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November 2012

Action Against Domestic Violence – the Hong Kong Experience Sophie Leung The 1st Chairman of the Women’s Commission, HKSAR. November 2012. Tin Shui Wai & a few incidents….

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November 2012

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  1. Action Against Domestic Violence– the Hong Kong ExperienceSophie LeungThe 1st Chairman of the Women’s Commission, HKSAR November 2012

  2. Tin Shui Wai & a few incidents… The Tin Shui Wai (TSW) tragedy in April 2004 aroused a great deal of public attention to the issues of availability and effectiveness of resources to protect families at risk. This incident involved a triple murder in a family living in the new town of Tin Shui Wai, wherein the father killed his wife and twin daughters before fatally injuring himself. The mother had contacted social workers previously and the Police the same day but this did not avert the tragedy from taking place, prompting questions as to why the system had failed. After the Tin Shui Wai tragedy, the community called for the Government to take stronger actions to address domestic violence.

  3. A Study on Women’s safety http://www.women.gov.hk/download/empowerment/women_safety_report.pdf

  4. Content of the Report • Chp 1: Domestic Violence: a multidimensional issue requiring coordinated community response • Chp 2: Background • Chp 3: Definitions and approaches • Chp 4: Current situation I: Stakeholders • Chp 5: Current situation II: Reviews, studies, reports • Chp 6: Current situation III: Concerns of stakeholders • Chp 7: WoC mobilizes a coordinated strategy • Chp 8: Strategic partnering • Chp 9: WoC commitments: monitoring, evaluating and facilitating change 4

  5. Taking action: WoC mobilizes a coordinated strategy 21 recommendations covering law reform; services; publicity; professional knowledge-sharing, documentation and research; hospitals, health and medical sectors; gender mainstreaming and gender-related training; early identification and intervention; and community networking. 5

  6. Coordinated Strategic Partners 6

  7. Strategic Partnering & Actions • 8.1 WoC call for coordinated collaboration • 8.2 Combined strategic approach • 8.4 Law Reform Reviewing the Domestic Violence Ordinance to provide more effective protection to victims of domestic violence and their children, by extending the scope of “protected persons” to cover former spouses • or cohabitees, exploring extension of scope of protected persons, • extending power of arrest to cover violence in a form other than actual • bodily harm, stalking and any actions which amount to harassment of • another, enhancing the role of court in referrals to early BIPs 7

  8. Batterers Intervention Programs (BIPs) • Prevention and early intervention is the most effective way of protecting a woman’s safety. There is a need to interface law enforcement and judicial systems with an early intervention program. 8

  9. Recommendations on BIPs • WoC recommendation #1.5: the courts to refer BIPs • WoC recommends that the courts increase referrals to BIPs • WoC recommendation #1.6: enhancing promotion of BIPs • WoC recommends that the Social Welfare Department enhance promotion of BIPs to targeted audiences and conduct evaluation of its effectiveness with a view to developing a long-term, sustainable program. 9

  10. Changes Since 2006 • Following discussions with WoC, Government proposedamendments to the Domestic Violence Ordinance (DVO), SWDrelaunched publicity efforts and Police implemented improvement measures in combating domestic violence, Legal Aids Department provided application procedure for victims of domestic violence, and training was provided for health care professionals.  • In March 2008, the Commission held four sharing sessions with women's groups, NGOs and service agencies on efforts made by the local communities in combating domestic violence. A supplement to the Report was published in August 2009 to take stock of developments and aspects that require continuous efforts. • DVO was amended in 2009 to improve the existing legislation, such as extending the scope of "protected person" to cover former spouses or cohabitees and also members of immediate and extended families, and extending the conditions for attaching an authorisation of arrest to a non-molestation order by the court.  • A pilot project on Batterer Intervention Programme was introduced by the SWD between January 2006 and March 2008.  • Furthermore, the services and support for victims of domestic violence have also been strengthened. 10

  11. Zontians have the HEART and Commitment to change the World!

  12. THANK YOU

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