Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 22, 2006 18:13:20 GMT -5
Nunavut wants to lift silence on long-taboo subject - violence against women at 17:09 on January 19, 2006, EST.
IQALUIT, Nunavut (CP) - Social workers and government officials across Nunavut say they're lifting the silence on a long-taboo subject - the violence women face inside their own homes.
A symposium on spousal abuse has drawn more than 100 participants from across the territory to meet for three days in Iqaluit this week. It's being billed as the first of its kind on the issue.
The territory's commanding officer for the RCMP, Supt. John Henderson, said he couldn't imagine the conference happening two years ago.
"There was a tremendous amount of denial. We weren't acknowledging it was taking place," he said. "And on the women's side of the shop, there wasn't acknowledgment that men need help as well."
The territorial government plans to use recommendations from the meeting to draft new policy to curb spousal abuse.
"We're breaking the silence and saying publicly there must be an end to violence against women," Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik said at the symposium's opening.
"Every day that the reality of violence against women goes by unchallenged is a day gone by too long."
During a public forum, Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik said she learned while growing up to recognize abused women by their bruises, but few talked about what was going on.
Today, she sees more openness, but cautions that's not enough. Victims need to seek counselling or they'll risk becoming abusers themselves.
"They're either going to continue to be victims, or they're going to take it out on their children."
Nunavut's courts are overwhelmed with spousal abuse cases. A man charged with assault often will return home within a few days and won't be tried until up to a year later.
Participants at the conference heard that Nunavut's Justice Department is developing legislation that would help remove an alleged offender from the home.
"That's a major step," Henderson said.
Another common complaint is that the territory needs more women's shelters and transition homes. A major housing shortage across Nunavut means many women living in smaller communities have nowhere to turn.
Treatment and counselling must be seen as the first step, according to conference goers, with criminal charges as a last resort.
Henderson said in many cases, violent men are crying for help, too.
"There are men I've arrested who've said, 'Thank you for this.' "
He suggests police could work with social workers, clergy and other community members to confront abusers inside their homes to try to help them.
Spousal violence is often described as a behaviour learned by children watching their parents or, in some cases, as part of a legacy from abuse suffered by Inuit from missionaries who taught in residential schools.
But men at the public forum said even if those reasons are behind the problem, individuals must take responsibility for their actions.
"We can't just blame the teachers, the educators. We have to blame ourselves as well," said Jimmy Makpah from Arviat.
IQALUIT, Nunavut (CP) - Social workers and government officials across Nunavut say they're lifting the silence on a long-taboo subject - the violence women face inside their own homes.
A symposium on spousal abuse has drawn more than 100 participants from across the territory to meet for three days in Iqaluit this week. It's being billed as the first of its kind on the issue.
The territory's commanding officer for the RCMP, Supt. John Henderson, said he couldn't imagine the conference happening two years ago.
"There was a tremendous amount of denial. We weren't acknowledging it was taking place," he said. "And on the women's side of the shop, there wasn't acknowledgment that men need help as well."
The territorial government plans to use recommendations from the meeting to draft new policy to curb spousal abuse.
"We're breaking the silence and saying publicly there must be an end to violence against women," Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik said at the symposium's opening.
"Every day that the reality of violence against women goes by unchallenged is a day gone by too long."
During a public forum, Iqaluit Mayor Elisapee Sheutiapik said she learned while growing up to recognize abused women by their bruises, but few talked about what was going on.
Today, she sees more openness, but cautions that's not enough. Victims need to seek counselling or they'll risk becoming abusers themselves.
"They're either going to continue to be victims, or they're going to take it out on their children."
Nunavut's courts are overwhelmed with spousal abuse cases. A man charged with assault often will return home within a few days and won't be tried until up to a year later.
Participants at the conference heard that Nunavut's Justice Department is developing legislation that would help remove an alleged offender from the home.
"That's a major step," Henderson said.
Another common complaint is that the territory needs more women's shelters and transition homes. A major housing shortage across Nunavut means many women living in smaller communities have nowhere to turn.
Treatment and counselling must be seen as the first step, according to conference goers, with criminal charges as a last resort.
Henderson said in many cases, violent men are crying for help, too.
"There are men I've arrested who've said, 'Thank you for this.' "
He suggests police could work with social workers, clergy and other community members to confront abusers inside their homes to try to help them.
Spousal violence is often described as a behaviour learned by children watching their parents or, in some cases, as part of a legacy from abuse suffered by Inuit from missionaries who taught in residential schools.
But men at the public forum said even if those reasons are behind the problem, individuals must take responsibility for their actions.
"We can't just blame the teachers, the educators. We have to blame ourselves as well," said Jimmy Makpah from Arviat.