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Written by: Lin Jiaqi
2020-06-04 18:45
Last update date: 2020-06-04 18:45At first glance, the SWD and the police provide figures on domestic violence cases. The domestic violence problem does not seem to be serious. Many people would say that Hong Kong is a city in which women’s rights are in power. Compared with Japan and South Korea, women’s status in society is relatively high, and the probability of becoming a victim of domestic violence is naturally relatively low. However, can the numbers reflect reality?
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[Domestic Violence] Seeking help in the epidemic, when the number rises, being a "home" is no longer a "refuge"
[Domestic Violence] The economic downturn caused the intensification of violence to come forward and report to the police, can we get rid of the "claw"?
"It is certain that the official figure must be the tip of the iceberg. Because of the lack of the system, the number will look so slight." Luo Kangyu, the psychological counselor in front of him, claimed to be "a person outside the system"-not belonging to any women's organization. It is also not affiliated with any official institution. No matter the number is large or small, she is also "employed". Most of the victims she encounters will "endure" when facing domestic violence-in most cases, the abuser and the victim are in a closer relationship, such as a partner or parent and child, do not want to make things big, "See you in court"; the other is the idea of being too panic and not calling the police for help. "Domestic violence cases in Hong Kong are usually reported because of child abuse. Many schools find that children have bruises and will immediately start the mechanism. Schools are worried about getting up, so most of them will be very nervous. If they are exposed, they will expose domestic violence. If there are only couples (Without children), domestic violence is more difficult to detect."
Domestic violence cases in Hong Kong are usually reported because of child abuse. If there are only couples and no children, domestic violence is more difficult to detect. (Profile picture)
People in the system push away the victims
Luo Kangyu described that as a counselor, he is the most "disposable non-related person" in domestic violence. The victims who came to her actually knew that they could not get any substantial support, such as applying for protection orders, handling divorce proceedings, or staying in a halfway house, because the counselor is outside the system and does not have the title of the institution, nor is it With law enforcement orders and law enforcers who can rule the perpetrators of crimes, Luo Kangyu can only lend his ears and listen to them.
She has heard countless stories of domestic violence, the reasons are all the same, and "slight" makes people feel ridiculous: the furniture is not well placed, the toilet lid is not covered, how much money is used... , But the deeper ones are worth "囵" (meaning discussion, analysis)-there is never a common "cause" for domestic violence issues. My characters outside the system have time to watch and slowly solve their knots. . At most I give a witness to the victim in the family court. I have no other ability to do it." In her mouth, the advantage of people outside the system is, "more time, more space, less conflict of interest. ".
In 2016, Liang Liqing, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, published the book "Gender Thinking of Intimate Partner Violence", which explored the sensitivity of frontline social workers to domestic violence and wrote: "There are still many social workers who believe that " "Battered women can leave their husbands." Frontline social workers often lack "victim-blaming" treatment methods because of their lack of gender sensitivity, which intensifies the harm to the victims." When the victim is finally willing to take a step forward, eager for someone to save himself, but unexpectedly, his hands are hanging in the air, and no one is willing to reach out, then it will affect the determination of the victim for help. With courage to step forward, I only received a cold slap in the end. Over time, I no longer wanted to ask for help when faced with violence.
Psychological counselor Luo Kangyu pointed out that if the victim wants to relocate, they must make things bigger, otherwise the authorities will not accept them. (Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
"Unless the victim makes things more serious, someone will take care of you at the most serious stage." Taking the relocation request as an example, Luo Kang Yu laughed and said that it is more effective to ask the District Councillor for help. I will not care about you, because resources are limited, and I will not be willing to help until you have killed someone or something has gone wrong." This city is by no means "resource-limited". Even after experiencing the anti-amendment incident last year and the new coronary pneumonia epidemic this year, the government has launched several rounds of bail-out measures, but this year's fiscal reserves are still as high as 1.331 trillion yuan. "If you are violent and want to separate, you have to say the most serious things and fight badly. Because Hong Kong is not a welfare society, like CSSA recipients will be scolded for welfare, it is a bad thing. It is also because In this way, the relevant authorities holding resources are afraid of misuse. But everyone knows that the most effective solution to domestic violence is to live separately, which will reduce the chance of conflict by 80%."
People in the system who should have assisted the victim affected the victim's willingness to ask for help. Luo Kangyu said frankly that it was precisely the lack of the system that made the victims of domestic violence unwilling to seek help until the intolerable stage. She said that there were cases where the social workers of the Social Welfare Department asked couples to meet together after a few meetings. "The victim feels unsafe and the person hurting her is around. How can you tell the truth?" she continued: "They (Social worker) What I don’t understand is that domestic violence is not necessarily due to unsatisfactory marital relationships. There can be various factors. They will not consider the abuser itself or have a tendency to violence, and indirectly promote the reconciliation of the victim and the abuser, but in fact It doesn't have to be reconciled."
Luo Kangyu said that there were cases where the social workers of the Social Welfare Department asked couples to meet together after several meetings, but ignored that the victim would feel unsafe. When the person hurting him was around, how could he tell the truth? (The stills of "The World of Couples")
How can the abuser be rehabilitated?
Although the SWD provides different types of counseling services for abusers, such as the "Abusive Mentoring Program", "Anti-Violence Program" and "Peaceful Relationship Support Program" to help abusers change their violence attitudes and behaviors, there are three In the counselling service, only one "anti-violence plan" is required by the court to order compulsory participation under the "Family and Cohabitation Relationship Violence Ordinance". The remaining two are voluntary participation. Therefore, even if the abuser is finally accused of "domestic violence ( Criminal cases)", but not everyone will participate in counseling. This is a potential crisis for abusers and even victims who have the opportunity to return to their families. From the figures provided by the police, it can be seen that a total of 9,174 cases of domestic violence were handled last year, but only 4.42% participated in the three SWD counselling programs for perpetrators.
Looking at the figures, no abuser has been required to receive compulsory counselling in the past three years. The existence of the plan is as if it were false. What is even more shocking is that according to the Legislative Council documents, there was a case in 2016-2017 even if ordered by the court The abuser participates in the plan compulsorily, but the abuser finally refuses to participate and must be referred to the court. Some voluntary counselling programs also withdrew halfway (see table below) . Is there something wrong with the program itself?
It is difficult to judge whether the content of the plan is effective counseling, but there is a certain fact that only a small number of abusers are willing to accept counseling. Luo Kangyu has been a psychological counselor for three years, and frankly has never seen an abuser. "Frankly, counseling stands in a highland role and represents justice. You ask ten (abuseers), and ten of them know they do it. There is a problem, but it is difficult for them to face their guilt (sin), and facing them as a demon is a big checkpoint for them. In front of those who will criticize him, they will build a self-defense mechanism. "
The SWD did not respond directly to organized counseling on the abuse of domestic violence abusers. The reply only refers to the fact that each abuser of domestic violence has a different background and situation, the reasons, forms, severity and use of violence. There are big differences in changing the motivation, etc. Therefore, different measures are needed. On the one hand, through the court, under the Family and Cohabitation Relations Violence Ordinance, an "inhibition of harassment order" is issued, requiring the respondent to participate in the "anti-violence plan" provided by the SWD; on the other hand, through the police, welfare service units and other The case referral mechanism set up by the stakeholders arranges for dedicated social workers to take the initiative to contact the families concerned.
(Hong Kong 01 Cartography)
Let the society stop talking
The official does not judge family affairs? Luo Kangyu said that he was "a fan of the authorities, but a spectator who is clear." She has heard many absurd things: Once, she heard that some victims were dissatisfied with her husband, ignoring children with special learning needs, and only concerned about rewarding live female celebrities with money on social platforms. "The woman wants to think about it with a dollar. The man rewarded others generously, and then said that he was under a lot of work pressure." When he was not happy, he even shot the victim. Luo Kangyu bluntly said that when he heard it immediately, it was very worthless to the victim, but as a counselor, he had to "discuss, only empathize", no matter who was right or wrong. She is well aware of the principle of "public speaking, public reasoning, and mother-in-law speaking". The version heard from her husband may be very different. "How to achieve a balance between the couple and look at it from the same angle is what should be done." Things. Many people dare not find counseling because they are afraid that counselors will not be neutral and will judge who has problems."
When the victims came, Luo Kangyu wanted to tell them most, "In the past, there were good, bad, good retention, bad abandonment. Women dare not end their relationship with the abuser, many of them because You have to depend on each other economically. So how do you support yourself in the future? What about the education of your children? You need to make sure these things are done before you can close the file." To resolve the depression in the hearts of the victims, not just deal with their personal psychological problems, Not just saying a few words and thinking about the future life for them will allow them to erase the shadows in their hearts. What is more important is how to let the society "go to avoid unnecessary talk about domestic violence". This is a lesson that the whole society must learn.
Luo Kangyu said: "In the end, society has a weak awareness of domestic violence, not only domestic violence, the society has a very sensitive and avoiding attitude to sexual violence, child abuse, and elder abuse. Especially in the past year, the social and political atmosphere has made The victims did not have the courage to say how they felt in their hearts. Even if a little help message was sent on Facebook, it might be covered up by other news, reducing their desire to ask for help."
In the eyes of the victims, reporting domestic violence is always a very negative thing. You don’t know what other people think about themselves, and people around you may not accept it. ("Who is the victim" stills)
"In the eyes of the victim, this is always a very negative thing. You don’t know what other people think about you, people around you may not accept it, etc. The law enforcement officers also make the victim feel: Want to use criminal law? Obviously the victim was injured by a loved one, the psychological trauma (large)... The recovery process is very important, because the shadow will inevitably affect future life."
The above excerpt is from the 216th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Weekly Report (June 1, 2020), "Will the Official Do Not Trial Family Matters?" Psychological counselors look at the pulse of domestic violence."
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