Johanna Burgos
It has been said what happens at home stays at home, but what if what is happening at home is the physical, emotional and psychological abuse that remain behind a wall due to fear or possible threats made by the same aggressor.
As we know, violence that occurs within the home is nothing more than an act or omission that occurs in the family framework due to the work of one of its components that threatens the life, bodily or mental integrity, or the freedom of another component of the same family, or that seriously threatens the development of their personality (Council of Europe, 1986).
In a comprehensive approach to family violence written in 2006 for the psychosocial conversion Intervention vol.15 no.3 Madrid, directed by José Manuel Alonso Varea and José Luis Castellanos Delgado, they state that it is difficult to offer a single definition of violence since it is first of all instead of a colloquial term that expresses many and very diverse situations. It seems, above all, that it is a complex phenomenon that can be approached from many different perspectives. Due to there are different debates about its origin of violence where it is still present in our society reflecting the millions of cases worldwide of biological, psychological and social origin.
As we could read above, we realize that family violence in a picture with many branches, that is to say, very extensive, because there are many factors that imply that it develops today. Now, there are different manifestations represented as main family violence such as: violence against children and adolescents, in the couple, and against the elderly, the violence of children against fathers and mothers, violence between couples in the period of formation and violence between brothers.
Likewise, the world health organization WHO (2002) considers that family violence is nothing more than that in which violent acts can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological or based on deprivation or abandonment (negligence). However, the classification of types of ill-treatment made by Browne and Herbert, 1997, is particularly interesting: Active violence, abuse or mistreatment.
One of the main abuses at home that are not brought to light is physical abuse, which is one that threatens harm or injury, for example: pushing, slapping, hitting, hair pulling, biting, kicking, twisting the arms, hitting with objects, burns, etc. Forced coercion and limiting physical movements.
Also sexual, which is any coercive or exploitative sexual contact, for example: caresses, vaginal or anal intercourse, attacks on sexual areas of the body. Forcing viewing of sexual images or activities and threatening sexual contact. Emphasizing that this is one of the most frequently presented cases in families, only that they do not come to light for caring for and ensuring the last name of said family, worth the redundancy. It is a very sensitive issue that many are afraid to talk about due to fear and possible threats.
There is the psychological, social, economic, emotional among others that daily affect families in the world.
It should be noted that more than 58% of murdered women are in the hands of their partners or relatives.
According to the UNODC Universal Study of Homicides 2019, women victims by their partner represent 34%, while 24% represent women victimized by any other family member. Also adding that a lot of violence within the family environment causes children and adolescents to be confronted, either by bullying and lack of communication where in such a case many can end up taking their own lives.
However, if we are suffering from family violence, the main thing is to call 911.
- Seek medical attention
- call a helpline
- prepare a security plan to leave
- preserve evidence
- Talk about it with someone you trust
- place a restraining order.
They are reminded that the people who are being affected by this situation do not be afraid, since there are organizations that collaborate with this cause. Do not let yourself be frightened by threats since the laws that protect your person and your family if you are affected by another bond.
UNICEF raises in the duties of domestic abuse that no human being should be abused and beaten, that no one can live in fear of being hurt, or insulted in their own family, that people who beat can receive help not to continue doing it, people who is and was mistreated has no right to mistreat others, Girls and boys when they are telling the truth when they dare to talk about mistreatment and/or sexual abuse; they need to be believed, relieved and protected.
In conclusion we can say that violence is currently a social problem of the first order. Faced with the most serious and/or established forms as phenomena to combat, new manifestations are appearing; episodes of serious violence at younger and younger ages, bullying, violence from children to parents, etc. This situation is motivating awareness, prevention and intervention plans and strategies by public administrations, social organizations and professional groups.
Violence in general
Reina Sofía Center for the Study of Violence: www.gva.es/violencia
Spanish Society for the Psychology of Violence: www.sepv.org
Violence against children and adolescents
ISPCAN (International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) www.ispcan.org
FAPMI (Federation of Associations for the Prevention of Child Abuse) www.fapmi.es/
Save the Children: www.savethechildren.es
Partner violence
World Health Organization (WHO) Prevention Violence against women www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/ www.malostratos.com Womens against Violence Europe www.wavenetwork. org www.nodo50.org/mujeresred
Men for equality www.hombresigualdad. com/ www.ahige.org/ www.fundacionmujeres.es/mercurio//
Violence against the elderly
IMSERSO / PORTAL MAYORES www.imsersomayores.csic.es/salud/maltrato/
Action Against Elder Abuse www.elderabuse.org.uk/
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) www.inpea.net
Author: Amaury Abreu
