Associated Press Worldstream – German, November 22, 2006, Wednesday, 11:16 AM GMT
According to a report by the Canton of Bern, one in ten cases of domestic violence is perpetrated by women
In at least one out of ten cases of domestic violence, the victim is a man. This is shown in a report by the expert commission for gender equality issues of the Canton of Bern. The experts aim to raise public awareness of this taboo subject.
“We don’t want to turn a blind eye to unpleasant truths,” Commission President Dori Schaer told the media on Wednesday. That’s why the Commission decided to address this taboo subject, even though it was aware that it could easily be misunderstood. However, she emphasized that she absolutely did not want to downplay the violence perpetrated by men, which is far more serious than the reverse.
The report aims to dismantle existing stereotypes about victims and perpetrators. According to those responsible, various cantonal police statistics show that for every nine men, there is one woman who commits domestic violence. Furthermore, violence perpetrated by women is not concentrated in a specific demographic, but occurs across all social classes. The report also notes that mothers and fathers are roughly equally responsible for violence against children. Sexual violence remains a particular taboo subject. According to various estimates, the proportion of female perpetrators is between nine and ten percent.
With its report, "When Women Become Violent: Facts vs. Myths. Domestic Violence Is Not Limited to Men," the commission aims to raise public awareness. Furthermore, data gaps must be closed, improvements to counseling services must be examined, and relevant professionals should receive appropriate training.
Andreas Jost of the Bern-based specialist and counseling center "Stop Male Violence" expressed his relief that "such a report is finally available." He noted that in conversations with his clients, he repeatedly observes that violent women are not taken seriously from a male perspective. He added that some men laugh when they recount how their partner tried to murder them with a knife while they slept.
Consequently, men who have been victims of violence by women rarely come forward. According to experts, a change in societal attitudes is needed. Claudia Fopp, head of the Bern intervention project against domestic violence, fears a vicious cycle otherwise: "Denying victimhood also encourages perpetration."
Domestic violence is also the topic of a cantonal conference this coming Friday at the Natural History Museum in Bern. In addition, various cantons are planning events on the topic for Saturday as part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
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