Family Violence

About Family Violence

Family Violence is now recognised to be a serious and widespread problem in our communities.Whatever form it takes, family violence is a fundamental violation of human rights and is unacceptable in any form, in any community and in any culture. It is everyone’s responsibility to reject and prevent violence.

While both women and men can be violent against their partners, the evidence overwhelmingly shows that most family violence is committed by men against women.

What is family violence?

Family violence includes a wide range of behaviours and actions that controls or dominates a partner or family member and causes them to fear for their own or another person’s safety or wellbeing.

It occurs when a family member intentionally uses violence, threats, coercion or intimidation to control or manipulate another family member, partner, or former partner. It happens in all kinds of family or intimate relationships and across all ages, communities and cultures. It may include:

• violence from one partner toward another partner, including same sex relationships
• from an adult child toward an elderly parent
• from an adolescent to a parent
• from one sibling to another
• between extended family members
• and by those providing care in diverse home environments

Abuse can take many forms and includes:

• physical assault eg punching, hitting, kicking, pushing, slapping, choking
• sexual assault
• stalking
• isolation from family, friends and/or social networks
• controlling access to money or how it is spent
• emotional and psychological abuse eg constant criticisms, name-calling, belittling and putdowns
• making all the decisions and controlling what she does
• preventing practising of cultural or spiritual beliefs
• intimidation
• making threats
• harming pets
• intentionally damaging property and belongings
• any behaviour that causes someone to live in fear