WAO presents 18 recommendations to policymakers, police on domestic violence

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) has come up with 18 recommendations to policymakers and police on domestic violence (DV) against women.
Although over the years the number of women coming forward to report DV has increased, more need to be done to contain the situation.
Launching a report titled "Perspectives on Domestic Violence: A Coordinated Community Response to a Community Issue", today, it not only disclosed DV statistics but also highlights four critical gaps on the issue with 18 recommendations to policymakers and police.
The gaps include
> addressing barriers that women face in accessing justice,
> review current data collection procedures to better understand DV,
> strengthen current legislative reforms, and
> provide for all front-line state service providers and court officials to receive comprehensive training within a common learning platform.
The recommendations include
> a call to amend the current Domestic Violence Act,
> create a multi-stakeholder committee for on-going review of response to DV, and
> incorporate psychological first-aid and crisis counseling as part of a survivor-centred response.
At the launch, WAO president Carol Chin said a coordinated response is needed to handle DV as a survivor faces multiple form of abuse in the presence of their perpetrator.
"To handle these multiple and complex issues, we need a coordinated community response. Everyone needs to play their part, and work together in a coordinated way. We need a multi-stakeholder platform geared at identifying DV cases in the community and immediately intervene in a way that is sensitive to the survivor's needs," she said.
Together with the report, an art exhibit was also launched at Masjid Jamek LRT station called "Harapan Sentiasa Ada" ( There is always Hope ) which exhibits artwork by DV survivors with their quotes and illustrations of TINA, a WAO SMS/WhatsApp help service that stands for "Think I Need Aid) available 24 hours at 018 988 8058.