Alarm as home violence reports surge

(The Standard  9 Dec 2013) The Council of Social Service has underscored (強調) a worrying trend (趨勢) in domestic violence, which spiked over 40 percent to more than 2,800 cases in the first nine months of the year.

Business director Cliff Choi Kim-wah believes the figures represent only the tip of a wider (眾多的)social problem.

"The situation is worrying. Although the rise may be down to more people choosing to report violence, most prefer to stay silent or they lack the awareness to go to the police," Choi said.

About 85 percent are women, who were abused by their husbands or partners.

"Of these 2,800 cases, they are mainly from low-income districts including Yuen Long, Kwai Tsing, and Wong Tai Sin. Cases of violence may be related to the low social and economic status," he said.

Women from these districts may be low skilled or jobless.

"They were reluctant (不甘心情願做) to report cases of violence because they were afraid of losing the only breadwinner (掙錢養家的人)," Choi said.

Many of the cases involved couples aged 30 to 40.

"This may be due to the change in lifestyle after getting married, and spouses have different expectations of each other."

Angela Ho Man-kay, a former president of the Hong Kong Federation of Women Lawyers (香港女律師協會), urged law enforcement officials to adopt (採取) a friendlier (友善的) policy toward victims so that more will be willing to speak up.

"More female police should be trained to help record statements of victims of domestic violence. If there are inadequate (不足的) resources to train them, there should be designated (指派) police stations with this service helping victims," Ho said.

Teoh Lin Wai-hing, a former president of women's group the Zonta Club (崇德社) in Kowloon, said education should be reinforced (被加強) at schools.

The club will cooperate with the Tung Wah Group, Home Care for Girls and others in order to help more women.

"Some cases of domestic violence will be examined in a film for schools to be used as teaching material. Talks will be held in schools as well," she added.

Choi agreed that gender education should be enhanced (被提高).

"Many people regard taking care of children as women's duty but it's absolutely (當然) not," he said.

Many people in society, such as the police, media workers and teachers, should also bear in mind (記住) the importance of avoiding gender stereotypes(性別刻板上的區分)."

 HILARY WONG