One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. Often the biggest victims of domestic violence are the smallest.
Women’s Aid defines domestic abuse as ‘the intentional and persistent physical or emotional abuse of a woman, or of a woman and her children in a way that causes pain, distress or injury’.
Domestic abuse can include threatening, controlling, coercive behaviour, violence or abuse.
Domestic abuse can be psychological, virtual, physical, verbal, sexual, financial or emotional.
Domestic abuse can happen to anyone irrespective of age, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any form of disability.
Domestic abuse can be inflicted on a women and her children by a current or former intimate partner or family member.
Coercive Control is ‘an intentional behaviour designed to punish, dominate, exploit, exhaust, create fear, confusion and increase dependency.’ Over time it can lead to a complete loss of self.
Read here: Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland Strategy
If you are affected by domestic abuse YOU CAN call Women’s Aid ABCLN on 028 25 632136. In an emergency call 999.