Preventing and fighting against (intra) family violence

• Author: Maria Pescaru
• Position: Ph.D. Lecturer, University of Pitesti, Department of Sciences and Methods
• Pages: 230-233

PREVENTING AND FIGHTING AGAINST (INTRA) FAMILY VIOLENCE

Maria Pescaru*

Abstract

Judicia l remedies r epresent, nowada ys, in the major ity of the countries facing the seriousness of the

(intra) family violence, one of the main specialists’ concerns in their attempt to find new forms of preventing and

discoura ging the acts of aggression. Thus, the degree of laws’ inadequation with regard to the victims’

protection and of firmer penalization of the aggressor s had as a result, in many countries, the fact that the

reform of the legislative and judicia l system in this domain became a n absolute priority. This situation is tr ue for

Romania as well.

Key words: violence, aggression, p enalization, legisla tive system.

Introduction

In the last deca de, in several countries, the concerns to prevent and combat (intr a) family violence have

multiplied, dr afting pr ograms a nd stra tegies of different treatment or victim assistence a nd of raising public

awareness about the sca le and seriousness of this social problem. In this sense, numerous or ganizations a nd

institutions a ctively involved in solving this issue have arisen and a series of measures to better pr otect victims

and strong er prosecute aggressor s have been initiated. On the other hand, there were intr oduced several

reforms in the lega l system, medical system, other operationa l institutions a ble to intervene in ca ses of family

crisis or pr event such cases.

Current Concerns in Preventing and Combating (Intra) Family Violence

The process of socialization of violence is perpetuated from o ne generation to another, continuing

throughout the life of individuals and future generatio ns by sending the same distorted message that violence is a

way and even a “solution” to solve the problem of violence itself.

To end this “cycle”, perpetuated over several generations, community education programs became

widespread in recent years, in various countries, and they aim to change people's attitudes and prejudices and, in

parallel, the crystallization of some currents favorable to support, combat and prevent violence betwee n family

members. “To implement these programs, various organizations have been contacted by new or different

categories of volunteers (recruited from among victims and even of some ex -aggressors), and actions of

coordination between state authorities and representatives of institutions or civil society were initiated.”

1A

particularly important role was that of education in schools or universities and the diffused one through the mass

media channels, also t he common effort to reduce domestic violence and the preventive operational measures to

combat this proble m of wide spread communitary interest. One of the most significant legal actions was to

provide law courts to decide bans regarding the abuse of a family relative against another family relative,

prohibiting harassment and th reats against the victim, order the abuser to pay damages for victim or its financial

support. “On the other hand, certain existing le gislation has been redefined, in order to achieve a more precise

determination of the responsibility of aggressors and victims' interests.”2

The degree of effectiveness of these laws has depended and depends, however, on t he way they are

applied and the attitude and mentality o f administering justice. In several countries, the police or the judges are

characterized, themselves, as the victims of discriminatory attitudes, as, for exa mple the case of Islamic

countries, where women do not receive fair treatment in the judiciary act.

Therefore, to effectively and efficiently implement laws that guarantee protection for victims in many

countries, various institutional in novations have been introduced in this field. It may be mentioned, in this

context, the case of some countries in South America (Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Costa Rica, Argentina),

where special police stations by women detective were set up whose main tasks consisted in reportin g cases of

abuse against women and victim assist Although it was proposed initially that the police stations should have a

wider responsibility in regard to counseling, le gal advice and helping the victim, this has not materialized, which

has been translated into limited effectiveness in terms of assistance, as such, the victims. On the other hand,

involvements of these special sections have not ge nerated a larger scale of penalties imposed on agressors,

because of the obstacles imposed by law. However, despite these limitations, this form of innovation has

discouraged many cases of a ggression, because of fears that the agressors will be reported to the department and

will enter, therefore, the attention of authorities.

Another innovation, more recent,largely widespread in Western countries, was a coordinated

intervention b y the com munity, convergence strategy to implement the actions initiated by the police, j udges,

*Ph.D. Lecturer, University of Piteşti, Department of Sciences and Methods, mariapescaru@yahoo.com

1 Popescu C. Agresivitatea şi condiia uman, Tehnical Publishing House, Bucharest, 2001, p. 102.

2 Sânziana, Simona, Violena în familie- prezentat în presa din România, Lumen Publishing House, Bucharest, 2006. p. 98.