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violence is a worldwide problem, which cuts
across social, economic and class barriers.
Social workers, magistrates and women's agencies from around the
world have been invited by the British government to share their
knowledge and experience of how to reduce violence in the home.
One project in Zimbabwe takes drama workshops into primary and secondary
schools. These have helped to change cultural attitudes.
In many countries, domestic violence is seen as a private matter
that should remain behind closed doors.
Another scheme in Ghana - where according to non governmental
organisation statistics, one in three women suffer domestic violence
- has succeeded in changing the lives of women in three rural
communities. A pilot study has
seen tribal chiefs agree to the training of local community teams,
who counsel women and have their
violent husbands arrested.
These are models British policy
makers hope to learn from. Here, one in four women are likely
to be physically or psychologically abused
by their current or ex-partners. According to the charity Womankind,
by the time a woman goes to the police, she'll have been hit,
on average, 35 times. Last year there were more than 6 million
reported incidences of violence
in the home in Britain. The British government is tabling
new legislation which aims to prevent domestic violence,
and offer women better protection within the legal system, to
help them if they are attacked.
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domestic violence: behaviour within
the home and family which is intended to hurt, injure or kill
people
cuts across: here, not restricted
by; is not stopped by; is not affected by; pays no attention to
barriers: obstructions; obstacles;
something that stops progress
behind closed doors: here, private; not discussed in
public
a pilot study: a project which
is done as a test on a small scale in order to see whether it
will be successful on a larger scale
counsel: give careful advice
to
models: good examples
abused: treated cruelly
incidences: occurences
tabling new legislation: putting
forward proposals for new laws
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