Rape Crisis director:
Magistrates shun cases of domestic violence
Published: Friday, December 14, 2012
Marian
Taylor, director of the Rape Crisis Society, says magistrates do not
show an interest in cases of domestic violence and this needs to change
with workshops and education programmes. Taylor was speaking during the
commemoration of the conclusion of the 16 days of activism on the
elimination of gender-based violence at City Hall, Port-of-Spain.
The forum was a collaboration between the Rape Crisis Society (RCS) and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV). Taylor said the court was the only medium to treat with domestic violence in a professional manner. She added: “I am of the view that magistrates are not interested in those reports. It is a system where your matter can be transferred to another court or traffic court and only a magistrate who has a keen interest should be in those courts.”
Taylor said everyone should take an interest in people who were victims of domestic violence, even neighbours. She added: “Children become dysfunctional at an early age and end up being part of our criminal society. Domestic violence is everybody’s business.
You can’t count on the Government or judiciary alone. You need to take responsibility and report it. If we were in that situation you would like someone to assist you.” Taylor said there were and are workshops which included magistrates to sensitise them to the issues.
Dr Varma Deyalsingh, board member of Aspire (Advocates for Safe Parenthood) and general secretary of the Association of Psychiatrists, said victims should leave abusive relationships. He noted there was a rise in violence worldwide which had many contributing factors.
“We are not just seeing problems with impulse control. It is easy to act out emotional stress which is a part of impulsive aggression and violent behaviour,” he added. Deyalsingh said the recent violent act against a child in which her cheeks were allegedly bitten by a relative could have been due to his childhood, jealousy towards the child, pathological problems, use of illicit drugs, lack of food and sex.
He said violent behaviour also could also be caused by a chemical imbalance or a stroke. “A perpetrator could have lost it in a fit of rage and act out on the child or to get back at the mother. We are all human and we can lose it. We need to analyse it,” he said.
Deyalsingh said more shelters for the abused were needed and warned that one consequence of abuse was depression. He added: “A child could also be depressed and the social system should have shelters and other things in place to deal with this upcoming tsunami of depression.
We are seeing impulse-control rage, road rage and violence and this could be due to a mindset. “Leave, put them in their place or get out of the situation, or it will form into a habit.” Deyalsingh said working women were under pressure and women also suffered from depression.
Patricia Jessop, general manager of CADV, said magistrates and police needed to be trained on the issue of domestic violence. She said: “Members of the protective services need to emphasise to people who are abused and all the services need to be aware.
“Men need to stand up and help other buddies. Abused people are fragile because of control. It has multi-factorial aspects. Confidence is stripped away and you will have no self-will.” Marcus Kissoon, another director of the RCS, said in 2011 there were 278 victims seeking treatment at the centre, 25 per cent of whom were men.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-14/rape-crisis-director-magistrates-shun-cases-domestic-violence
The forum was a collaboration between the Rape Crisis Society (RCS) and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CADV). Taylor said the court was the only medium to treat with domestic violence in a professional manner. She added: “I am of the view that magistrates are not interested in those reports. It is a system where your matter can be transferred to another court or traffic court and only a magistrate who has a keen interest should be in those courts.”
Taylor said everyone should take an interest in people who were victims of domestic violence, even neighbours. She added: “Children become dysfunctional at an early age and end up being part of our criminal society. Domestic violence is everybody’s business.
You can’t count on the Government or judiciary alone. You need to take responsibility and report it. If we were in that situation you would like someone to assist you.” Taylor said there were and are workshops which included magistrates to sensitise them to the issues.
Dr Varma Deyalsingh, board member of Aspire (Advocates for Safe Parenthood) and general secretary of the Association of Psychiatrists, said victims should leave abusive relationships. He noted there was a rise in violence worldwide which had many contributing factors.
“We are not just seeing problems with impulse control. It is easy to act out emotional stress which is a part of impulsive aggression and violent behaviour,” he added. Deyalsingh said the recent violent act against a child in which her cheeks were allegedly bitten by a relative could have been due to his childhood, jealousy towards the child, pathological problems, use of illicit drugs, lack of food and sex.
He said violent behaviour also could also be caused by a chemical imbalance or a stroke. “A perpetrator could have lost it in a fit of rage and act out on the child or to get back at the mother. We are all human and we can lose it. We need to analyse it,” he said.
Deyalsingh said more shelters for the abused were needed and warned that one consequence of abuse was depression. He added: “A child could also be depressed and the social system should have shelters and other things in place to deal with this upcoming tsunami of depression.
We are seeing impulse-control rage, road rage and violence and this could be due to a mindset. “Leave, put them in their place or get out of the situation, or it will form into a habit.” Deyalsingh said working women were under pressure and women also suffered from depression.
Patricia Jessop, general manager of CADV, said magistrates and police needed to be trained on the issue of domestic violence. She said: “Members of the protective services need to emphasise to people who are abused and all the services need to be aware.
“Men need to stand up and help other buddies. Abused people are fragile because of control. It has multi-factorial aspects. Confidence is stripped away and you will have no self-will.” Marcus Kissoon, another director of the RCS, said in 2011 there were 278 victims seeking treatment at the centre, 25 per cent of whom were men.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-12-14/rape-crisis-director-magistrates-shun-cases-domestic-violence
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