TEMPORARY SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1993
WE ALL KNOW THAT TWO SHELTERS FOR WOMEN OPERATE ROUND-THE-CLOCK ΤΟ PROVIDE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION FOR BATTERED WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. WAI ON HOME FOR WOMEN IS OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND HARMONY HOUSE IS RUN BY A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION. BOTH SHELTERS RECEIVE DIRECT APPLICATIONS AND REFERRALS FROM THE POLICE, HOSPITAL STAFF AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
ASSISTANCE TOWARDS HOUSING
IN ORDER ΤΟ MEET THE URGENT NEED FOR SEPARATE HOUSING FOR SEPARATED OR DIVORCED COUPLES, THE GRANT OF A CONDITIONAL TENANCY IN A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IS AVAILABLE TO THE AGGRIEVED PARTY WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN UNDER THE COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING CATEGORY, WHILE HE OR
AWAITS THE AWARD OF A DIVORCE DECREE
OF AND CUSTODY CHILDREN. THIS SCHEME IS MEANT TO ENABLE SEPARATED PERSONS ΤΟ MOVE AWAY FROM HIS OR HER SPOUSE WHILE AWAITING A DIVORCE.
SHE
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
FAMILY IS THE HEART OF SOCIETY, IT SHOULD BE A PLACE OF LOVE AND SECURITY. REGRETTABLY,
OF IT IS SOMETIMES NOT SO. PREVENTION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE. OUR FAMILY LIFE
SERVICE WILL EDUCATION
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF A HARMONIOUS FAMILY LIFE AND HOW IT CAN BE SUSTAINED. FAMILY CASEWORK
ARE
AND COUNSELLING WILL REMAIN THE PRINCIPAL MEANS WHEREBY FAMILIES ASSISTED TO UNDERSTAND AND DEAL WITH PROBLEMS OF INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY AS A UNIT AND TO HELP DEVELOP CARING INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS.
CONCLUSION
ISSUE THE
SPOUSE ABUSE IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM REQUIRING A MULTI- SOCIAL DISCIPLINARY APPROACH INVOLVING PROFESSIONALS SUCH AS DOCTORS, WORKERS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS AN THAT INVOLVES THE WHOLE FAMILY. THERE ARE STUDIES
TO
SUPPORT THEORY THAT AN ABUSIVE SPOUSE TENDS TO COME FROM A HOME WHERE ABUSE WAS PRACTISED AND THAT THE PATTERN IS REPEATED IN THE NEXT GENERATION. A COMMUNITY, WE SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO BREAK THIS VICIOUS CIRCLE PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF A HARMONIOUS FAMILY LIFE
AND, ONLY UNFORTUNATE CASES, BY HELPING THOSE AT RISK.
AS
IS
BY
IN
IT
NEEDS
MADAM DEPUTY, SPOUSE ABUSE IS NOT ONLY RESTRICTED TO WOMEN. NOT A GENDER ISSUE. IT IS A SOCIAL ISSUE. WHILST MUCH MORE
WHAT WE TO BE DONE, THE PROBLEM IS NEVERTHELESS RECOGNISED, PERHAPS NEED, IS NOT SO MUCH SPORADIC CLARION CALLS TO ACTION. WHAT WE NEED, MADAM,
IS HEIGTHENED AWARENESS AND PERPETUAL VIGILANCE AND SUSTAINED ACTION AGAINST ALL FORMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THE FAMILY. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE. AND THAT IS WHAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU MADAM DEPUTY.
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