Abusive Relationships
- Any form of abuse used to gain control over another person is domestic violence
- Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, psychological or financial.
- Immigration policies include special provision for DV victims
- 24/7 Hotlines serve as a good first point of contact
- There are a number of national and state organizations that can help victims
If your relationship is developing a pattern of some sort of abuse, you may be a victim of domestic violence (DV). If one intimate partner is using coercion, threats, physical violence, intimidation, isolation, emotional or any other type of abuse to control the other partner, it is classified as domestic violence.
While many people like to believe "it could never happen to me", in fact domestic abuse can happen to anyone in any part of the world. People of any nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender or economic status can become domestic violence victims. Domestic abuse has been known to occur in same sex relationships as well as opposite sex relationships.
According to data from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence General Information Packet (2007), almost 95% of DV victims are women. Of the women in intimate relationships, more than half are likely to experience physical violence at some point in their relationship and for about 24-30% of these women, this violence and battering is likely to be ongoing.
Most abusers are men and while big, loud aggressive men seem like the stereotypical abusers, even small, quiet, unassuming men can be abusive.
If you have children and are living in a poisonous abusive environment, this could affect their well being as well. They are not only traumatized by the abuse, but they are at risk of becoming victims of the abuser as well. Long term exposure to an abusive relationship can lead to severe psychological and social problems for the child. Some studies also say that boys who grow up in an abusive environment are likely to become abusers as well but this is not true in all cases.
Abuse isn’t always limited to being physical alone and any sort of abuse in a relationship is an instant deal breaker. Domestic violence can include physical, emotional, sexual, economic and psychological abuse.
In the unfortunate event that you or your family becomes victims of domestic violence, you should seriously consider getting help. If you are married and living overseas, it is possible to separate from your abusive spouse and keep your visa and legal immigrant status. The United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada all have domestic violence provisions in their immigration policy to protect immigrants who are subjected to domestic abuse.
There is no need to stay in an abusive relationship to keep your visa or permanent resident status, the law is on your side. You can leave your abusive spouse and keep your legal status or continue with applications for permanent residency.
If you or your family are victims of domestic violence seek help immediately. You need to do more than just sort out your immigration status. Get in touch with the police, a lawyer, a counselor or even women’s support groups.
- Australia – 1800-200-526 – Confidential national helpline. Several state specific helplines are also listed.
- Canada – 1-800-363-9010 – National Domestic Violence Hotline
- UK – 0808 2000 247 – 24 hour Domestic Violence Helpline
– 0300 999 5428 – Broken Rainbow Helpline for LGBT victims
– 0844 8044 999 – National Centre for Domestic Violence
– 0800 917 1414 – Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation
– 08 08 80 10 800 – Welsh Women’s Aid
– 0800 027 1234 – Scottish Women’s Aid
- USA – 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) – National Domestic Violence Hotline
– 1-800-656-HOPE – National Sexual Assault Hotline
– (888)-883-2323 – The National Jewish Domestic Violence Hotline
– (800) TRY-NOVA – The National Organization for Victim Assistance
– (732) 435-1414 – Manavi Helpline
– (800)-621-HOPE – Safe Horizons Domestic Violence Hotline
– 1-866-USWOMEN - Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center International Toll Free Crisis Line
- Other Countries
- Asia – 092-513-7333 – Asian Women’s Centre
- Indonesia – (+6221) 837.90010 (Jakarta) - MITRA PEREMPUAN Women's Crisis Centre
- Ireland – 1850 211 407 – Crime Victims Helpline
- Spain – 91 574 01 10 – El Centro de Asistencia a Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales
Following is a list of organizations and resource centers that can provide you with valuable information and help you if you are a victim of domestic violence.
- Australia
- ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council
- Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse
- Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT
- Domestic Violence Resource Center
- Family Violence Services Tasmania
- Freedom From Fear, WA Government Campaign Against Domestic Violence
- Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service
- Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association
- Immigrant Women’s Support Service
- Northern Territory Police Domestic Violence Counselling Services
- NSW Women’s Refuge Resource Center
- Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research
- Reach Out Australia
- Safety Programs run by the Australian Government
- Same Sex Domestic Abuse Group
- The Domestic Violence & Incest Resource Center
- The Domestic Violence Resource Center, Victoria
- Canada
- DV Legislation in Canada
- National Clearinghouse on Family Violence
- Safe Canada
- Shelter Net For Abused Women
- Violence Prevention Fund at The Canadian Women’s Foundation
- International
- UK
- Greater London Domestic Violence Project
- Hidden Hurt
- Refuge UK
- National Centre For Domestic Violence
- Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation
- Scottish Women’s Aid
- UK Home Office Domestic Violence Information
- Welsh Women’s Aid
- Women’s Aid
- USA
- Advocate Web
- American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence
- American Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center
- Amnesty International USA
- Asian and Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
- Battered Mothers Resource Fund
- Battered Women's Justice Project
- Bureau of Justice Statistics Clearinghouse
- Domestic Violence Program at the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Faith Trust Institute
- Family Violence Prevention Fund
- Give Back A Smile, free cosmetic dentistry for DV victims by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community
- LAMBDA LGBT Community Services
- Manavi – Women’s Right Organization for South Asian Women
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- National Coalition of Anti Violence Programs
- National Center for Victims of Crime
- National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence
- National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence - Listings by State
- National Latino Alliance For The Elimination of Domestic Violence
- National Network to End Domestic Violence
- National Network To End Violence Against Immigrant Women
- National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women
- National Organization for Victim Assistance
- National Resource Center On Domestic Violence
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
- Safe Horizon Victim Services
- The Black Church on Domestic Violence Institute
- United States Department of Justice Office On Violence Against Women
- Other Countries
- Asia – Asian Women’s Centre
- Europe – Women Against Violence Europe
- China – Anti-Domestic Violence Network of China Law Society
- Finland - Tukinainen Rape Crisis Centre
- India – International Foundation For Crime Prevention and Victim Care
– Swayam- Indonesia – Mitra Perempuan Women’s Crisis Centre
- Japan – Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center
- Malaysia – Women’s Aid Organisation
- Singapore – Society Against Family Violence
- Spain - El Centro de Asistencia a Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales
- Sweden - National Organization of Battered Women's Shelters
- Switzerland - Nottelefon Zurich