Cutbacks in one regional hospital may have been uppermost on its mind over the past few weeks, but the Western Health Board has not overlooked its international obligations. To mark 16 days of activism in support of human rights, it has established a planning committee on violence against women.
Statutory and voluntary agency members will be represented on the regional planning committee. The aim is to co-ordinate services for women and families who need support. As a benchmark, it will rely on the findings of recent research undertaken at NUI Galway which indicates that significant numbers of children involved with care services in Galway city are being exposed to violence at home.
The study, by Mr John Canavan at the university's department of political science and sociology, cites several cases which highlight the reality of living with domestic violence. Elaine has been separated from her husband for three years, after a turbulent relationship, involving alcohol abuse by both herself and her partner, came to an end.
Her 11-year-old son, Justin, was a witness to much of this and was himself physically abused. After the break-up of his parents' marriage, he became uncontrollable. He was hitting and kicking his mother and she could not handle him. He was also having problems relating to other children of his own age.
Eventually, Justin was referred to a child and family guidance centre, and is now back in mainstream education after two years.
Elaine "sees herself as coming out of a long and painful period of her life" but does feel isolated, the study notes. While she professes indifference towards Justin's father and believes he has no interest in his son, she never criticises him and encourages Justin to see him.
The study notes that many children who witnessed or overheard violence perpetrated against their mothers manifest physical and emotional problems themselves. The author extends the definition of violence beyond the physical to the emotional, which is more difficult to quantify. As a result of the research's recommendations, the Western Health Board hopes to improve its own services. And it hopes the regional planning committee will help to highlight the problem - thereby ensuring that there is a more appropriate response.