs made by the government to help them overcome the pain and the stress caused in such situations where children should not be left out.

 

    In conclusion, it is, therefore, important for all forms of domestic violence to be controlled while offenders ought to be heavily punished for their illegal action. It is, therefore, the role of the government to ensure that they provide the public with policies that govern the way they conduct themselves with each other and hence the implementation of these policies will guard the victims who have been violated and prevent those who are planning on doing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Cefrey, H. (2009). Domestic violence. New York, NY: Rosen Pub. Group.

In Salisbury, E., In Donavin, G., & In Price, M. L. (2002). Domestic violence in medieval texts.

MacGee, C. (2000). Childhood experiences of domestic violence. London [u.a.: Kingsley.

Weiss, E. (2004). Surviving domestic violence: Voices of women who broke free. Volcano, Calif:             Volcano Press.