Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is abuse that happens between members of the same family or persons involved in a close relationship: husband/wife; boyfriend/girlfriend; parent/child; same-sex couple; adult child/elderly parent. The majority of victims are women.
We have listed below the four types of violence:
- Emotional/verbal abuse: threats, name-calling, words that hurt and/or humiliate
- Physical abuse: slapping, kicking, shaking, punching, choking, beating
- Sexual abuse: unwanted touching; forcing an adult or child to engage in sexual acts against his or her will. This may be known as rape and/or incest
- Property or economic abuse: destroying or stealing a person’s belongings, forcing an adult to become economically dependent for his/her basic needs or by controlling his/her money
You have the right:
- not to be abused
- to freedom from fear and abuse
- to request and expect assistance from police or social service agencies
- to share your feelings and not to be isolated from others
- to privacy
- to legally prosecute your abuser
There is NO EXCUSE for domestic violence!
