Support for women leaving violent partners 297
Support for women leaving violent partners
Because women have organized to be safe from abuse, in many places laws and
courts have been established to protect us against violence. In other places, the
people who are supposed to enforce the laws, especially the police, lawyers, and
judges, cannot be trusted to help a woman. But in all communities, women are best
protected when they work together. Here is an example:
If your partner has been beating you…
…and you decide you want to leave him…
…talk about it with someone you trust
(a neighbor, a friend, or a relative).
Then try to get together with other women in
the community to talk about your problems.
You will probably find that some of them have
the same problems.
Then you can all go together and talk to the
man. If he does not say he will change his
ways, go together to a village elder...
...or to the police and report him. They
will be more likely to take your complaint
seriously if you are with a group.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007