Domestic violence soars after disasters. Preventing it needs to be part of the emergency response
By Jennifer Boddy and Celeste Harris
soars in the months and years following natural disasters. It usually involves perpetrated by men against women and children, but it can also include an escalation in sexual, financial and emotional abuse.
Following the 2009 Victorian Black Saturday bushfires, more than half of women in reported experiencing domestic and family violence. Many had never experienced it before.
found significant differences in reports of violence amongst women in high, medium and low bushfire affected regions in Victoria three years after the Black Saturday bushfires. There was an overrepresentation of women experiencing violence in high bushfire affected areas.
And according to Australian frontline workers, while reports of violence might decrease during a disaster, it soon .
Australia is not alone. Overseas literature suggests demand for after disasters, , and violence , with women experiencing .
Disasters and violence
Disasters are becoming more , with an affected globally each year.
Natural disasters on their own are not the root cause of family violence. Many men feel characteristics commonly associated with masculinity. For many, their when disaster makes this an impossible standard to meet.
The frequency and severity of violence against women is exacerbated by tensions arising from natural disasters, including:
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.
Image: The frequency and severity of violence against women is exacerbated by tensions arising from natural disasters, including increased alcohol and drug use. Shutterstock
Disasters hit vulnerable groups hardest, entrenching disadvantage
Disasters can have disproportionate effects across socioeconomic groups. We have known for some time disasters of similar nature and magnitude have dramatically for people in different places.
Families where income has are at higher risk of women experiencing violence.
The found both financial stress and unemployment were associated with women experiencing domestic and family violence.
Worse, shows disasters are more likely to occur in low socioeconomic areas.
In Australia, about have experienced an incident of violence from an intimate partner.
Violence prevention should be part of our emergency response
As disasters are expected to increase, Australia should further consider how to incorporate domestic violence mitigation into our emergency responses.
First responders need training in how to identify risks of violence and respond appropriately.
In the face of displacement and trauma, it’s important volunteers and workers do not excuse violence. Instead, they should provide care that promotes victims’ safety, and respects their privacy and dignity. Access and referral to appropriate health and community services should be assured.
We need permanent shelters that stay cool during heatwaves and offer protection from flooding. Public buildings need to be well set up for women and children experiencing disasters and, during COVID-19, allow for families to maintain a safe physical distance.
Local community-based domestic and family violence services must ensure their organisations are disaster-ready and can operate when disaster strikes.
Longer term investment to boost community resilience
Australian governments must invest in domestic violence hotlines, refuges and women’s centres — especially in low socioeconomic, disaster-prone areas.
Programs supporting perpetrators of violence to change their behaviours also need investment.
Australia currently relies on involving therapeutic groupwork as part of what’s called an “” (where government, non-government services and other community organisations coordinate).
But we also need new ways of working directly with men, informed by the experiences of women. Such approaches should seek to intervene early and involve women and children in their design.
As a society we must seek to address the underlying causes of domestic and family violence, and move beyond outdated ideas about masculinity that hold men to an impossible standard and put women at risk.
Many people don’t actually know what domestic violence looks like. We need community education about coercive and controlling behaviours and about the fact that the risk of family violence spikes after disasters.
Such training should be used to challenge social and cultural norms that condone violence, while also letting people know how to report violence, find services, and get to safety.
We all have a role to play in addressing domestic and family violence. Our efforts grow only more important as we face more frequent and severe disasters in Australia.
