Breaking Barriers: Resources in Language Unveiling the Faces of Family and Domestic Violence
Resources In Language - Unveiling the Many Faces of FDV:
Ishar's dedication to supporting refugee and migrant women experiencing family and domestic violence goes beyond mere words. Recognising the language barriers faced by their clients, Ishar has taken a bold step by developing comprehensive resources in Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, and English. These multilingual materials, including an information booklet and safety plan, are powerful tools for raising awareness and understanding the various facets of family and domestic violence. By shining a light on the different forms it can take, Ishar's resources empower survivors to recognise and address the manifestations of violence in their lives.
Family and domestic violence is a complex issue that encompasses a range of abusive behaviours, affecting individuals physically, socially, sexually, technologically, verbally, culturally/spiritually, and financially. The resources illustrate these different facets, enabling survivors to identify and seek support for the violence they may be experiencing.
Physical Violence: Physical violence involves acts of physical harm, such as hitting, punching, slapping, or restraining. Ishar's resources use clear and concise language to help survivors recognise the signs of physical abuse and understand that no one deserves to be physically harmed by a family member or intimate partner.
Social Violence: Social violence manifests as isolating survivors from their support networks, controlling their social interactions, or restricting their access to resources. By highlighting examples of social violence, Ishar's resources guide survivors to recognise the manipulative tactics used to exert power and control over them.
Sexual Violence: Sexual violence encompasses non-consensual sexual acts, coercion, and any form of unwanted sexual behaviour. Ishar's resources provide vital information in multiple languages, empowering survivors to understand their rights, establish boundaries, and seek help if they have experienced sexual violence.
Technological Violence: Technology is weaponised to perpetuate abuse in the digital age, with over 99% of FDV survivors experiencing technology-based violence. Ishar's resources shed light on technological violence, including online harassment, cyberstalking, and the misuse of technology to control, monitor, or threaten survivors. By raising awareness of this insidious form of abuse, Ishar equips survivors to safeguard their online presence and seek support.
Verbal Violence: Verbal violence includes demeaning, degrading, or threatening language used to belittle or control survivors. Ishar's multilingual resources outline the signs of verbal abuse to help survivors identify them and access support services to help them break free from their grip.
Cultural/Spiritual Violence: Cultural and spiritual violence refers to the abuse perpetrated by manipulating or distorting cultural or religious beliefs. Ishar's resources address the sensitive nuances of cultural and spiritual violence, ensuring survivors from diverse backgrounds understand their rights and can access culturally sensitive support.
Financial Violence: Financial violence involves controlling or exploiting financial resources to restrict a survivor's autonomy. Ishar's resources provide practical guidance on recognising the signs of financial abuse, understanding economic rights, and accessing resources that can help survivors regain financial independence.
Grooming: Grooming is manipulating and conditioning a survivor for future exploitation. Ishar's resources shed light on the tactics employed by abusers during the grooming process, equipping survivors with the knowledge and awareness to break free from this cycle of abuse.
Ishar's multilingual resources, including the information booklet and safety plan available in Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, and English, represent a groundbreaking milestone in the prevention of and addressing family and domestic violence. By articulating the various manifestations of violence in language, Ishar works with survivors to recognise violence and empowers them by utilising the survivors' strengths and providing them with the skills, knowledge and resources to rebuild their lives. These resources are one element to address one of the most significant barriers CaLD women experience by breaking down language barriers, fostering understanding, and guiding survivors towards safety, healing, and freedom from family and domestic violence. The resources have been developed as part of Ishar’s Free From Family & Domestic Violence Prevention Program.
FDV Information Booklets and Safety Plans in Language:
ARABIC
Arabic Information Booklet.pdf
CHINESE
Chinese Information Booklet.pdf
Hindi
English
English Information Booklet.pdf
Ishar's multilingual resources are breaking down barriers and empowering survivors to understand and address the various forms of family and domestic violence. Through the information booklet and safety plan available in Hindi, Arabic, Chinese, and English, Ishar provides survivors with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources to recognise violence, tap into their inner strength, and rebuild their lives. These resources are vital in dismantling the language barriers that often hinder survivors from seeking help, fostering understanding, and guiding them towards safety, healing, and freedom from family and domestic violence.
Free from Family & Domestic Violence Prevention Program:
In 2019, Ishar launched the groundbreaking Free from Family and Domestic Violence program with several other esteemed organisations. With a mission to combat the alarming rates of domestic violence among refugee and migrant women, this program has become a beacon of hope and a vital resource for those in need. Through community workshops and targeted training for service providers, Ishar's initiative is paving the way for a society free from the shackles of family and domestic violence. At the heart of Ishar's Free from Family and Domestic Violence program is the collaborative effort of a consortium comprising Ishar (the lead agency), the Ethnic Communities Council of WA, the Multicultural Services Centre, the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre, and Orana House - Women's Refuge and Crisis Services. These organisations have co-designed and co-facilitated this program, bringing together their expertise, knowledge, and resources to create a holistic and comprehensive support system for survivors of family and domestic violence.
The Impact:
Since its inception, Free from Family & Domestic Violence has made significant strides in empowering refugee and migrant women. In the past year alone, the organisation has conducted 27 community workshops, reaching 577 participants. These workshops provide safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences, access vital information, and build support networks. Additionally, Ishar has facilitated 11 service provider workshops, equipping 143 participants with the knowledge and skills to provide culturally sensitive care and support to survivors of family and domestic violence.
Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to culturally responsive education and support, Ishar's consortium partners and innovative resources are making significant strides in addressing family and domestic violence prevalent in the CaLD community. Together, they are working towards a society where every survivor, regardless of language or cultural background, can live a life free from violence and oppression.
