FAMILY / DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Why does Family Violence Continue? lack of Alternatives people may see no way out. Women and children may be economically dependent on the abusers, lacking money to support themselves and skill to find a job. Elderly people and children may feel too powerless to escape. Isolation victims often have nowhere to turn, so the abuse remains hidden from family, friends, human service agencies and police. Continued abuse can lead to greater isolation, trapping family members in a vicious cycle. Fear and Shame fear of the unknown may lead abused people to submit to violence. Victims may feel helpless, guilty or worthless. They may try to hide the facts because they feel ashamed of the poor quality of the relationship and dont trust those who could help them. Abusers may feel the consequences of seeking help, unaware that continuing as before may be more dangerous than asking for help. Lack of Protection In the past, police and courts have many cases which were unable to provide much protection to victims of abuse. Today, the situation is changing. Out government now recognizes family violence as a crime offer help to victims.

Ignorance family members may be unaware of the help thats available from the local human service agencies, shelters and the police. They may not know their legal rights or realizes that there are alternatives to living in a violent home. Abusers may not realize that with proper treatment, they can learn to express their feelings in positive ways. Hope and Love Many people in violent home love each other despite the violence and enjoy some good time together. Victims may feel that its better to suffer than to be separated from loved ones. They keep hoping for improvement. But without help, violence usually gets worse. Other factors that may trigger family violence: Stress the pressures of daily life such as job worries. Unpaid bills, strained relationship can mount unit a person feels overwhelmed. Some people take out these frustrations on those nearest at hand- the family. When drug and alcohol abuse are involved, they may add up problem Attitudes some people see violence as a inevitable part of life a natural outlet for tensions and a population to problems. Other believe that family violence is a private matter and that outsiders should not get involved. Society condoned family violence for generations, allowing men to control their families by force f necessary.

Isolation in todays mobile society, many people lost contact with family and friends who could provide emotional support when pressures become too great. These people can feel trapped, not knowing where to turn for help, so the result may be family violence. Family Background studies indicate that some people learn to be violent towards family members as they grow up. For example abused children may grow up to abuse their own families.

FAMILY ROLES
A role refers to the behavior that is expected of an individual n relating to and interacting with other members of society. A clear understanding or lack of understanding could lead to difficulties and even sometimes to crises situations. The role of persons within the family could be complicated further by changes in the family system, i.e. a change from extended to nuclear/conjugal families, participation of women in careers outside the home, influence of western culture, higher education, the need for economic improvement and the drive for social status-better job, and so on.

The following could be said about family roles:

1. Roles definitions and boundaries are more likely to be diffused in large families and sharply defined in smaller ones.
2. The marital role or the role of men and women s married couples provides opportunities for companionship, security, physical relationships, psychological support and reproduction while also giving an opportunity where each can develop his/her potential to the full. 3. As family size increases, the parental role tends to become more important than marital role. 4. Parents are basically responsible for the discipline, guidance and rearing of children, but the extended family and other members of the community could share their responsibility in different ways. 5. Older children are often delegated parental responsibilities particularly in large families where they are expected to earn some money for the family as well s to mind the younger ones.

6. Parents can fulfill their roles more successfully if they have an adequate knowledge of what s essential for the growth and development of their children.

7. Parents perform the earning roles or the role breadwinner to provide and care for their families.
8. The financial demands of a large family could compel parents to spend more time on earning to support their families. Parents also need to find time to provide the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and to inculcate the right values in their children to help them cope with lifes problems at different stages of their growing up. 9. The roles played by family members and the time spent on each depends very much on the stage of growth of the children, and is often influenced by cultural values and considerations. Very often misunderstandings arise from lack of communication on the roles of family members. Culture could result in the either a negative or rigid role expected of family members, or could ones value and attitude to it.

WHAT ARE THE EFFCTS/IMPACT OF FAMILY VIOLENCE?

Family violence adversely affects the normal physical and psychological growth and development of the victim. It may vary depending on the kind and degree of abuse.

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE:

MALNUTRITION BRUISES ABRASIONS / SCRATCHES BURNS UNWANTED PREGNANCY PERMANENT PYSICAL DISABILITES Such as FRACTURE/DISLOCATION DEATH

EFFECTS OF PSYCHOLOGICL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME LEARNING DISABILITES EXTREME DR\EPRESSION SENSE OF ALIENATION SUICIDAL/SELF-DESTRUCTIVE TENDENCIES EMOTIONAL BREAKDOWN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR LOW SELF-ESTEEM/SELF-IMAGE RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS REJECTION FEAR CONFUSION

SOCIAL EFFECTS :
FAMILY DISINTEGRATION SEPARATION FROM SPOUSE STOPPED SCHOOLING POOR PEER RELATIONSHIP INABILITY TO FORM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OPPOSITE SEX

The following are some of the effects of violence on Children: BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE:
Aggressive Destructive Cruel (smaller children or to animals) Passive Clinging Shy Whining ad helpless Withdrawn Limited tolerance of frustration Engaging in Cheating Temper tantrums

EFFECTS OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

Anxiety Fear Depression Sadness Confusion Loneliness Unhappiness Anger Frustration Feeling useless and powerless Fear of expressing feelings Inability to learn at school Low self- esteem

EFFECTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE:

Shame of body Feeling threatened Low self-esteem

EFFECTS:
MARITAL DISSOLUTION, such as: separation, Multiple marriage, premature marriage and/or abortion are among the increasing number of parental crisis and worsening family relationship and this situation is one of the causes of domestic/family violence

PROGRESSION OF VIOLENCE
Beginning Levels
Verbal

Abuse Hitting Objects Breaking Objects Making Threats Pushing Grabbing Restraining

PROGRESSION OF VIOLENCE
Moderate Levels Slapping Pinching Pulling out clamps of hair

PROGRESSION OF VIOLENCE Severe Levels

Choking Beating with object Use of weapon Rape

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Calm Loving Phase Loving and kind behavior He begs for forgiveness and promises never o do it again He believes he can control his anger form now on.

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Acute Battering Phase Uncontrollable discharge of tension Rarely is it the womans behavior that triggers the battering She gets the beating no matter what her response is.

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Tension Building Phase Verbal and minor Battery incidents Victims usually attempt to calm batterer by accepting responsibility

EFFECTS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE TO VICTIM

Physical Effects
Bruises Abrasion / Scratches Burns Fractures/ Dislocation

TYPES OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Emotional and /or Psychology Abuse Neglect Multiple Abuse

EFFECTS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Shame about body Feeling threatened and fearful of their sexuality Learning in appropriate talk and /or behavior Children having access to pornographic magazines and movies

EMOTIONAL /PSYCHOLOGICAL
Denial or withdrawal from reality Delusional Fear Feelings of Helplessness Depression Poor Self- concept

SOCIAL EFFECTS
Separation from Spouse Institutionalization Stopped School Poor Peer Relationship

Inability to form Relationship with the Opposite Sex

EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE TO CHILDREN

Mental Effect
Children may feel guilty and strange Think its their fault Cranky, crabby kids Demanding and withdrawn Crane /need scrutiny from anyone

National Family Violence Prevention Program Framework

Vulnerability of women, Children older persons to Family violence

National Family Violence Prevention Program

Reduced Violence Against Women and Children

Increased Awareness of community on Family Violence Prevention Institutionalized preventive strategies on Family Violence Network among Gos/NGOs and other civic groups mobilized in the prevention of Family Violence Referrals /protocols system established Data-based system installed and maintained at all levels

Strategies:
Training and Continuing Technical
Lack of Coordinated efforts in addressing the problems on Family Violence Assistance Organization and Strengthening of Support Groups/Community Based Structures Strengthening of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and Lupong Tagapamayapa Organization and/ or strengthening of interagency Structures at the municipal/city/provincial levels Demonstration of the Family Group Conference As a preventive and mediation strategy in resolving family conflict Institutionalization of NFVPP to LGU Program Research and Documentation Public Information and Advocacy Installation of data based system on family

Increased Incidence of Domestic Abuse

Inadequate data on Family Violence

FLOW CHART: REFERRAL NETWORK FOR VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Reporting Party
One who ahs knowledge about a victim Of family violence (either child, women, older persons, or other household member being abused or neglected; must report Within 48 hours in writing by telephone Or personal contacts.
Immediate Family Members Barangay Officials Police/Park Wardens/Law Enforces Hospital/Clinics/Private Physicians Media (Radio, T.V, Print) Parents/Guardians/Relatives Concerned Citizens/organizations School Officials Teachers a.
Barangay Council for the Protection of Children

AHON Pamily Laban Sa Karahasan/Family Council

Police
Lupong Tagapamayapa (Family Group Conference)

C/MSWDO

Hospitals

Government Officials and Employees

Non-Government Agencies Commercial Films/ Photographic Processors Church Neighbors Barangay Volunteers

Assess situation of the victims - contact family/relatives of child/victim - contact police for blotter and assistance -refer child/victim for medical examination /psychological evaluation b. Provide appropriate social servces to the victim and family c. Assist the victim/complainant/family avail of legal assistance d. Coordinate with other agencies in the provision of rehabilitation Services including afterczre

REALITIES OF FAMILY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Family violence is a human rights issues and development concern which seriously violates the right of an individual to a safe and peaceful living and thus, deter ones potential to participate in nation- building; DSWD recorded serves a total of 48,000 cases of abuses against women and children for the period; The Philippine National Police recorded a total of 407 cases of abuses against women and children for the period;

11 out of 12 women were battered physically at least once in their married life and all expressed having experienced emotional abuse in a random survey conducted to three (3) urban Metro Manila poor communities (Womens Crisis Center.

 33% of the 8,000 respondents nationwide have reported physical abuse by their spouse or someone close to them. Further, 30% of women ages 15 to 49 were raped or forced to have sex with someone but only 10% sought the assistance of the law enforcement or other helping agencies (DOH Special Concerns Unit Safe Motherhood Survey,) Of the 93% validated cases of child abuse, 65% of all abused involved family members. Added to this, approximately 20% of these cases involved physically and emotionally battered mother
(UP PGH Child Protection Unit, )

KALAKASAN with its Tigil-Bugbog hotline receives about 20 call a day.

In Cebu, only 8.2% of domestic abuse are reported because wife beating is considered as Family matter. Likewise, 6 out 10 women are battered once in their married life
(Lihok-Pilipina: Bantay-Bahay,Cebu)

 60% of women in the neighborhood in Metro Manila urban poor communities are regularly battered by their spouses or live-in partners (HASIK)

It was revealed hat family violence is attributed t the absence of the mother at home especially at night where most sexual abuse occurred, influence of alcohol and drugs of the abusers, economic conditions and powerlessness and dependency of the victim over the abuser (Breaking the Silence: Realities of
Family Violence in the Philippines, UNICEF,)

Most abuses occurred due to separation of parents and the minor is living with their father, cousins or relatives. Likewise, the relatives remained passive over the complaints of the victim
(Baseline Study on Domestic Violence, BFCW- DSWD,)

Government Initiatives
1. Advocacy on the Preservation of Family
Conduct of Parent Effectiveness Service (PES), Empowerment and Reaffirmation of Paternal Abilities (ERPAT) Family Code of the Philippines & PD 603 (the child & youth Welfare Code) R.A 9262 Anti Violence against Women & Children (AVAWC) R.A 7192 Women in Development and Nation Building Act R.A 8353 Anti Rape Law of 1997 R.A 8551 Creation of Women Desk in Every Precinct Capability Building to implementers especially in Managing cases on women & children who are victims of abuse Linkages/ Collaborations with GOs, NGOs, LGUs, church and Faith Based Organization.

To Stop Violence in Our Home one should observed

Fairness & Negotiate Promote non threatening behavior Economic Partnership Shared responsibility Honesty of Accountability Trust and Support Respect Shared Parental Responsibility

We need 4 hugs a day for survival; We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance: We need 12 hugs a day for growth.
Virginia Satir (Compilations of Jess Far)