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Domestic violence victims speaking out

Oct 19, 2011 News

 

 

– Help and Shelter

With increasing public awareness of domestic violence and avenues for assistance, more women and men are speaking out against this plight, which has been in many homes for generations, says Margaret Kertzious, Co-ordinator, Help and Shelter.
Kertzious stated that Help and Shelter, a Non-Governmental Organization which was established in 1994 and to date has assisted over 9,000 persons including over 1,000 males, has utilized its various services of providing counseling, temporary shelter, and skills for life training. Daily this number is increasing, with an average of 25 additional persons visiting the institution.
She explained that physical abuse is the most reported. The victims are counseled and once help is requested to leave their situation, they are placed at the entity’s shelter and allowed to stay there for a period of six months. However, this time span could increase depending on the circumstances of the victim. While residing at the shelter, the women are exposed to skills for life training programmes.
In addition, children of abused women could also stay at the shelter with their mothers. However, if their mothers cannot keep them, alternative accommodation through other organizations such as the Child Care Protection Agency is sourced.
Kertzious stated that for the year thus far, 74 adults and 130 children occupied the shelter. The shelter has the capacity to accommodate 48 persons at any given time. There are some instances that occupants are required to share their rooms.
“Even though we provide these services for the victims to grow and develop, some women return to their abusive relationships. This is owing to many reasons such as money, love, and sometimes the woman claims that she cannot live without the man,” Kertzious stated.
“Although such situations exist, we cannot stop the education and awareness processes. There needs to be some set levels in relation to gender-based violence. The five levels should be awareness, reaction, making a firm decision to deal with it, executing plans daily, and finally garnering the benefits.”
Kertzious noted that the operations of the shelter are supported by the Government. Since the body expanded its services to victims of Trafficking in Persons, the Government gives an annual grant of $10M.
In addition, the Shelter receives assistance from international organizations including United States Agency for International Development, United Nations Population Fund, Canadian International Development Agency, United Nations Children’s Fund and European Union.

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