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By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING, Sept 20: Men are not spared from becoming victims of domestic violence, statistics from the first quarter of this year have revealed.
Director of Women and Family Department Sarawak (JWKS) Salmah Jobeli said, 49 out of the total 85 reported cases from January till April this year involved men.
“When it comes to domestic violence, it does not only involve women, but men are also becoming the victims, so everybody must play their role to address the problem of domestic violence,” she said at the closing of a two-day ‘Know Your Rights’ course at Persatuan Biperoh Kuching Hall, along Jalan Borneo Heights today.
According to her, out of the total 85 cases reported this year, 44 cases were in Kuching.
She also said that statistics from the police revealed that Kuching recorded the second highest number of domestic violence cases last year with 198 reported.
Salmah further said that Padawan area recorded 88 cases of domestic violence last year and 14 similar cases in the first quarter of this year.
She did not rule out the possibility that there were many cases not been reported to the authorities, stressing that JWKS has a helpline at 082-448866 to assist victim of domestic violence.
Salmah also pointed out that JWKS has several agencies as strategic partners to address domestic violence.
Among them are police, Welfare Department, Jabatan Bantuan Guaman (JBG) and One-Stop Crisis Centre.
Meanwhile, she thanked JWKS, Persatuan Biperoh Kuching and Padawan Sub-District Office under Sarawak Administrative Officer (SAO) Julius Scott Sapong, who was also present, for organising the programme to promote awareness and responsibility towards the subject of domestic violence.
Some 134 people took part in the two-day programme, including community leaders and members of Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs).
Bidayuh Temenggong for Kuching Division Datuk Austin Dimin Niyon and several penghulu from the surrounding areas were also present. — DayakDaily
