THOUGHT THURSDAYS
Breaking the pattern of domestic violence in families
By Advocate Tarisai Mchuchu-Macmillan, Executive Director of MOSAIC
How do we break the silence around domestic violence? For decades if not centuries or millennia, domestic violence, has thrived because of victims as well as witnesses keeping quiet. Yet, in a world where we have access to more modes of communication than ever before, the silence around domestic violence continues.
The culture of silence in families when there is abuse and violence in the home has influenced the way in which communities and the care and justice system responds and reacts to domestic violence. The deafening silence is felt and seen in the slow pace of response to domestic violence. Communities report that the police do not act when domestic violence matters are reported, and families find ways to negotiate violence to keep it within the confines of the household. These actions continue to enable the pattern of domestic violence, and entrenches the intergenerational cycle of violence in South Africa and across the world. For many domestic violence has become the norm.
The UCT Children’s Institute and MOSAIC Training Services and Healing Centre recently completed a research study exploring the intersections between violence against women and children. The findings suggest one of the most significant driving factors of violence in the home is the normalised nature of abuse and violence in the family as well as the community keeping quiet about the violence experienced.
Understanding the nature of violence
Many families and communities think of violent behaviour as the norm - starting a conversation and educating everyone on what Domestic Violence is, and how it affects individuals and families, particularly women and children who are the majority of victims, is the first step in shifting the pattern of violence.
Domestic Violence is not only defined as physical abuse. It also involves emotional and psychological abuse, including intimidation, humiliation, control, isolation, and all other forms of abusive behaviour.
Breaking the silence
Speaking about the abuse and violence in the home is seen as a form of family betrayal. This culture of not speaking out entrenches violence and promotes under-reporting of violence thus indicating that the number of Domestic Violence cases reported, is only the tip of the iceberg. Victims of violence need to know they are heard and believed. They need to find someone they trust to talk to, to become survivors of violence.
Knowledge is power
The next step in breaking the pattern of violence knowledge. First is understanding ways to break the cycle of violence within relationships, homes and communities, this is done through gender transformative workshops that build the capacity of individuals and families to build positive, equal and non-violent relationships.
Secondly, know your rights and find the support and courage to stand up for yourself. We must increase rights education linked to practical ways on how to claim those rights when a violation happens in the home and/or family. This means that individuals and communities are empowered with an understanding of their right to dignity, equality and bodily integrity and how they can report and access their rights to care, safety and justice from the system.
Changing the pattern
The silence itself is a driver of domestic violence. Those who have suffered any form of abuse or violent behaviour at the hands of their partners, household members or family are encouraged to speak out. Breaking the silence could prevent others from being victim to the violence, and opens up support networks for the victim, those witnessing the violence and the person inflicting the violence themselves.
One of the widest drivers of violence in the home are harmful gender norms, driven by patriarchy within families leaving most women and children voiceless. To change the pervasive pattern of domestic violence, we need to fully invest in gender-transformative programming at a policy and local implementation level.
To end the pattern of violence the voiceless needs to find their voice. Survivors and witnesses of domestic violence need to be empowered to come forward and speak up in a safe place where they feel protected and heard. Only then can we start to break the pattern and build on a culture where domestic violence is not the norm.
Please find link to the study below:
For more information, inquiries or requests for interviews, please contact:
Carli Roodt
Communications consultant
T: +27 84 580 1587
About MOSAIC
MOSAIC is a community-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) that works to prevent and reduce abuse and domestic violence. This is achieved by providing holistic, integrated services when incidents occur, and supporting clients through the process of healing and rebuilding their lives after a traumatic event.
MOSAIC creates an enabling environment through our holistic and integrated five-pillar service model
- Access to justice – psychosocial and legal support provided by court support workers, and psychosocial support from MOSAIC's Sexual Violence Counsellors at Thuthuzela Care Centres
- Support and Healing – Counselling Services, Support Groups and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights;
- Engaging Men and Boys- Training and Workshops, Support Groups and Counselling for Men
- Empower- Education and Skills Training, Rights Training, Youth GBV Life Skills and Community Dialogues
- Advocacy and Policy- Advancing rights of women and girls by providing evidence from our services to change the system.
The organisation was established in 1993 in response to high levels of violence against women in South Africa, particularly in the form of domestic violence, and in recognition of the silence that many women suffer in unnecessarily, due to either a lack of knowledge of their rights, a lack of confidence to access justice for themselves, or both. MOSAIC's registered head office is in Cape Town, South Africa.
For further information about MOSAIC, please visit www.mosaic.org.za