Abused women at risk during access time

WOMEN are continuing to be abused by their former partners, subjecting them to stalking, physical assault and abuse, during access arrangements.

Margaret Martin, director of Women’s Aid, said the time when a woman is planning to leave an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous for her and her children.

More than half of the women murdered in Ireland over the last 14 years have been killed by their current or former partner, with many killed at the point of, or after, leaving a relationship.

Commenting on new Health Service Executive guidelines for social workers, drawn up in response to the growing awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence, Ms Martin said leaving an abusive relationship does not guarantee that the violence will stop.

The guidelines state social workers should not immediately encourage a woman to leave an abusive relationship in case it provokes a “catastrophic event”.

Ms Martin said the new guidelines were a very positive development which would increase the safety of women and children living with domestic violence.

“Every day in Ireland women are raped, beaten and abused by those closest to them – their boyfriends, partners and husbands,” she said.

“But a woman should not be judged or told what to do when she discloses domestic violence. It is important that women receive support to enable her to increase her safety and that of her children, regardless of the choices she makes about her relationship with her abuser. There is a growing awareness that stopping domestic violence isn’t as simple as telling the woman to leave,” she said.

“As a key national organisation that has been supporting women for over 35 years, we know that leaving an abusive relationship is fraught with difficulty.”

The report, published by the HSE Dublin South West Social Work Children and Families Department is the outcome of inter-agency work between local domestic violence services, local community groups and social work professionals. It contains a number of important recommendations and guidelines for social work professionals working with families and children in the context of domestic violence. These are based on the principles of ‘Recognise, Respond, Refer’. The guidelines also state that, in the context of domestic violence, protecting women is the best way to protect children.

* The Women’s Aid Helpline is open from 10am to 10pm, 7 days a week on 1800 341 900