Your Child – Impact of Violence

Violence against women and violence against children are closely related problems. It is a traumatic experience for both mother and child. Children of women who experience violence by their spouse are usually referred to as “secondary victims”, and this violence committed in the family has a direct effect on children, and even the sharing of a threatening home atmosphere can have devastating effects on the child. One third of the children who are witnesses of violence seek to protect their mother. The need to protect children is a common motive for women to leave a violent partner.

• If a mother is exposed to violence by a partner, it is highly likely that children will be physically, mentally or sexually abused or neglected
• If babies are abused by their father, it is highly likely that they will also mistreat their mother
• Violence against mothers always harms children, regardless of whether they are directly exposed to violence
• If women do not receive support and help, children are left to this devastating situation and have to
• Violence against mothers must be considered as a key problem in designing and implementing a child protection strategy

• Children, even young children, feel helpless when they witness the father’s violent behavior and mother’s helplessness
• Children feel guilty about what is going on and experiencing deep trauma that is reflected in low self-confidence
• Many children believe that violence is their fault and they should not have been born
• Children are trying to turn their mother back and are often physically and mentally infected with the father
• Some children struggle to hit the mother’s defense, and then they feel guilty
• Children are aware of the mother’s unfavorable situation and take responsibility for the care and protection of their siblings
• Most children feel relieved if they can leave home where violence is present
• If children have been subjected to a longer period of violence against their mothers, they may lose respect for both parents and the child loses a precious money for the future – it will not get a pattern of behavior in the family
• The long-term survival of violence in families is manifested by children in school results, learning disabilities and behavioral disorders in the peer group and family
• A child who experiences trauma and distress at home escapes from the family environment and seeks help and support in parts of peers who are not always good models for a child
• A child who is often subjected to violence against their mother is more often the perpetrator or victim of violence.

The child, when leaving the home where he or she is experiencing violence, feels that a huge burden has been taken from it by giving his mother help and starting to see its mother again, acting like herself and itself in the child’s roles. A safe environment, such as a safe house, gives children the opportunity to talk about the violence they themselves suffered, and for many children homelessness also means a loss of family environment, friendships from other children, and relationships with people who are of no importance to them. Many children miss their father, even though they were afraid of him, father’s separation may be extremely painful for children. Children, in the first place, need support that will allow them to miss what they have lost. Mothers can not take over this role.