Psychologist, Dr. Simone Mathieu, has revealed that it is in the nature of violent men to abuse women. She said this cyclical abuse has nothing to do with the faults of the women, but the intemperance of men who are prone to violence. She added that when a woman is in a romantic or marital relationship with a violent man, the beast in the man will rear its ugly head at the slightest provocation.
Mathieu assured women suffering domestic abuse that it is not their faults that they married violent partners or are suffering domestic abuse. She acknowledged that women may have tried their bests to please or placate their partners in many respects, but a naturally intemperate man would always be subject to extreme behaviours.
There is nothing you could say or do. If you go as far as deciding you know what, I feel like walking outside toutounee (naked), as toutounee as my mother made me, if a man is not an abuser, he is not going to abuse you. I just want to make it absolutely, crystal clear to anyone out there who is listening, that first it is not your fault and second of all, you cannot fix the person.
Dr. Simone Mathieu
Meanwhile, Dr. Triphi Margaret Wallace, a clinical psychologist, stated that violent men with a history of domestic violence are often victims of anxiety and depression. She cautioned women to look out for signs of anxiety and depression in their spouses since these can make them susceptible to terrible tempers and violence. She also warned women to learn to stay out of the way of partners with a history of abuse, since anything can trigger them to domestic violence.
In his own submission, Justice Dr. Irving Andre stated that the church has a huge role to play in sensitizing the public on the dangers and repercussions of domestic abuse. He tasked religious leaders to increase awareness for relationship abuses, and for communities to rally around victims of domestic violence. He said there should also be community resources established to assist victims of abuse in terms of emotional, financial, and physical supports.
In the same vein, PM Roosevelt Skerrit said legislation and enforcement will have to be escalated to prevent domestic abuse and protect victims. He advised people to go to agencies of government set up to intervene in cases of abuse for appropriate intervention and protection.
We will seek to engage a number of stakeholders across the communities before unveiling additional avenues and safety measures for those who are most vulnerable. We all have to condemn all acts of violence, especially domestic violence; and for us as a society, this is going to have to be a societal response. We cannot only look to the police and the government to solve this; all of us must play our part.
Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica
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