Limerick event spotlights impact of coercive control on children
AN EVENT which took place in Limerick zeroed in on the often overlooked impact of coercive control on children and young individuals within the household.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence event saw TUSLA – the Child and Family Agency join forces with Barnardos and Adapt Domestic Abuse Services as they advocated for an end to violence against women and girls.
The event also marked the launch of the Empower Kidz project, which gives guidance to how a better response to childhood domestic violence and abuse may be achieved,
Under the heading, Not All Hurting is Physical, the child and youth participation project is designed to support professionals, including teachers, to respond effectively to childhood domestic violence and abuse
Speaking at the Limerick event, Sinead Hickey, prevention, partnership and family support senior manager emphasised the need for creating an environment of awareness, listening, and support to truly comprehend the impact of coercive control on children and young people. “Too often children and young people are the silent victims of coercive control within the home,” she stated.
“It is essential that all of us foster an environment of awareness, listening and support to really understand the impact on children and young people”.
Denise Dunne, director of Adapt Domestic Abuse Services, commended the Children's Coercive Control Web as a powerful and essential tool. “It shows us how domestic abuse and coercive control impacts on children and young people.
“Too often in the past the popular belief was that if children didn’t witness abuse, then it didn’t affect them, but we know of course that this isn’t true.”
Valerie Gleeson, TLC Kidz coordinator at Barnardos, explained the Children's Coercive Control Web aims to provide children and young people with a voice and a space to talk about and share their lived experiences of domestic violence. She stressed the resource is a reflection of their words, feelings, and experiences, making it an invaluable tool.
Inspector Sandra Heelan from An Garda Siochana also welcomed the opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence.
She says there has been an increase in reports of domestic abuse this year compared to 2022.
“There has been an 8% increase in reports of domestic abuse this year, with more than 54,000 complaints made to gardaí (nationally) in 2023,” she said.
Established on January 1, 2014, Tusla represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It brings together the former HSE Children and Family Services, Family
Support Agency and National Educational Welfare Board along with psychological, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services.