Women’s Dept. launches handbook for men
The issue of domestic violence is a complex one, both for the perpetrator and victim. What is not hard to figure out, however, is that something needs to be done to stop it. Today the Women’s Department introduced a new weapon in the fight.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
The reality is that men do not feel comfortable talking about domestic abuse and it’s probably one of the reasons why a number of efforts to get them involved in tackling the problem have not been very successful. So this morning, the Women’s Department officially launched a Men’s Handbook on Domestic Violence that they hope will find grater acceptance and help in finding a solution to a serious problem.
Carol Fonseca, Executive Director, Women’s Department
“What we are hoping to achieve from this handbook is that men will be able to pick this up and get relevant information about how they themselves can deal with issues as it relates to themselves having internal conflicts when it comes to how to deal with issues of anger. We have a lot of men who come to our department who say they believe they are in relationships that often times instigate them to become explosive. And one of the things we are hoping for is that prevention will be key in terms of men who pick up this book.”
The handbook was developed by attorney and Challenges Worldwide Volunteer Raheel Khan who spent many hours interviewing men in the prison system and in the community at large.
Raheel Khan, Developer, Men’s Handbook on Domestic Violence
“I was inspired by a radio show that I did at Belize Central prison with various inmates there who were connected with domestic violence, whether as victims or perpetrators or just people who knew that domestic violence was occurring. These inmates gave me various insights into the issue.”
“I had to meet people who were considered to be upstanding men in Belizean society as well to see their views on domestic violence and thereby get a wide cross-section to integrate into a domestic violence handbook.”
“Many men that I spoke to believe that they have burdens that they carry through on a daily basis that women simply do not understand or appreciate and this leads to frustration. There is also cultural silence in Belize in that they cannot talk to people about problems that seriously affect them and these pressures together with stresses, which comes about by not being able to provide for their family builds up and people say it just explodes into domestic violence.”
Free copies of the Men’s Handbook on Domestic Violence, are available at the Women’s Department on Albert Street.
In 2006, the Women’s Department also developed a Women’s Handbook on Domestic Violence.
