Silence and Isolation

Crack down on vicious cycle of organized violence, abuse and intimidating set up requires initiation, objective thinking, self respect and strong will. The silence and isolation is perpetuated to enforce subjugation of the victim and sustain further inertia and passivity - a sense of helplessness. Victims and victimization schemes must be spotted, investigated and get proper response by providing direct assistance to the victims of violence through social, psychological, and legal support. Women victims should be made aware of their legal rights and how to claim them.

Since 2004 Oxfam’s projects in CIS countries is addressing domestic violence against women. Changing widespread attitudes to domestic violence, particularly the belief that it is a private matter and not a social problem, is a considerable challenge. Sakhli surveys indicate that many men do not view domestic violence against women as a problem, and they see no need to change their violent behaviour.

The Centre has given women the opportunity to join self-help groups, in addition to offering individual consultation and rehabilitation. Psychosocial rehabilitation has helped women to regain lost self-confidence and feel strong enough to seek assistance in breaking the cycle of violence.

Just getting women to talk openly about the problem with a social worker or psychologist, as Sakhli has done, is an achievement. One of the biggest challenges in combating violence against women is to enable the victims to talk about an extremely sensitive issue with ‘outsiders’ – people who are not members of their family – thus breaking the isolation that is usually associated with the problem of domestic violence.

In order to raise public awareness and encourage discussion about domestic violence, Sakhli regularly highlights the issue in newspapers and magazines, TV and radio programmes, and training seminars.

The Centre has conducted training to sensitise representatives of law-enforcement bodies, educators, teachers, and representatives of NGOs. Sakhli has conducted several surveys on the issue to assess public attitudes and existing prejudices, and identify underlying causes and perpetrators of the violence.

Source: www.oxfam.org.uk