Domestic violence - State failing to grasp size of problem

THERE is mounting dissatisfaction among women’s groups over the Government’s approach to domestic violence, a policy epitomised in the controversial decision to set up a new national office to tackle this hidden crisis in Irish society.

Since women are the main victims of domestic assault, although a small proportion of men are also subjected to assault, there is an onus on the administration to listen to what they have to say.

The level of frustration with current policy is manifestly evident in an open letter from an alliance of 12 women’s groups to Minister Frank Fahey who has responsibility for this issue.

Essentially, they want him to postpone plans for the new centre. Clearly, they believe the proposal to create such an office is extremely limited and falls far short of what is needed to tackle the escalating problem of violence against women in the home.

When the Government’s initiative was unveiled last month as a key element of its national strategy for women 2007-2016, the timing was criticised by the Irish Examiner because it smacked of blatant electioneering, cynically aimed at assuaging the irritation of women working in non-governmental organisations and operating at the coal face of this problem.

When Mr Fahey announced the establishment of the office, he described it as his most significant political achievement. Clearly, however, the much vaunted initiative has failed to impress the women who count — those who have to cope with the repercussions of domestic violence at first hand.

Inexplicably, the announcement was made without the involvement of the Steering Committee on Violence Against Women which Minister Fahey chairs. Reflecting their deep-seated frustration over the failure to influence policy decisions, the lobby group has demanded an immediate meeting of this committee.

Regrettably, the term “domestic violence” has become something of a cliche and consequently the grim realities of this heinous crime tend to be glossed over in reportage. As a result, the public is becoming more or less inured to the problem that invariably arises behind closed doors. We should not forget, however, that the long litany of physical abuse and bullying can involve anything from punching, slapping, hitting, biting, pinching and kicking, to pulling hair out, pushing, shoving, burning, strangling and raping.

Following an emergency meeting of the women’s lobby group, a stiff letter was sent to the minister, accusing him of failing to grasp the full extent of the problem. He is also criticised for not involving frontline non-State services in the strategy on violence.

Moreover, women are unhappy with the naming of the office as Cosc, an Irish word meaning “prevent”, “prohibit” or “stop”. Besides demanding that it be put on ice, they also want the minister to review the remit and role of the office intended to integrate work on Violence Against Women.

Explaining why they have gone public on the question, they say that “other efforts to have our concerns addressed have failed”. Among its many shortcomings, they complain the new office is too narrowly focused and excludes non-governmental groups. Confined to domestic violence, they fear it will have no involvement in addressing other crimes against women such as rape, trafficking and prostitution.

Mr Fahy says he recognises their concerns and has promised to expand the remit of the office in time. He has a bounden duty to give force to the well-grounded advice of an umbrella group embracing both support workers and victims.

Otherwise, he will stand accused of failing to address the legitimate concerns of those struggling to pick up the pieces after women are subjected to domestic violence.