Domestic Violence

Intervention on Domestic Violence,
South African Embassy to Norway,
Women’s Day 2007.

Ambassador, honorable guests, ladies and gentlemen, Congratulation on your Women’s Day celebration !

I am honoured to be invited to this event and to speak upon domestic violence, or violence against the next-of-kin /or as we say: In close relations.A type of violence that mostly affects women and children, by male perpetrators.

We should, to be honest,  rather celebrate the joy of gender equality and the moves that are made world wide to empower women and girls; however, there is still the sad need to focus on domestic violence. In all nations of the world.

The Norwegian position is clear; no religion, culture or tradition can ever serve as excuse for violence in the family. Further, domestic violence is not a private matter, but highly political an should be dealt with by Governments.

And South Africa has the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, recognizing gender-based violence as unfair dicrimination. And UN told last year that you were under way with research on the economic costs of violence against women. Those actions are extremely important steps.

It has more or less taken Norwegian Society 30 years to reach todays political insights, having the Cabinet discussing the 3 rd Action Plan against this violence, and to fund the cross-sectorial efforts sufficiently. The Crisis Centre’s Movement ( NGO’s) is to be honoured for their diligence and persistence as to push forward reforms and actions from Govt.

The last years have seen law-making as important; strengthening the Penal Code in 2005 (Perpretrators’ long term terrorisation and abuse of the next-of-kin constitutes criminal aspects of the act. This strengthens the legal status of women, since women are the main victims...Sexual harrasment is prohibited in the Gender Equality Act as well as the Work Environment Act)
Now we are working on legal actions to secure all women/children a low-threshold , free of charge service - in reasonable proximity of their homes - when exposed to violence; bulding upon the present 51 crisis-centres (NGO’s – with 80% State subsidies of running costs) We have Family Violence Coordinators in all 27 Police Districts; they are trained and have firm instructions on how to act. In 2003 we had the very important report from the Cabinet appointed committee on Violence against Women – which we have been following up since.Now the Cabinet appointed Committee on Rape and Sexual Assaults are working to deliver assessments and proposals in 2008, and we saw the eyeopening report from the DG of Public Prosecutions this March, revealing facts why so many rape cases ended in acquittals, and what could be done to better investigate and prosecute. It seems to be several myths (bias’s) living among prosecuters and judges ! More women than ever report violence to the police; this does not necessarely mean that violence has increased, but that it is percieved as “easier” to report and press charges.This is a good trend.

Last year saw the setting up of 5 public regional competence centers to assist, support and guide local work against violence and traumas, cooperating with the National  Research Centre on Violence and Traumatic Stress, founded in 2004. Several measures are taken to help the children, both legally and otherwise. We know from recent research that it has almost the same effects (traumas) for a child to be witness to violence in the home, as to be beaten.

A nation wide system to treat perpetrators is in process, bulding upon the good experiences from the Correcting Services (in jails) and the treatment offered by the ATV (private foundation working with men and boys) and work done by the REFORM; men’s centre – to men who want treatment and help before committing crimes.

Some Norwegian experiences: To combat violence against women and children, you need a solid mix of legal actions, sensitizing programs, cross-sectorial action plans , cooperation between NGOs and Government (on all levels), funding the women’s NGOs well, as also the Crisis Centres, fund free legal advice to women, educate the police force and judges, programs in schools and in teachers curriculums, sensitizing the Child Welfare Services to “see” domestic violence at an early stage, and establish coordinating functions in the municipalities. Utilizing culture and media to sensitize and mobilize, is extremely valuable ! And since money talks, you need sufficient funding – for all of this.
And – you need to measure and evaluate. What is not measured is not done. Goverment must be accountable, also NGOs that receive public funding; and the Govt. can choose to work through and with NGO’s, congregations, churches etc., but not instead of  binding legal actions ,plans and commitments from Goverment.

It is not enough to speak against domestic violence with high flying rethorics in public meetings!
We need profound cultural change! We need to engage the men and boys! Without the men and boys on board, you will never succeeed in eraditcating violence against women! Men’s mischiefs and harmful attitudes must be altered, as to meet their fellow citizens - the women -  with respect.

It is an issue of Human Rights, of power and empowerment and powerlessnes.  It is an issue of economy, health (and health costs), and how to sustain human resources in society: To develop human resources to gainful work and value-creating – regardless of gender. How can any nation express its modernity, concern for Human Rights or democracy when many individuals from more than half of its population (the women, children and youth) , cannot feel safe at home or may be exposed to violence, and the perpetrators not punished ? What kind of political signal is it, when impunity for violence against women and children prevail ? We must try to comprehend – and imagine - how such a signal is percieved in the community.

To provide safety for all citizens must be vital to any Govt. (I was last week in United Nations, New York, to answer for Norway's 7th report to how we fullfill the CEDAW-commitments, and the committee was very concerned about the eradication of violence against women and children, and Norway was given a "hard time" of scrutiny, as would any other state party to the convention)

Furthermore, violence against the next-of- kin may have roots in poverty. Empowerment of women and youth to parttake in the formal economy must be at the center of concern. Unemployed and undereducated men and boys can – overtime – be a ticking bomb as to crime and violence; not the least agressive frustration against the next of kin.

Then, to reiterate myself, we need profound cultural changes – initiated by Govt. – to combat violence. Measures that certainly work, are to press charges, get strong sentences (and publish them) and start treating perpretators. Another is to use all kinds of media to highlight consequences and costs of violence.

Since money talks, funding is crucial. Nothing is for free. Indeed the costs related to the time-consuming process of changing people’s minds and hearts are heavy. The toughest job on earth. But it can be done, if Government has credibility and the political will to act.

Further cooperation between South Africa and Norway on theses issues could be relevant to both. I am sure we can pick up valuable experiences from your work. Lessons learned in Norway should be shared, and our previous faults (what does not work...) do not need to be repeated elsewhere.

Thank you for your attention.