Action Against Domestic Violence

– the Hong Kong Experience

Sophie LeungThe 1st Chairman of the Women’s Commission, HKSAR

November 2012

Tin Shui Wai & a few incidents…

The Tin Shui Wai (TSW) tragedy in April 2004 aroused a great deal of public attention to the issues of availability and effectiveness of resources to protect families at risk. This incident involved a triple murder in a family living in the new town of Tin Shui Wai, wherein the father killed his wife and twin daughters before fatally injuring himself. The mother had contacted social workers previously and the Police the same day but this did not avert the tragedy from taking place, prompting questions as to why the system had failed. After the Tin Shui Wai tragedy, the community called for the Government to take stronger actions to address domestic violence.

A Study on Women’s safety

http://www.women.gov.hk/download/empowerment/women_safety_report.pdf

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Content of the Report

Chp 1: Domestic Violence: a multidimensional issue requiring coordinated community response

Chp 2: Background

Chp 3: Definitions and approaches

Chp 4: Current situation I: Stakeholders

Chp 5: Current situation II: Reviews, studies, reports

Chp 6: Current situation III: Concerns of stakeholders

Chp 7: WoC mobilizes a coordinated strategy

Chp 8: Strategic partnering

Chp 9: WoC commitments: monitoring, evaluating and facilitating change

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Taking action: WoC mobilizes a coordinated strategy

21 recommendations covering law reform; services; publicity; professional knowledge-sharing, documentation and research;

hospitals, health and medical sectors; gender mainstreaming and gender-related training; early identification and intervention; and

community networking.

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Coordinated Strategic Partners

Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against WomenAssociation of District AmbassadorBaptist Oi Kwan Social ServiceCaritas Community Centre – KowloonCaritas Family Crisis Support CentreCheung Chau Island Women’s Association LtdChinese University of Hong Kong(Department of Social Work)Chinese YMCA of Hong KongChristian Family Service CentreCity One Shatin Ladies’ AssociationDepartment of JusticeEducation and Manpower BureauFamily Service of Caritas – Hong KongHarmony HouseHealth, Welfare and Food BureauHome Affairs DepartmentHong Kong Association for the Survivors ofWomen Abuse (Kwan Fook)Hong Kong Baptist University(Department of Social Work)Hong Kong Children and Youth ServicesHong Kong Woman’s Coalition on Equal OpportunitiesHong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions,Women Affairs CommitteeHong Kong Council of Social ServiceHong Kong Family Welfare SocietyHong Kong Federation of WomenHong Kong Federation of Women’s CentresHong Kong Police Force

Hong Kong Single Parents AssociationHong Kong Social Workers’ General UnionHong Kong Special Schools CouncilHong Kong Young Women’s Christian AssociationHospital AuthorityHousing DepartmentInternational Social Service Hong Kong BranchInternational Women’s LeagueKowloon Women’s Organisations FederationLadies Committee of the Chinese Manufacturers’Association of Hong KongLion Club of Harbour ViewOxfam Hong KongPo Leung KukSerene CourtSocial Welfare DepartmentSt. John’s Cathedral HIV Education CentreSunrise CourtThe Family Planning Association of Hong Kong –Tsueng Kwan O Women’s ClubThe Hong Kong Social Workers AssociationThe University of Hong Kong(Department of Social Work and Social Administration)The University of Hong Kong (Family Institute)Tsing Yi Lady’s ForumTuen Mun District Women’s Association LtdTuen Wan Kwai Tsing District Women’s AssociationTung Wah Group of HospitalsWomen Service AssociationYau Tsim Mong Women AssociationYin Shes Limited

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Strategic Partnering & Actions

8.1 WoC call for coordinated collaboration

8.2 Combined strategic approach

8.4 Law Reform Reviewing the Domestic Violence Ordinance to provide more effective

protection to victims of domestic violence and their children, by extending the scope of “protected persons” to cover former spouses

or cohabitees, exploring extension of scope of protected persons, extending power of arrest to cover violence in a form other than actual

bodily harm, stalking and any actions which amount to harassment of another, enhancing the role of court in referrals to early BIPs

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Batterers Intervention Programs (BIPs)

Prevention and early intervention is the most effective way of protecting a woman’s safety. There is a need to interface law enforcement and judicial systems with an early intervention program.

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Recommendations on BIPs

WoC recommendation #1.5: the courts to refer BIPs

WoC recommends that the courts increase referrals to BIPs

WoC recommendation #1.6: enhancing promotion of BIPs

WoC recommends that the Social Welfare Department enhance promotion of BIPs to targeted audiences and conduct evaluation of its effectiveness with a view to developing a long-term, sustainable program.

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Changes Since 2006

-Following discussions with WoC, Government proposed amendments to the Domestic Violence Ordinance (DVO), SWD relaunched publicity efforts and Police implemented improvement measures in combating domestic violence, , Legal Aids Department provided application procedure for victims of domestic violence, and training was provided for health care professionals.  -In March 2008, the Commission held four sharing sessions with women's groups, NGOs and service agencies on efforts made by the local communities in combating domestic violence. A supplement to the Report was published in August 2009 to take stock of developments and aspects that require continuous efforts.-DVO was amended in 2009 to improve the existing legislation, such as extending the scope of "protected person" to cover former spouses or cohabitees and also members of immediate and extended families, and extending the conditions for attaching an authorisation of arrest to a non-molestation order by the court.  -A pilot project on Batterer Intervention Programme was introduced by the SWD between January 2006 and March 2008.  -Furthermore, the services and support for victims of domestic violence have also been strengthened.

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