There's been a 55% rise in the number of child abuse cases being reported to Women's Aid.
The finding's contained in the charity's 2012 report, out today.
It also highlights how its helpline has taken over 1,000 calls relating to children witnessing horrific abuse of their mothers.
Women's Aid Director Margaret Martin says it's very distressing:
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The figures from Women’s Aid show that threats, abuse, intimidation and violence are a daily reality for thousands of women and children across Ireland.
Breakdown of calls to Women's Aid
- 16,200 disclosures of domestic violence against women to Women’s Aid Services in 2012.
- 3,230 disclosures of emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children to the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline, an increase of 55% on the previous year.
Women’s Aid is calling for greater recognition of the links between domestic violence and child abuse and says that the Government can take steps to immediately increase the safety of vulnerable women and children.
National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900
In addition to the disclosures of direct child abuse, in 1,211 calls it was reported that children were bearing witness to the most horrific abuse and violence against their mothers. Exposure to domestic violence is recognised in the Children First Guidelines as a form of emotional abuse of children with detrimental effects to their well-being. Ms Martin adds: “Many children have witnessed their mother being shouted at, threatened, physically assaulted and at times have seen their mother being raped. Where they have not directly seen the abuse occurring they may have overheard abusive incidents, or seen the aftermath of it such as bruises, broken bones, damaged furniture and belongings.”
Family law
Women’s Aid believes custody and access arrangements in Family Law proceedings often disregard the impact of domestic violence on children and as a result risk continuing abuse of the children as well as exposure to abuse of their mother during the hand over period. Ms Martin adds: “Child contact should not outweigh child protection and safety should be prioritised in all custody and access proceedings. To do anything less is to fail women and children.”
Women's Aid also wants the best practice principle of protecting the child through protecting the non-abusive parent, usually the mother, needs to be further acknowledged and reflected in any changes to Family Law or Domestic Violence Legislation as well as in any Child Protection structures.
Loved ones as abusers
One in 5 women in Ireland is abused by a current or former husband, partner or boyfriend, at some stage in their lifetime. In 2012, 49% of the women supported in our One to One service were experiencing abuse from a former husband, partner or boyfriend.”
Women's Aid relies very much on donations from the public. Anyone who wishes to donate to their service can do so online at www.womensaid.ie/donate or by sending donations direct to Women's Aid, 5 Wilton Place, Dublin 2.
