DOMESTIC VIOLENCE by Andrew Triganza Scott

VIOLENCE Violence encompasses “physical, visual, verbal or sexual acts that are experienced by a woman or girl as threat, invasion, or assault and that have the effect of hurting her or degrading her and /or taking away her ability to control contact (intimate and otherwise) with another individual”

WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? Domestic violence is defined in the law as certain criminal acts committed between persons of opposite sex who live together in the same household or who have lived together in the past; or persons who have a child in common or are expecting a child (regardless of whether they have resided in the same household); or persons related to one another in the following ways: spouse, child, grandparent, former spouse, brother, grandchild, parent, sister.

The criminal acts specifically defined in the law are: assault, criminal damage, custodial interference, endangerment, imprisonment, intimidation, kid-napping, trespass, disorderly conduct (by fighting, unreasonable noise, abuse language), or reckless display or discharge of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

TYPES OF VIOLENCE Physical: Pushing, grabbing, slapping, kicking, hitting with an object, use of knife or gun, acid throwing, burning. Verbal: Shouting, making threats, calling names, humiliating remarks (gestures). Sexual: Forcing intercourse, making her to do sexual things against her will. Exercising control: Isolating her from her family/ friends checking on her, using the children, economic control.

Malta Domestic Violence Awareness Leaflets

Physical Abuse Occurs when the abusive person hurts the victim physically; the victim lives in fear because of the perpetrator and; it can lead to DEATH. Psychological Abuse Includes intimidation, offensive words, humiliation, lack of trust, victim-blaming, as well as forcing the victim to live in isolation from their family, friends and social networks. Sexual Abuse Also happens between couples including married and committed couples. This includes forced sexual acts, sexual threats, forced prostitution or forced to watch pornography. Economic Abuse The abusive person hinders the victim from gainful employment or studies; limits the person’s resources even those essential such as food and/or taking away the victim’s own resources STALKING Can also occur after the end of a relationship. The abusive person follows the victim against their will; continuous sending of messages or letters; telephone calls and threats.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Is pervasive and insidious. Is carried out in private domain. Is inflicted by an intimate partner or as the case may be. Continues over a period of time (chronic) Limits avenues of escape for the victim.

WHY IS VICTIMIZATION OF WOMEN SO COMMON Physically weak. Dependency status. Social tolerance of victimization. Little whom they associate with. Limited mobility

SOME FACTS It is estimated that about one third of children who are abused or exposed to violence as children become violent themselves in later life. Boys are at increased risk to abuse an intimate partner in adult relationships if they were abused or witnessed abuse between parental figures. The sons of the most violent parents had a rate of wife abuse 100 times higher than the sons of the nonviolent parents.

Girls are at increased risk to be abused by an intimate male in adulthood, if they witnessed abuse between parental figures in childhood. Early physical abuse is a strong predictive factor of criminal behavior in adulthood. 40-75% of children exposed to marital are estimated to be victims of physical child abuse also. Alcohol use is frequently associated with violence between intimate partners.  It is estimated that in 45% of cases of IPV, men had been drinking, and in about 20% of cases, women had been drinking

EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Anxiety Chronic depression Chronic pain Death Dehydration Dissociative states Drug and alcohol dependence Eating disorders Emotional "over-reactions" to stimuli General emotional numbing Health problems Malnutrition

Panic attacks Poor adherence to medical recommendations Repeated self-injury Self neglect Sexual dysfunction Sleep disorders Somatization disorders Strained family relationships Suicide attempts Inability to adequately respond to the needs of their children

In a 1999 study from Johns Hopkins, it was reported that abused women are at higher risk of miscarriages, stillbirths, and infant deaths, and are more likely to give birth to low birth weight children, a risk factor for neonatal and infant deaths.  In addition, children of abused women were more likely to be malnourished and were more likely to have had a recent untreated case of diarrhea and less likely to have been immunized against childhood diseases.

IT’ S HARD TO STOP BECAUSE IT’S HARD TO REPORT!!

Effects on Children 0-5 years t Physical Complaints Sleep disturbances Bed wetting t Excessive separation anxiety Clingy and anxious t Failure to thrive 6-12 years t Behave in ways to reduce tension t Attempt to control parental violence t Fear of being abandoned t Fear of being killed or fear of themselves killing Fear of their own anger and other’s anger Eating disturbances Insecure and distrustful of their environment 13-18 years t Alcohol and drug abuse t Running away t Early pregnancy and marriage t Suicidal thoughts and actions t Homicidal thoughts and actions t Criminal activities

Effects on Adult Survivors of Domestic Violence Higher stress levels Higher levels of anxiety, depression and psychiatric illness 5 times more likely to commit suicide Experience twice as many miscarriages Reduced coping and problem-solving skills More somatic complaints such as headaches and muscle and joint fatigue

Training for High School Students Teen Relationship Statistics Early Warning Signs of Teen dating Violence Teenage Power and Control in Dating Healthy Relationships in Teen Dating Cultural Awareness of Native Americans Native American Empowering Program ‘Are you an effective communicator?’ Domestic Violence in Teens Understanding Domestic Violence What is Bullying and What to do about it

Carolyn Thomas, a 34-year-old former track star was shot in the face by an abusive ex-boyfriend who also killed her mother. She wears a mask-like bandage to protect her from infection and the stares of those who are unknowing of her experiences.

This is an undated photo of Carolyn Thomas before her face was destroyed in a shooting.

Carolyn Thomas must feed herself four times a day using a tube attached to her stomach.

With Stan and Jan to keep her company, Carolyn must constantly remind herself to stay upbeat. "I'm alive for a reason. I don't question God," she says.

Passing an unidentified shopper at Wal-Mart, Carolyn Thomas heads down the aisles quickly to avoid the stares of those who are unfamiliar with the tragedy of her past.

Adjusting her trachea tube, Carolyn Thomas cleans it constantly in order to breathe comfortably and to talk.

This photo shows Janice Reeves, Carolyn Thomas' mother, who was shot dead by her daughter's boyfriend in 2003.

Carolyn Thomas reacts as prosecutor Crawford Long displays a Carolyn Thomas reacts as prosecutor Crawford Long displays a .44 Magnum for her to identify during the trial of Terrence Kelly in Waco in April 2005. Terrence used the gun to shoot Thomas in the face.

Terrence Kelly leaves court April 15, 2005, in Waco Terrence Kelly leaves court April 15, 2005, in Waco. He was convicted of shooting Carolyn Thomas in the face and killing her mother in 2003. He is serving a life sentence.

THE SURGICAL PROCESS (VERY GRAPHIC)

With half her face shot off, it will take several surgeries to reconstruct her facial skull.

Besides the jaw, tissue, and bone, Carolyn lost an eye, nose, and upper lip.

The first of several surgeries; the goal was to make sure Carolyn could breathe while preventing infection.

Next the eye socket was repaired allowing for a removable socket to be used.

After having several skins grafts, where skin was removed from her back and legs, the jaw line was built and closed. An upper lip was also constructed.

During this process, a plaster mold is made of her face to build her a nose.

The area of the nose is built with a synthetic so as not to cause chaffing, making it easier for Carolyn to breathe.

Each day, she will have to glue the piece to her face to apply the synthetic nose.

Doctors constructed several noses attempting to match it to the original nose. Carolyn chose the one she felt closely resembled her original nose.

Life Begins Anew!

She is the face of domestic violence She is the face of domestic violence. She travels the country sharing her story, teaching women, warning women, empowering women.

Prevalence of Domestic Violence Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend per year1 to three million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year. Around the world, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime. Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives Nearly 25 percent of American women report being raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime Thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year. Intimate partner violence is primarily a crime against women. Women accounted for 85 % of the intimate partner violence (588,490 total) and men accounted for 15 % of the victims While women are less likely than men to be victims of violent crimes overall, women are five to eight times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.

RECOMMENDATIONS To improve the status of woman within society Changing perceptions Education Easy access to law and order Stigma related to violence Moral support of the victim Emergency management

RECOMMENDATIONS