DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS A CRIME

Violence Against Women is a Serious Crime

Violence against women violates women's human rights. It causes serious physical, emotional and mental injury to women and children. It is a grave social problem which threatens the safety, equality and bodily integrity of every woman. It must be stopped.

Violence against women in the home is a feature of contemporary Irish family life. Women are its usual victims and men its perpetrators. Domestic violence is not confined to any particular class and occurs in both rural and urban areas.

Research findings, from an independent national survey carried out in 1995, illustrates that the prevalence of violence against women in the home in Ireland is extensive. The majority of Irish women know a woman who has been subjected to violence by a partner. And 18 per cent of women reported that they themselves had been subjected at some time to either mental cruelty, threatened with physical violence, experienced actual physical violence, experienced sexual violence or had their pets or property damaged.

Many women experienced multiple forms of violence and 11 per cent of women experienced actual physical violence and/or sexual violence. The rate of reported violence is likely to underestimate the true level of violence. Women's Aid National Freephone Helpline received over 10,000 calls in 1995.

Women's Aid is an organisation run by women for women. The philosophy of the organisation is based on a self help, mutual aid philosophy. Women's Aid believes in women's power to take back control over their lives and offers women the support they need to do this. Any approach a woman makes to the organisation is confidential.

It is only through the commitment and voluntary work of many women that we can provide these vital services for women and children who are being abused.