Domestic Violence Policy Research Articles

The Relation Between Domestic Violence and Professional, Contact Sports: It's Complicated.

Learning theories provide explanations for domestic violence; they can also aid in our understanding of the relation between contact sports and domestic violence. Notably, language used during sporting events and athletes' behaviors being rewarded both on and off the field can influence the behaviors of viewers. Adubato (2016) found a statistically significant relation between an increase in domestic violence arrests and the kick-off times of Philadelphia Eagles football games. Here, we replicate and extend this work to Chicago and Boston. We examine quantitative, hourly data from the Chicago and Boston Police Departments and compare mean domestic violence arrests in an 8-hour period from the average Bears' and Patriots' (football) kick-off times, respectively, to the same time period on non-football Sundays, major holidays, and days of rival Blackhawks' and Bruins' (hockey) games, respectively. Results show a significant difference in average domestic violence arrests between hockey games and non-football Sundays in Chicago only. This work highlights the importance of context in examining domestic violence nationally and has implications for domestic violence policies in professional sports' organizations.

가정폭력 피해 이주여성 지원 제도 및 서비스에 대한 고찰: 문제점과 개선 방안을 중심으로

While public awareness on domestic violence has increased over the past few decades in Korea, little is known about domestic violence issues pertaining to immigrant women. This study is an attempt to provide an overview of domestic violence issues, legal and policy structures, and current social service system in place for battered immigrant women in Korea. The findings show that various sound legal and policy framework has been established over the past years, resulting in provisions added to the existing laws on domestic violence, policies developed specifying support for battered immigrant women and implementation of social service agencies to assist and protect the battered immigrant women and their families. Using the AAAQ framework by UN, we examined the current service delivery system. The result shows that service availability, accessibility, and acceptability are found to be quite compromised by gaps between the policy and practice. A large number of service providers are located in metropolitan areas, reducing the accessibility of battered women in other regions. A limited budget is also a barrier to provide comprehensive services to all in need. Lastly, a lack of translator and interpreter services limits accessibility and acceptability as both the service providers and the victims are unable to communicate with language barriers. Based on the findings, we suggested implications for policy and practice.

The Narrative Shelter for Young People with Childhood Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence: A Concept for Creating Opportunities for Storytelling, Storylistening, and Resilience

Objectives: Childhood experiences of intimate partner violence (CEIPV) remain a significant public health issue affecting millions of young people (YP) globally. Although CEIPV has been researched for decades, YP’s voices are often left unheard, their stories relegated to mere research data. Their CEIPV are usually told through adult proxy accounts rather than by YP themselves. Additionally, research shows that YP have limited opportunities to influence domestic violence policies and practices. This theoretical paper proposes a new YP engagement model for CEIPV research and practice.
 Methods: The model is based on a review of relevant literature, including lessons from the women’s shelter movement, child rights, narrative practice, trauma and violence-informed approaches, and selected case studies.
 Results: The Narrative Shelter Model integrates storytelling and storylistening to create a safe space for YP with CEIPV to exercise their voice and choice, and share their stories in a non-retraumatizing way. Moreover, the model invites the storylistener(s) to connect with YP’s stories to influence decision-making.
 Conclusion: The Narrative Shelter Model elicits a path towards creating safe and inclusive spaces for YP with CEIPV to share their stories and be heard as agents of social change. It aims not only to promote their voices but also to empower them to become young advocates and peer supporters in responding to IPV, thereby strengthening their resilience and recovery. The use of this model within domestic violence agencies can continue to position YP as experts in their own lives and pivotal agents in shaping knowledge and effective interventions.

The main elements of the solution to China’s demotic violence

Domestic violence represents a complex and pervasive issue within China, deeply entrenched in historical norms and sociocultural attitudes. Even with legal reforms aimed at criminalizing domestic violence and establishing legal protections for victims, challenges persist due to the societal perception of domestic violence as a family matter. This paper critically examines the main elements necessary for effectively combating domestic violence in China—policy instruments, policy implementation, and lobbying. By dissecting the shortcomings of current measures, the paper argues for the adoption of multidimensional policy tools beyond policing and legal action, such as public awareness campaigns and persuasive strategies designed to shift societal attitudes. The significance of rigorous policy implementation is emphasized, highlighting the need for iterative enforcement and organizational learning to ensure the efficacy of domestic violence policies. Furthermore, the complex role of lobbying within China's political context is explored, demonstrating its impact on policy proposals and reforms. Overall, the paper posits the need for a comprehensive approach, involving a concerted effort from policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society to address the multifaceted challenges of domestic violence in China.

Institutional Solidarity in The Netherlands: Examining the Role of Dutch Policies in Women with Migration Backgrounds’ Decisions to Leave a Violent Relationship

In The Netherlands, women who experience domestic violence can rely on public policies that aim to support them, such as shelters. Drawing on the lived experiences, through 10 interviews and observations, of women with different cultural backgrounds and nationalities staying in a shelter, and on 37 interviews with social workers working with these women, we observed that this support falls short for them. We argue that immigration rules, together with policies on domestic violence and housing, (unintentionally) often work in tandem with violent partners to prevent women with migration backgrounds from leaving violent relationships. The paper draws on a perspective of institutional considerations of solidarity to unpack the relations between domestic violence, cultural constraints, and public policies but looks also at the positive experiences of women of migrant backgrounds with these Dutch policies. This research indicates that there is a lack of institutional solidarity towards women, especially those arriving as marriage migrants, who have experienced domestic violence. In exploring the intersections of domestic violence and often exclusionary state policies, the paper reflects on how The Netherlands can provide more support to those women and how intersectional justice and solidarity might be expressed.

Implementation of Policies To Eliminate Violence in Households in The Women's Empowerment Office and Child Protection of Hammer City

The Indonesian government has passed the Law on the Elimination of Domestic Violence (PKDRT Law) to provide comprehensive protection, including guarantees of legal protection and victim recovery. Domestic violence is stated in article 1 point 1 of Law Number. 23 of 2004 concerning the elimination of domestic violence. means any action against a person, especially women, which results in physical, sexual, psychological, and or domestic neglect, including threats to commit acts, coercion, or unlawful deprivation of independence within the scope of the household. Domestic violence can occur to husbands, wives, and children as well as those within the scope of the household. There are two main underlying causes of domestic violence. Firstly, economic factors. The economic factor in question is the lack of established economic conditions in the household so that the many demands that arise in the household are unable to be fulfilled. This condition is what then triggers conflict and even acts of domestic violence. Secondly, a patriarchal culture which embraces the meaning of a social system that places men as the main power holders and dominates in the role of political leadership, moral authority, social rights, and control of property. A patriarchal culture that sees paternal lineage indirectly gives birth to the idea that women have a lower position than men (subordinate). Which ultimately involves many women becoming victims of domestic violence. The objectives of this research are: To find out the implementation of the Domestic Violence Policy at the Palu City Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Office. The research design uses descriptive qualitative. This research is designed within one year

“Risk and abolition: perspectives of front-line domestic violence workers supporting refugee and migrant women on safety and policing”

ABSTRACT Anti-violence advocates continue to criminalise new gender-based violence offences, despite the evidence of unintended consequences for marginalised groups. Using an intersectional framework of risk, this article aims to understand what drives front-line domestic and family violence workers to engage the law for the protection of the women they support. The data draws from a study examining responses in domestic violence policy and service interventions to refugees in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Thirty-one interviews were conducted with front-line workers supporting refugee women experiencing domestic violence. Two-thirds of the interview participants are from refugee and migrant backgrounds themselves. Interview data analysis shows a combination of governing and managing actuarial risk across three themes: 1) Why a preference for the law? 2) Autonomy or discourses of responsibility? and 3) The mutual constitution of risk and inequalities. Highlighting the differences between those who address domestic and family violence on the front-line, the findings reveal that front-line workers are both constrained by and contribute to various assemblages of risk in the carceral nation state. I suggest key steps towards engaging front-line workers in an abolitionist agenda that centre on knowledge translation and research partnerships.

An overlooked effect: domestic violence and alcohol policies in the night-time economy.

Restrictive late-night alcohol policies are aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence but, to date, no evaluations of their impact on family and domestic violence have been conducted. This study aimed to measure whether modifying the drinking environment and restricting on-site trading hours affected reported rates of family and domestic violence. This study used a non-equivalent control group design with two treatment sites and two matched control sites with pre- and postintervention data on rates of family and domestic violence assaults within local catchment areas of four late-night entertainment precincts in New South Wales, Australia, covering a population of 27309 people. Participants comprised monthly counts of police-recorded incidents of domestic violence assaults from January 2001 to December 2019. Two variations of restrictive late-night interventions were used: restricted entry to late-night venues after 1:30 a.m., trading ceasing at 3:30 a.m. and other restrictions on alcohol service (Newcastle); and restricted entry to late-night venues after 1 a.m. and a range of restrictions on alcohol service (Hamilton). The comparators were no restrictions on late-night trading or modifications of the drinking environment (Wollongong and Maitland). Measurements involved the rate, type and timing of reported family and domestic violence assaults. Reported rates of domestic violence assaults fell at both intervention sites, while reported domestic violence assaults increased over time in the control sites. The protective effects in Newcastle were robust and statistically significant across three main models. The relative reduction associated with the intervention in Newcastle was 29% (incidence rate ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval: 0.60-0.83) and an estimated 204 assaults were prevented across the duration of the study. The protective effects found in Hamilton were not consistently supported across the three main models. Increases to late-night alcohol restrictions may reduce rates of domestic violence.

Family and domestic violence policy discourses and narratives: implications for Emergency Departments and communities in rural Australia

BackgroundAustralian data has indicated that the frequency and severity of family and domestic violence (FDV) tends to increase with remoteness. Rural communities rely on Emergency Departments (ED) within public hospitals for general health and safety needs. Public health departments within Australia are strongly influenced by Government policies which can define ‘health problems’ and limit institutional responses to patients presenting with FDV. The current study therefore aimed to critically examine FDV Australian Government policies to explore how policy meanings could potentially impact on ED staff and individuals within rural communities.MethodsFoucauldian Discourse Analysis and Policy Narrative Analysis were used to examine 9 policy documents which represented national, state/territory and clinical practice levels. Publication dates ranged from 2006 to 2020.ResultsA total of 8 discourses were identified, with each one providing a unique construction of the target problem and determining the potential agency of health professionals and subjects of FDV. Discourses combined to produce an overall narrative within each policy document. Narrative constructions of the target problem were compared which produced three narrative themes: 1) Deficit Subject Narratives; 2) Object Oriented Narratives; and 3) Societal Narratives.ConclusionThe results reflected a transition in the meaning of FDV within Australian society and over the past decade, with policies trending away from Deficit Subject Narratives and towards Object Oriented or Societal Narratives. Institutional systems, sociohistorical context and broader societal movements may have shaped this transition by stagnating policy meanings or introducing new insights that expanded the possibilities of understanding and action. Narratives produced assumptions which significantly altered the relevance and agency of individuals and groups when applied to a rural ED setting. As FDV was moved out of the clinical space and into the public domain, the agency of health professionals was reduced, while the values and strengths of FDV subjects and rural communities were potentially recognised. Later policies provided contextual specificity and meaning fluidity that could benefit diverse groups within rural areas; however, the expectation for ED staff to learn from their communities and challenge institutionalised approaches to FDV requires careful consideration in relation to rural hospital systems and resources.

Socioeconomic Factors Causing Domestic Violence Against Women and Its Legal Consequences: A Study of Quetta, Pakistan

Due to the impunity, concealment, stigma, and shame surrounding it, violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most pervasive, ongoing, destructive, and systemic human rights abuses in our time. This paper describes the phenomenon and factors of domestic violence among women living in Balochistan. The current research was carried out on the studies and cases related to Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. For this study, secondary data has been organized and analyzed by systematic review analysis technique to present a concise picture of domestic violence in Quetta. The study concludes that violence generally takes the form of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, including intimate partner violence (battery, psychological abuse, marital rape, femicide), sexual violence and harassment (rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriage, street harassment, stalking, and cyber-harassment). It occurs everywhere, regardless of a person's age, race, religion, or socioeconomic level. There is a strong desire to mobilize society's sectors to formulate domestic violence policy. Both women and men need to promote non-violent relationships in private and public life. Moreover, there is a need to assure the implication of The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act of 2012 in related institutions to avoid violence against women.

Arriving at a social equity orientation on workplace domestic violence policy in Australia

ABSTRACT This article examines Australian Government workplace domestic violence policy as a workplace equality and gender equality policy. Drawing on Baird’s typology of policy orientations and systematic process analysis of documents and elite interviews with 43 key informants, this article contributes a process theory of how and why workplace domestic violence policy developed in Australia. It finds non-traditional actors (anti-domestic violence advocates, trade union members and researchers) led traditional actors (components of the state, trade unions and employer parties) towards orientations and mechanisms on this policy post-2010 likely to enhance the social equity of employees experiencing domestic violence. Significant to non-traditional actor effectiveness on this was their lived expertise and experience on domestic violence, and trade union support.

Governing Through (An Exclusive) Community: Limitations of State Conceptualisations of ‘the Community’ in Domestic Violence Policies

In response to growing evidence that cultural values and behaviours are key drivers of men’s use of domestic violence against women, states across the globe are increasingly implementing prevention policies aimed at mobilising cultural change within the community. Through an examination of one Australian state’s recent and significant domestic violence policy reform, we demonstrate that, although state-led efforts to change community culture hold merit, they can also be undermined by exclusive constructions of the community. As a result, efforts to change community culture exclude the very group whose values and behaviours are most problematic: men who perpetrate domestic violence. We argue that broadening conceptualisations of community is of critical importance for policies seeking to change community culture. Such conceptualisations must necessarily include men who perpetrate domestic violence, as theirs are the values and behaviours that most urgently require change.

How the ‘Culture’ in ‘Culturally and Linguistically Diverse’ Inhibits Intersectionality in Australia: A Study of Domestic Violence Policy and Services

ABSTRACT In Australia, policy and services addressing gendered violence are increasingly taking up ‘intersectionality’ as a concept to better include refugee and migrant women’s needs and interests. Drawing on critical policy analysis and interviews with front-line workers from domestic violence, refugee resettlement, and migrant-specific services, this article examines intersectionality in policies and services. It shows that so far, most policies and practices fail to acknowledge racism and other structures that exclude refugee and migrant women. We argue that the way culture is defined and deployed in policy and practice contributes to racism and exclusion, and inhibits intersectionality. Specifically, the category of ‘Culturally and Linguistically Diverse’ (CALD) erases the experiences and needs of refugee and migrant women, and shores up the power of white-dominated mainstream organisations, views and processes. We show that via CALD, culture is essentialised, racialised, and conflated with difference. For intersectionality to gain traction, current notions of culture and diversity need to be rethought, and racism and white privilege need to be addressed.

Defining Child Exposure to Domestic Violence: Lessons from a Historical Review of the Literature

Child witnesses of domestic violence policies and practices have been fraught with conceptual challenges that limit their implementation. Such limitations are evident in the case of Minnesota, which amended their definition of child neglect to include a child’s exposure to family violence, only to later repeal this amendment in response to pressure from child welfare administrators and domestic violence advocates (Edleson, Gassman-Pines, & Hill, 2006; Kantor & Little, 2003). The conceptual flaws are also evident in disparities across state statutes for definitions of child witnesses of domestic violence and the legal penalties it carries (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2021). To enhance the integrity of child witnesses of domestic violence policies and practices, critical attention is needed to clarify and refine the central construct. Pursuant to this goal, this conceptual paper analyzes and synthesizes the history of child welfare. It demonstrates how child witnesses of domestic violence became a social and legal problem. The author traces the evolution of child welfare as a concept and provides new insights. The author also sheds light on the driving forces of child welfare policies and practices. The paper begins in the colonial ages, which gave roots to the contemporary child welfare system. The author describes the early development of child welfare leading to contemporary practice. The paper ends by making evidence-based recommendations for constructing child welfare policies that enhance the safety of children exposed to domestic violence using least restrictive interventions.

A critical cartography of domestic violence policies in Mozambique

BackgroundDomestic violence (DV) affects millions of people worldwide, especially women impacting their health status and livelihoods. To prevent DV and to improve the quality of victims’ lives, Mozambican governmental and non-governmental entities are making efforts to develop adequate policies and legislation and to improve the accessibility of services for victims of DV.However, a critical review of whether or not current policies and legislation concerning DV in Mozambique are in agreement with international guidelines has yet to be examined. Therefore, this paper aims to map the Mozambican legislative and policy responses to DV. It also strives to analyse their alignment with international treaties and conventions and with each other.MethodsThrough a critical cartography, documents were selected and their content analysed. Some of these documents were not available online, printed versions were not available on the field and some were not up to date. Therefore, we had to search for them via physical office visits at governmental institutions with a responsibility to deal with DV aspects. These documents were listed and analysed for key content applying a framework inquiring on recommendations of international agencies such as World Health Organization. Subsequently, we compared these policies with international conventions and treaties of which Mozambique is signatory and with each other to identify discrepancies.ResultsOverall, six institutions were visited assuring identification of all available information and policy documents on DV. We identified a total of fifteen national DV documents of which five were on laws, one on policy and nine institutional strategic/action plans. Most of the national DV documents focused on strategies for assistance/care of victims and prevention of DV. Little focus was found on advocacy, monitoring and evaluation.ConclusionsMozambique has demonstrated its commitment by signing several international and regional treaties and conventions on DV. Despite this, the lack of consistency in the alignment of international treaties and conventions with national policies and laws is remarkable. However, a gap in the reliable translation of national policies and laws into strategic plans is to be found particularly in relation to naming type, beneficiaries, main strategies and multi-sectorial approach.

Domestic violence in Mozambique: from policy to practice

BackgroundTo reduce the impact of domestic violence (DV), Mozambican governmental and non-governmental entities are making efforts to strengthen the legislative framework and to improve the accessibility of care services for survivors of violence. Despite this remarkable commitment, the translation of policies and legislation into actions remains a considerable challenge. Therefore, this paper aims to identify gaps in the implementation of existing national policies and laws for DV in the services providing care for survivors of DV.MethodsThis qualitative study comprised of two approaches. The first consisted of content analysis of guidelines and protocols for DV care provision. The second consisted of in-depth interviews with institutional gender focal points (Professionals with experience in dealing with aspects related to DV). The analysis of the document content was based on a framework developed according to key elements recommended by international agencies (PAHO and UN) for design of DV policies and strategies. Data from the in-depth interviews, where analysed in accordance with the study objectives.ResultsEleven (11) guidelines/protocols of care provision and innumerable brochures and pamphlets were identified and analysed. There is a standardised form which contains fields for police and the health sector staff to complete, but not for Civil Society Organisations. However, there is no specific national DV database. Although the seventeen (17) focal points interviewed recognised the relevance of the reviewed documents, many identified gaps in their implementation. This was related to the weaknesses of the offender’s penalisation and to the scarcity of care providers who often lack appropriate training. The focal points also recognised their performance is negatively influenced by socio-cultural factors.ConclusionWithin services providing care to survivors of DV, a scarcity of guidelines and protocols exist, compromising the quality and standardisation of care. The existence of guidelines and protocols was regarded as a strength, however its implementation is still problematic. There was also recognition for the need to strengthening by governmental and non-governmental entities the defined policies and strategies for DV prevention and control into practice.

Mapping Domestic Violence Law and Policy in Alberta: Intersections and Access to Justice

Domestic violence is a social problem governed by numerous laws, policies, and justice system components at the federal, provincial, and territorial levels. These laws and policies can overlap and intersect in ways that create challenging access to justice issues for litigants in domestic violence matters, particularly marginalized women who are survivors of violence. This article analyzes the laws, government policies, and justice system components that apply to domestic violence in Alberta as one step towards enhancing access to justice in this context. It also recommends specific law reform measures, government oversight, and action by the courts and other legal actors to deal with problematic intersections and gaps that compromise access to justice. The focus is on law and policy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, although significant legal and policy developments related to the pandemic are noted.

Safeguarding women at work? Lessons from Aotearoa New Zealand on effectively implementing domestic violence policies

Although domestic violence is increasingly acknowledged as a workplace issue and a gender equality issue, a gap remains in the effective implementation of domestic violence policies in workplaces. The Domestic Violence – Victims Protection Act passed in 2018 in Aotearoa New Zealand was a global landmark for holding workplaces accountable for safeguarding victims through a codification of employer responsibility. While the legislation is a milestone, such moves are nascent compared with other workplace gender equality initiatives. In this article, we assess ‘where we are now’ in relation to domestic violence policy initiatives, arguing that knowledge necessary for successful policy implementation is limited by the historical ‘gender blindness’ of industrial relations scholarship. For successful implementation, scholars and practitioners must understand domestic violence as a public issue embedded in broader patterns of gender inequality, reinforced by a gendered labour market. Drawing upon vignettes of victims’ experiences from empirical data on intimate partner stalking in Aotearoa New Zealand, a research and practice agenda is proposed to consider ‘where to next’ for implementing domestic violence policies. Our agenda proposes recognising domestic violence as a gendered, public issue which blurs boundaries between work, home and society in order to truly safeguard women at work.

What About Men? The Marginalization of Men Who Engage in Domestic Violence.

In an international policy context that is increasingly recognizing the gendered nature of domestic violence, governments are becoming more attuned to the importance of improving policy responses for women who have domestic violence enacted against them. This has not, in general, been accompanied by a similar focus on improving policy responses to men who engage in domestic violence, despite a burgeoning body of scholarship suggesting that improved responses to such men are required to more effectively prevent domestic violence from occurring. Importantly, current scholarship also highlights the significant and complex tensions that may arise when policy informed by gendered understandings of domestic violence increases its focus on the men who enact it. Drawing on a critical discourse analysis methodology, we analyze how these tensions are negotiated in domestic violence policy in the Australian state of Queensland. Findings from this analysis demonstrate that the way government policy discursively constructs men who engage in domestic violence has important implications for how such policy targets and engages with members of this group. The article demonstrates that when such men are constructed as outsiders to the community, they may be viewed as undeserving of inclusion and support. This can result in governments failing to prioritize interventions targeted at men who engage in domestic violence, and prevent the active inclusion of such men in the development of policy and interventions. These findings provide important lessons for international governments seeking to implement or strengthen policy responses to end domestic violence against women.

Committee Hearings, Witness Affiliations, and the Passage of the Violence Against Women Act

The author tracks attention to domestic violence at the congressional level and seeks to answer the question of why Congress recognized violence against women as a new category suitable for protection. I adopt a longitudinal approach to examine how hearings, witness affiliations, and policy entrepreneurs played a role in the passage of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The study develops and uses indicators of legislative attention and presidential attention to track the evolution of domestic violence policy between 1965 and 2020. This study shows that domestic violence, crime, and health accounted for most of the frames used by witnesses and/or committees when discussing violence against women. The gender politics coalition made up the largest group of witnesses at the committee hearings. I also demonstrate that there is not much variation between the witnesses at the judiciary and labor committee hearings. By tracking the evolution of VAWA through the committee hearings as well as identifying the coalitions, I am able to show the new policy dimensions that emerged to regulate gender violence. The way that political actors constructed domestic violence victims dictated the type of policies that were used in resolving violence against women. This interaction helped to explain the slow response to helping battered women. However, as women began to gain a voice and exercise political power, public officials took notice of this problem.