What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is a gendered crime which is deeply rooted in the societal inequality between men and women. It is a form of gender-based violence – violence “directed against a woman because she is a women or that affects disproportionately.” (CEDAW, 1992).
It is defined as “any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse:”
psychological
physical
sexual
physical
sexual
Controlling Behaviour
Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
Coercive Behaviour
Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.
Everyone has the right to live free from abuse and the fear of abuse.
Services that can help:
Independent Domestic Violence Adviser Service
Community and Court Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) specialise in co-ordinating services in order to rapidly reduce risk to the victim and their children. This includes support for victims and survivors accessing the criminal justice and family court systems.
Domestic Abuse Resource Team (DART) offer holistic domestic abuse services by providing confidential, practical and emotional support to families affected by domestic abuse. More
Support for children aged 3-13 yrs who have experienced and/or witnessed domestic abuse. Our Comets & Rockets programme offers group support together with one to one sessions tailored to the age and needs of the child. More
Support for families – The Family Programme works across the Cwm Taf region and offers specialist support for families experiencing domestic abuse who wish to remain together safely or be supported to separate amicably.
Adopting a whole family approach, the service will provide therapeutic interventions and programmes, focusing on safety, risk management, behavioural change, impact of domestic abuse on children, ACEs, respectful communication, attachment and emotional resilience.
The programme requires commitment from each family member to attend individual and group sessions over a period of six months. Both parents will be required to engage in initial stage assessments followed by children and young people. The assessment will determine if the parents are ready to engage in the programme.
IRIS (Identification & Referral to Improve Safety) is a collaboration between primary care and third sector organisations specialising in DVA. An advocate educator is linked to general practices and based in a local specialist DVA service, in Cwm Taf this is Safer Merthyr Tydfil and Women’s Aid RCT. The advocate educator will work in partnership with a local clinical lead to co-deliver the training to the 38 practices across Cwm Taf. More >>>
If you would like any of this information in Welsh, please contact a member of the team.
Os hoffech unrhyw ran o’r wybodaeth hon yn Gymraeg, cysylltwch ag aelod o’n tîm.
