PETALING JAYA: Domestic violence has no place in the home, and stronger legal protections and education are needed to combat it, say women’s rights advocates.
Shoba Aiyar, social work consultant at the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), said domestic violence is a “learned behaviour” used by men to control their family members and should never be justified by economic stress, cultural beliefs or relationship conflicts.
“It is inflicted by someone stronger and more powerful than the victim, usually women and children.
“It is not a one-time act of assault but a prolonged pattern of abuse.
“Do women who experience economic stress and relationship conflicts abuse their husbands as frequently as men do? No, or very rarely,” she said when contacted.
Aiyar highlighted the lenient penalties in the Penal Code regarding domestic violence, where offenders are often just imposed fines.
“A woman once cried to me: ‘After years of enduring his beatings and insults, the magistrate fined him RM300. Where is the justice for me?’” she recalled.
She said that magistrates handling domestic violence cases often lack specialised training and most are transferred frequently, disrupting case consistency.
“Abusers can afford private lawyers, while victims are represented by legal aid with little influence. The legal representation is imbalanced,” she added.
Aiyar also spoke of victims of domestic violence who claimed that they had to file multiple police reports, sometimes between five and 30, before some form of action is taken.
She said education is key on preventing domestic violence.
She suggests for the inclusion of domestic violence awareness in school curricula through moral and religious studies.
“Children must be taught that all forms of abuse are illegal, and school counsellors should hold campaigns to equip students with coping mechanisms.”
She said Singapore’s Family Justice Courts, Australia and Spain’s dedicated domestic violence courts, and India’s immediate legal aid and shelter provisions can be used as models for Malaysian authorities to incorporate in the legal system.
However, she said efforts to implement similar reforms in the past did not come to fruition due to the national political changes.
“Domestic violence is a moral issue, not just a legal one. It causes PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder), childhood trauma and cycles of dysfunction in adulthood. We must stop tolerating violence in homes and act now,” Aiyar said.
Women’s rights advocate Ivy Josiah said men play a crucial role in preventing domestic violence, and education is key to breaking harmful gender norms.
“While not all men are violent, the majority of domestic violence perpetrators are men.”
She emphasised that boys must be taught from an early age to respect women, as many harmful beliefs about masculinity normalise male aggression and dominance, which can lead to controlling behaviour.
“These attitudes are deeply rooted in patriarchy, and boys and men must actively unlearn them,” she added.
To create meaningful change, Josiah urged men to become allies in the fight against domestic violence.
“Men can make a difference by calling out their male friends and family members when they witness disrespectful behaviour towards women,” she said.
By fostering accountability and challenging ingrained societal norms, Josiah believes men can play a pivotal role in ending domestic violence.