Specialised professionals with differing aims, perspectives and experiences, sharing knowledge on such a pervasive and disturbing issue as domestic violence (DV), is an important step in being able to better fight it. This particular type of violence, taking place behind closed doors and amongst intimate partners, understandably requires a different approach and affects society in more ways than meet the eye.
This was the reasoning of Chief Prosecutor (CP) Mirjam Mol in initiating a conference on the subject last week Wednesday, which saw participants delving into the difficult issue through open discussion, an interactive case study, and presentations by speakers with valuable insight through experience – both professional and personal.
The event brought together members of the Prosecutor’s Office and key representatives of the Police Force and Safe Haven Foundation.
Presenting in their professional capacities were Police Officer for over 27 years, Dientje John-Muller, who heads the Youth & Morals department which investigates sexually-related crimes as well as crimes involving the under-aged; Cassandra Richardson who served as Safe Haven Executive Director for the past three years and has now become an independent anti-violence advocate; and Mental Health Care Psychologist Miranda Veltman, who has extensive experience working with members of the Justice system as well as families experiencing domestic violence.
Offering insightful perspectives, two invited guests bravely shared their stories. Both currently work with victims in different capacities, but also have personal experiences with DV that shape their understanding of the psychological aspect of abuse.
One is a former victim, who was trapped in a terribly abusive marriage. She was, frankly, failed by the justice system. A second person was himself abusive. Now a reformed man, he has become an anti-violence advocate, and is able to speak to male abusers from that perspective.
The conference was held behind closed doors, to encourage open dialogue between parties. “We have to start with more awareness within our own organisations,” CP Mol told The WEEKender in an interview shortly after the conference, adding that public outreach is also an aim for the future.
She looks back with positivity: “We do realise that it’s one step; and that there are many more to be taken, but there have been positive developments,” adding that there is much to be said in communicating and listening to others’ perspectives.
Police representatives, for example, became aware of instances where officers had not handled a situation appropriately, and seemed adamant to prevent the same from happening again, for example through specialised training. It has already been established that new recruits will automatically receive such training to prepare them for dealing with DV in particular. There are already some specialised officers.
Hidden but Impactful
Mol came to St. Maarten in January 2019 to take up the position as Chief Prosecutor. As a newcomer, she noticed that many cases she was seeing involved a variety of situations that had escalated into violence, unnecessarily. Why?
Considering different types of violence that the justice system faces regularly, such as gun- or youth-violence, she considered that DV is a hidden type that may well be an underlying factor – bleeding into other areas and begetting other types of violence. How much of these escalations happen because of problems in the home? Trauma and frustration, connected to Hurricane Irma for example, was also considered.
“DV is harder to see; it happens behind closed doors, but has a huge impact on society.” To counteract violence in general, violence in the home should be considered. How are children learning to solve issues at home, and what does that translate to when they become teens, and adults?
“All over the world, it’s difficult to deal with, and to even get enough attention from law enforcement for DV; it happens behind closed doors, there’s an ‘invasion of privacy’ issue. St. Maarten is no different.”
Yet, she points out, it affects other aspects of society, and not only in a psychological sense but even in the physical sense, besides the obvious physical trauma. “I became more passionate about tackling DV when I started learning more.”
“One of the more unexpected things I’ve learned comes from a doctor that I saw give a lecture online, who explained that all sorts of health concerns that you normally wouldn’t even associate with stress or trauma, are more prevalent amongst abuse victims.
In part two, we’ll discuss some of the progress and pitfalls of tackling DV, what victims or their advocates can do if they feel their case is not being taken seriously by law enforcement, and Mol’s support for the establishment of a Victim Support agency.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Safe Haven at +1 721 523-6400, or send a message via Facebook (Safe Haven Foundation SXM). Safe Haven is a confidential, non-profit organisation that offers free shelter, counselling and supportive services to women and their minor aged children who are the victims of domestic violence.
