What is Domestic Abuse?

Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse of one person by another with whom she is or has had a relationship with. Domestic abuse also affects children.

The behaviour involved includes :-

Physical Abuse which can include slapping, punching, hitting, kicking and threats with knives or weapons.

Emotional abuse which can include name calling, intimidation, humiliation, mind games, threats, degradation, or being isolated from friends and family.

Sexual abuse which can include rape, penetration with objects, being forced to imitate pornography, or being forced to have sex with others.

Financial abuse can include being forced to borrow money and/or make fraudulent claims, being forced to go without essentials, money being withheld, or having to account for spending.

You could be living with one of these behaviours or all of them.

This should not be happening to you.

Experiencing Domestic Abuse could make you feel :-

• Frightened and vulnerable
• Humiliated and degraded
• Confused and unable to think clearly or make decisions
• Isolated and lonely
• Angry and resentful

Abuse is a violation of your human rights. You are entitled to live your life free from abuse. It is not your fault.

In 89% of reported cases of domestic abuse the perpetrator was a male abuser to a female partner. Men can also experience domestic abuse and it can also occur within same sex relationships.

"Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it exists we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace"

UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan