Domestic Violence
For a long time, there was a belief that situations that arose within the family were solely a private matter. Women were treated as possessions of men and the law did not legally recognise the rape of a wife by her husband. In recent times, society’s attitudes towards domestic violence have changed considerably. Once, the only avenue that existed for victims of domestic violence was through criminal law. Today, all states of Australia have enacted various forms of domestic violence legislation to deal with this growing problem within our communities.
The Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) provides a broader and more contemporary definition of what constitutes domestic and family violence. The legal definition of domestic violence is outlined in Section 8, subsection 1, of the act as “behaviour by a person (the first person) towards another person (the second person) with whom the person is in a relevant relationship that is physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically, economically or socially abusive, or is threatening or coercive OR in any other way controls or dominates the second person to fear for the second person’s safety or wellbeing or that of someone else.”
To comprehend exactly what constitutes domestic violence, it is important to understand what each part of the definition means.
The types of “relevant relationships” covered by the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act are intimate personal relationships, family relationships and informal care relationships. Intimate personal relationships include spousal, engagement and couple relationships. Family relationships are defined within the act as between two people, one of whom is or was a relative of the other and informal care relationships exist when one person is dependent on another for daily living assistance.
Dosen (et. al. 2013) defines physical abuse as pushing, grabbing, slapping and kicking; sexual abuse as sexual assault and/or sexual acts carried out
The Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) provides a broader and more contemporary definition of what constitutes domestic and family violence. The legal definition of domestic violence is outlined in Section 8, subsection 1, of the act as “behaviour by a person (the first person) towards another person (the second person) with whom the person is in a relevant relationship that is physically, sexually, emotionally, psychologically, economically or socially abusive, or is threatening or coercive OR in any other way controls or dominates the second person to fear for the second person’s safety or wellbeing or that of someone else.”
To comprehend exactly what constitutes domestic violence, it is important to understand what each part of the definition means.
The types of “relevant relationships” covered by the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act are intimate personal relationships, family relationships and informal care relationships. Intimate personal relationships include spousal, engagement and couple relationships. Family relationships are defined within the act as between two people, one of whom is or was a relative of the other and informal care relationships exist when one person is dependent on another for daily living assistance.
Dosen (et. al. 2013) defines physical abuse as pushing, grabbing, slapping and kicking; sexual abuse as sexual assault and/or sexual acts carried out
Cited: Anthony Dosen, T. B. (2013). Domestic Violence. In T. B. Anthony Dosen, Investigating Legal Studies for Queensland (pp. 304 - 306). Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 30, 2014 Douglas, H Douglas, H. (2008). The Criminal Law’s Response to Domestic Violence: What’s Going On? Sydney Law Review, 30, 439. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Flood, M., & Fergus, L. (2008). An assault on our future: The impact of violence on young people and their relationships. (W. R. Foundation, Producer) Retrieved from http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au/media/documents/AssaultonourFutureFinal.pdf Hamilton, L NCSMC. (2012). Queensland - Protection Orders. Retrieved June 15, 2014, from National Council of Single Mothers and their Children: http://www.ncsmc.org.au/wsas/legal_system/avo_qld.htm Queensland Government U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2011, May 18). Mental Health effects of violence. Retrieved June 15, 2014, from Office on Women 's Health: http://womenshealth.gov/violence-against-women/mental-health-effects-of-violence/ Whiting, N