Alarm would be an understandable reaction to reports of a dramatic rise in the number of domestic abuse incidents. As The National reported yesterday, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children dealt with 229 cases in the first half of this year, a 48 per cent rise compared to the same period last year.
However these figures, while concerning, need to be considered in context. UAE society traditionally places a high value on privacy and on the autonomy of the family unit, with attitudes towards policing reflecting that. This generally stood the community in good stead but in some situations it allowed abusive behaviour to continue behind closed doors.
Foundation director general, Afra Al Basti, attributes the rising number of cases being reported to changing attitudes in society, where those who suffer emotional, physical or even financial abuse at the hands of those with whom they live or to whom they are related are no longer prepared to suffer in silence so they seek help. This ought to be encouraged.
But even if the rise in the number of reports – two-thirds of which involved expatriate families – is not as alarming as it initially seems, any level of domestic violence is a cause for concern. Seven of the cases this year required a safe haven to be found for the victim, with some involving sexual violence. No society in the world has managed to eliminate domestic abuse and the topic can be a fraught one, with victims often seeking to continue living with the perpetrator and no criminal charges laid.
The foundation's holistic approach to the problem is correct. Once they ensure that the victim feels safe, a case manager is appointed to oversee the process of repairing the dysfunctional aspects of the relationship. This can include psychotherapy and other treatment options over six months or more, while also respecting their victims' privacy.
The authorities also have a part to play in this. Those who report abuse deserve to be taken seriously and not to feel victimised a second time by the investigation process. Everyone has a part to play in ensuring as few people as possible fall victim to the scourge of domestic abuse.
