Task: Explain the roles of support groups in cases of violence and abuses.

Violence and abuse imply destruction, anger, and pain. Over years, there has been an explosion of knowledge about violence and abuse, its prevalence and its linkage to social problems.  Women and girls are the predominant victims of violence and abuse. Support groups and organizations are initiated and established; with their most fundamental functions of protecting women from criminal victimization of cases of violence and abuse.

First of all, the most important role of the support groups is to access the circumstances and needs of the victims. The support groups play important roles in providing any physical support for the victims. For instance, a support group should be able to contact any temporary emergency shelters on the state so that the battered women could have a place to stay in. Medical support should be ready for those victims who suffered injuries from violence. Physical support is essential because most of the victims have chosen to leave home permanently when they decided to seek help.

           It is a vital role of support group to listen to the victims and provide validating messages. Thus, mental support, such as counselling or confession sessions with a well-trained social worker, psychologist or even a psychiatrist, should be provided by support groups of cases of violence and abuse. It is to assist the victim in understanding what is happening, coping with in recovering from the trauma experienced, explain the options available to the victim so that the victim can make an informed decision about what she would like to do in the circumstances.
 

Besides, when a victim would like to sought help of legal assistance, the support groups should be able to lead her to appropriate authorities and always assist the victims in the process of prosecution. Financial assistance should be provided when necessary. Above all, any support groups should intervene as appropriate based on the victim’s wishes, circumstances and her needs.

Support groups should be able to work with the government or the related authorities to be able to give advices and suggestions on law reinforcement and fight for the appropriate balancing of rights, roles, and responsibilities of the various participants within the system. It is one of the support groups’ role to work towards establishing compulsory expeditious judicial process, create awareness amongst members of the judiciary and persuade the government to set up special courts for women.

As how people always say, education has the ability to make or break a person.  Campaign or seminars on human rights especially human rights should hold by support groups to educate the society. Pamphlets or booklet should be printed and distributed to the public to create awareness in public. Data and statistics should be announced to the public to enlighten them about the real situation of violence and abuse in the world.

As an effort of the support groups to secure women’s rights, they can take up roles to educate the women especially in the interior areas.  When a woman knows about their rights, they might be able to protect themselves and even her child. Support groups should input these women with vocational skills such as arts, crafts, and etc. in order that the women could build up some self-esteem besides earning extra money.

Every individual has the basic right to a life free from fear and violence.  All forms of violence and intimidation constitute a violation of the individual’s basic human rights.  Support groups have been doing a wonderful job lending a helping hand to the needy. However, women themselves should be aware of their rights and be more daring to speak up so that the authorities can bring help.

by Dorina Wong Ming, Yean Yan Tong