The Community's Role in Preventing Violence in the Home

During the last decade, as the human rights perspective has come to the
forefront with the vital necessity to prevent Violence in the Home, our
understanding of what this crime does to women and children has changed.
We now have a much wider definition of what constitutes Domestic Violence,
including psychological and emotional abuse and trauma.

We now also understand that the entire community must play a role in
order to prevent this crime and to properly support women and children
who experience it. Interventions must be based on the two principles of
preserving women, and children's safety, and of helping to support women's
decision-making in often very complex circumstances.

This kind of accountability on the part of the community means a much
more-wide ranging mode of service provision and support, so that women
can act in both the short-term and the long-term in the best interests for their
children and their children's lives. Education of the community about these
issues is therefore of paramount importance.