Although still not enough research has been done to prove that domestic violence, or family violence, increases during and after war situations, there is substantial practical evidence to suggest that violence in family and other intimate relationships is an issue that needs to be addressed in post-war countries. The discussion is not finished: it is possible that care workers are more-often confronted with problems of violence because of the break down of supportive networks and service institutions that otherwise might have helped; it is also possible that war and post-war actually show an increase in the incidence and severity of domestic violence. What we do know for certain is that the issue of family violence must be addressed.
This document is the third module of a training manual on sexual and domestic violence in a context of (post) war and organized violence. It outlines the curriculum content and proceedings for a three-day course, targeted at care workers, that focuses on violence in intimate relations between adults. The objectives of this course are to:
- Understand the relation between domestic violence and post-war situations
- Develop an understanding of the needs of battered women
- Understand the importance of empowerment techniques
- Learn to understand why many women stay with their abusive partners
- Raise awareness about the similarities and differences between the trauma of domestic violence and other traumas
- Offer practical ideas on the support of battered women
- Discover the links between care workers’ experiences and the experiences of their clients
- Raise awareness about the issues of blame and responsibility
The information included here is laid out in as a series of exercises and presentations, each with step-by-step sub-objectives and procedural guidelines, as well as suggestions for discussion topics. These activities are organized in series for each of the three days covered by the course. This document also contains a series of supplemental sheets and handouts.
©Admira Foundation
