DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN WOMEN: Tested Interventions
AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY WORKING GROUP FOR WOMEN (WGW)

Working Group for Women (WGW) organised an awareness session titled “Domestic Violence in Women: Tested Interventions” on May 30, 2007. Dr Anita Allana, Coordinator WGW welcomed the guests and Mr Mir Asghar Ali Khan Co Chair Programme and Publicity Committee WGW introduced the guest speaker, Dr Judith McFarlane.

Dr McFarlane is Parry Chair Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Texas Woman's University. She is an expert in handling domestic violence cases and dealt sensitively with this topic.

Case studies disclosed fear and terror of women threatened by domestic violence. Tested interventions on women victims were presented. She shared that intimate partner violence was all about power and control and about control cycle under the guise of care. She showed the progression of social abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse and the progression of threats and intimation.

Furthermore reasons and results of abuse were clarified. Dr Judith explained how children of abused women were affected. She emphasised helpful interventions and explained safety behaviours which could be adopted by the victim.

She encouraged and motivated the audience to identify signs of domestic violence around them and showed how to help victims to emerge from life threatening situations.

Dr Raza Hussain, Steering Committee Member, presented the WGW memento to the guest speaker.

WGW has gone a step further in ensuring the well being of women.