What is Domestic Abuse?
Often a victim of domestic abuse feels embarrassed and humiliated by the way they are treated and too frightened to ask for help. Unfortunately, this is very common.
However, you are not alone – sadly domestic abuse affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men during their lifetime, regardless of age, race, disability or lifestyle. Where such behaviour is frequent, the victim, over a period of time, begins to accept that this type of behaviour is acceptable and “normal”.
The legal definition of domestic abuse is considered to be:-
“any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.”
Family members are defined as mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister and grandparents, whether directly related, in-laws or step-family.
Such abuse can involve, but is NOT limited to
- Psychological
- Physical
- Sexual
- Financial
- Emotional
- Digital
Case law suggests that strangulation is one of the most potentially lethal forms of intimate partner abuse. A frequently cited 2001 study found that 10% of violent deaths in the United States were attributable to strangulation and most victims were women.
There is a common perception in many societies that domestic abuse is the woman’s fault. While this perception is thankfully changing, this belief is often shared by women as well as by men. For example, in some cultures, some women are still not allowed to make choices about whom they will marry and whether or not they will stay in a relationship.
Most of us can look back to times when we wish we had known how to do things differently. Anyone who has been victimised by violence or abuse must not blame themselves.
If someone tries to control you through saying cruel things, making threats, or acting dangerously towards you, it is NOT YOUR FAULT.
An abusive partner’s destructive behaviour is not your responsibility.
Until the aggressor accepts this and seeks help to desist in this type of behaviour, it is an unfortunate fact that a victim will continue to be the “victim”.
Often it is only by taking some action against this destructive behaviour, that change will be achieved.
If you believe that you are suffering at the hands of your partner and are subjected to ongoing abusive and/or unreasonable behaviour or subjected to actual physical violence, you do not need to tolerate it and there are various ways of dealing with the matter.
A discussion about Domestic Abuse
In the video below, Family Lawyer Sharon Micuta, and Head of Business Development, Ashley Burgess-Payne discuss Domestic Abuse in this special video edition of Legal Chat with Parfitt Cresswell.
What are my next steps?
The Family Team at Parfitt Creswell not only deal with all matters relating to the breakdown of a relationship or marriage but also offer specialist advice and assistance for people who are suffering from domestic abuse. If you would like to speak to a legal professional to discuss your situation, we offer a complimentary initial consultation during which we can discuss in more detail and on a completely confidential basis your circumstances and options and we can refer you to the appropriate network of support if necessary. If Court proceedings are issued, we will assist and guide you throughout together with other organisations.
To speak with one of our Family Law Experts and arrange a complimentary, no-obligations consultation click on the button below.
