When you hear “domestic violence”, you likely imagine a man physically beating up his wife or partner. Yes, domestic violence can be physical, but it takes many forms and is not gender-specific. Women are also capable of domestic violence.
If you believe you’re in a domestic violence situation, visiting a domestic violence lawyer can be of great help. This article will discuss the different facets of domestic violence, so that you’re more aware of your rights.
All You Need To Know About the Family Violence Protection Act
The Victorian Government has listed three fundamental purposes for the Act. The goals of this Act are the following:
- To enhance the safety of minors and adults who have endured family violence;
- To stop and decrease family violence incidents; and
- To encourage the perpetrators to take responsibility for such violence and hold them accountable.
Law enforcement and the courts consider the above when dealing with domestic and family violence matters.
The Meaning of Family Violence
Section 5 of the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 states that family violence is acting in a way that is physically, emotionally, sexually, financially or mentally abusive towards a partner or any other family member. Being threatening, forceful, controlling, or domineering are all consistent with family violence.
Family violence has a broad meaning in Victoria. It encompasses damaging property on purpose or threatening to do so. It also involves killing or injuring an animal, irrespective of whether the family member owns this animal. It is family violence if you intend to control, dominate, or coerce such a person.
Other Forms of Abuse
There is comprehensive coverage concerning physical abuse, but there are also lesser-known types of abuse that are sometimes equally devastating.
Economic Abuse
Economic abuse involves the situation by which a person has attempted to control another family member’s economic or financial freedom without cause to do so. It is economic abuse if the abuser carries out these actions without the family member’s consent.
For instance, the breadwinner can stop paying for the basic living expenses of any or all dependents. Other examples of this abuse include a family member stopping another family member from finding a job or preventing them from entering a property they own.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse is acting in a way that tortures, terrorises, harasses or is offensive in any other way to another family member.
Examples of emotional or psychological abuse include the following:
- Continuous degrading insults;
- Threats to broadcast sensitive matters regarding someone’s sexual orientation;
- Not allowing the family member to be in contact with other family members or close connections.
Others may perceive your actions as domestic violence even if it hasn’t escalated to physical violence. Many people fail to realise that there are different types of abuse.
Conclusion
Domestic or family violence is increasingly prevalent. If you are a victim of family abuse, you should approach a lawyer for help with a Family Violence Intervention Order.
Conversely, if your family member has charged you with domestic violence, your first call should be to a domestic violence lawyer. A lawyer can assist you with getting the optimal solution for your matter regardless of whether you are guilty, partially to blame or completely innocent.
