The Journey to Safe & The Journey to Safe & Effective Effective

InterventionsInterventions

Developed by the Centre for Research Developed by the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against and Education on Violence Against

Women and Children Women and Children

Starting the Journey…Starting the Journey…• Context for InterventionsContext for Interventions• The Challenge of IsolationThe Challenge of Isolation• The StrategyThe Strategy• The Takeaway - 3 things to The Takeaway - 3 things to dodo• Orientation for Orientation for InterventionsInterventions

YOU

What do you need to be prepared to

respond?

YOU

The Rule of The Rule of IsolationIsolationIsolation is a ruling Isolation is a ruling

factor that allows factor that allows woman abuse to woman abuse to

happenhappen

……It could even be It could even be considered a considered a

necessary conditionnecessary condition

The Rule of The Rule of IsolationIsolation

Abusers will Abusers will discourage or forbid discourage or forbid their partners from their partners from having relationships having relationships

with other peoplewith other people

The Rule of The Rule of IsolationIsolation

Children in abusive Children in abusive households don’t households don’t

bring their friends bring their friends homehome

The Rule of The Rule of IsolationIsolationThe family isn’t The family isn’t

invited to social invited to social gatherings because gatherings because

people are people are uncomfortable with uncomfortable with

the abuser’s the abuser’s unpredictable unpredictable

behaviourbehaviour

The Rule of The Rule of IsolationIsolation

Bystanders remain Bystanders remain alone with their alone with their

suspicions, silent and suspicions, silent and unable to overcome unable to overcome their hesitation to their hesitation to

act…act…

IsolationIsolation

Isolation is a condition that Isolation is a condition that allows woman abuse to allows woman abuse to happen…happen…

It is also a result of woman It is also a result of woman abuse that becomes deeper abuse that becomes deeper and more profound as the and more profound as the abuse escalatesabuse escalates

A Simple StrategyA Simple Strategy

Reduce or Eliminate Reduce or Eliminate IsolationIsolation

We share cultural beliefs We share cultural beliefs and norms that support and norms that support

isolation:isolation:• Mind your own businessMind your own business• What goes on in a home is What goes on in a home is

privateprivate• Avoid questions that are too Avoid questions that are too

personalpersonal• Avoid conflict at all costsAvoid conflict at all costs• Solve your own problemsSolve your own problems

Behaviours Designed to Behaviours Designed to Interrupt IsolationInterrupt Isolation

• Pay attention to signs of Pay attention to signs of abuseabuse• Don’t sit alone with Don’t sit alone with

suspicions and questionssuspicions and questions• Seek help and take Seek help and take

appropriate actionappropriate action

The The TakeawayTakeaway

See it…See it…Name it…Name it…

Check it…Check it…

The Takeaway - The Takeaway - See See itit

• Learn the warning signsLearn the warning signs• Pay attention to the people Pay attention to the people around youaround you• Treat your suspicions and Treat your suspicions and questions seriouslyquestions seriously

The Takeaway - The Takeaway - Name Name itit• Name the behaviour or action Name the behaviour or action

you see:you see:• to yourselfto yourself• to anotherto another

• Say it out loud Say it out loud • Ask questionsAsk questions

The Takeaway – The Takeaway – Check Check itit• Assess the danger Assess the danger

• Check your assumptionsCheck your assumptions• Use the materialsUse the materials

• Ask an expert about what action to Ask an expert about what action to taketake• Do safety planning Do safety planning

Navigating the Navigating the territory of territory of

interventionintervention

Start with HeartStart with Heart

You can’t go You can’t go wrong if you wrong if you intervene from a intervene from a place of genuine place of genuine concern and concern and care…care…

SafetySafety

Respect

Respect

How to How to Handle Handle

your your interventiointerventio

ns with ns with carecare

The Journey to Intervention

Name it!

Pay attention, learn the warning signs

Break the rule of isolation! Tell someone

Use the experts to figure out what to do

next…

See it!

Check it!