By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 6th November 2006
WIVES are the victims and husbands the culprits in nearly all the cases being reported to a centre devoted to combating family abuse. About 95 per cent of the nearly 1,000 cases examined so far at the Batelco Care Centre for Family Abuse Cases are women who have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse at home.
“The others are either adolescents who have been abused by their parents and peers, or are men abused by over-dominating wives,” said clinical psychologist and Bahrain Society for Resistance to Family Violence president Dr Banna Bu Zaboon.
By MANDEEP SINGH
Published: 6th November 2006
WIVES are the victims and husbands the culprits in nearly all the cases being reported to a centre devoted to combating family abuse. About 95 per cent of the nearly 1,000 cases examined so far at the Batelco Care Centre for Family Abuse Cases are women who have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse at home.
“The others are either adolescents who have been abused by their parents and peers, or are men abused by over-dominating wives,” said clinical psychologist and Bahrain Society for Resistance to Family Violence president Dr Banna Bu Zaboon.
The centre opened its doors in August last year, to give abuse victims somewhere to go for counselling and other help.
“The problem is great and we recognise it,” said Dr Bu Zaboon, who is also the centre’s president.
“Corrective steps are being taken and we wish to involve all in the community to tackle it.”
She said the Social Development Ministry was also involved in addressing the problem in co-operation with various government and voluntary bodies, as also with non-governmental organisations.
Dr Bu Zaboon was speaking before the beginning of a training course for women victims of domestic abuse, being organised at the centre.
The course aims, among other things, to help women cope with abuse and try to prevent it if possible.
Thirty women, divided into six groups of five each, are attending the six-week course, held under the patronage of the Social Development Ministry.
“Each group will have two hours per week of discussions, case studies and therapies,” said Dr Bu Zaboon.
The women, aged between 30 and 40, will narrate their experiences as well as tell other participants how they coped with the trauma. “We are encouraging each participant to speak to the other and evaluate each other,” said Dr Bu Zaboon.
“In the end, we want to prevent these things from happening.”
By sharing experiences, the participants hope to try and determine how and why the violence happens.
“It is mainly because of violent husbands, but it could also be the wives’ responsibility sometimes. We have to take that into consideration as well,” said Dr Bu Zaboon.
Women’s greatest protection lies in raising their self-esteem, she said. “Once that happens, most of the problems will be addressed and solved,” said Dr Bu Zaboon.
Behaviour changes can also help couples better understand each other and prevent abuse.
Most of the 30 women who are taking part are in the process of separation from their husbands and their cases are in court.
“We are attempting to talk to the husbands of the others to try and work out a compromise,” said Dr Bu Zaboon.
© Gulf Daily News
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