Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is any abusive behavior used by one partner in a relationship to gain and maintain control over another’s life.
It can occur in any type of domestic relationship, including spousal relationships, intimate personal relationships, family relationships and informal care relationships.
The most common example of domestic violence is the use of violence by men to stop women and children from living in safety and free of fear in their own home.
The abuse or assaults in domestic violence may become more dangerous and occur more often over time, so it's important to get help as early as possible.
Violence can take many forms:
Physical abuse: hitting, slapping, punching
Sexual abuse: insisting on having sex when your partner doesn’t want to, forcing your partner to perform sexual acts against his or her will
Emotional abuse: yelling, swearing, aggressive language, belittling in front of other people
Financial abuse: retaining control of money
Social abuse: isolation from existing networks of family and friends
If you are living in fear, or know someone who is afraid of their partner, urge them to call the Centre - 222 40.
Case study
22/12/2010 11:10
First hand account of violence from a client of WCCC.
We had been dating for two months when the first incident happened. I was a virgin and he was very respectful that I did not want to sleep with him. In this time he did not force me to have sex, which really impressed me. I thought...
18/10/2010 15:53
First hand account of domestic violence from a Client of WCCC
I had no idea that my husband is very angry at me on that night. My husband came home, he didn’t knock on the door, he just angrily opened it. I called his name but he didn’t answer back. He hit me and my eldest...
15/07/2010 17:09
A firsthand account of reporting child sexual abuse from a client at WCCC.
It happened on a Friday night when I went back home with my mom after attending a funeral. We stayed at another family’s house and while my mum was having a shower I went in the kitchen and ate with the other...
19/01/2009 13:48
A firsthand account of reporting sexual abuse to the police and prosecuting it
At first when I rang the Police I got the idea that they didn’t want to come.
The incident had just happened – and my friend had to get on the phone and insist. In fact, he had to call another Police...
