Group Reflection: Domestic Violence.

As part of our ICS placement, we’ve been asked to deliver fortnightly sessions within our groups on relevant development issues in the World. To carry out these sessions we’ve been placed into teams: there’s three duos, one trio and one solo. The aim of the team placement was to have a mix of UK and Rwandan Volunteers, this so far has made for very interesting sessions because of the different cultural views on topics. Both sides – Rwandan and UK - are learning a lot through these sessions, not only through the presentation of them but also through the research put into forming the sessions, as well as some Volunteer’s overcoming personal obstacles of public speaking. Everyone is winning!

Our first group reflection session was kicked off by Rebecca (UK Volunteer) and Rosette (Rwandan Volunteer), they chose the topic of “Domestic Violence” and delivered this on 14^th October. Rebecca and Rosette worked great as a team and really *“penguined” the session.

*To “penguin” is to set a very high standard early on making is difficult to follow from and further maintain that same standard. – This is a phrase our group have been using between one another, we found ourselves adopting it in the first week of our placement from an entertaining story told by one of the UK Volunteers.

The session began with a Domestic Violence quiz, these statistics really got the group thinking and really did shock many of us into realising that this is still a big issue in the UK and Rwanda.

Some examples of these statistics were:

-          - 2 women are killed a week at the hands of a partner/ex-partner. (UK)

-         -  In Rwanda 1 out of 3 women are/have experienced Domestic Violence from their partner/ex-partner.

-          - 1 out of 4 women in the UK will experience Domestic Violence in their lifetime.

-          - It is estimated that approximately 25% of gay/lesbian/bi/trans people experience domestic violence/abuse during their lives. (UK)

-         - Although evidence suggests that men are much less likely to come forward as victims of domestic violence/abuse, it is still a common occurrence. (UK and Rwanda)

-          - 83% of the National territory are effected by Gender Based Violence. (Rwanda)

The girls then went on to state the official Government definition of Domestic Violence from both UK and Rwanda:

UK –

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over, who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical or sexual.

Rwanda –

Is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality.

From the two definitions, although the UK and Rwanda are thousands of miles apart still paint a clear image of why Domestic Violence occurs; all forms, psychological, economic, emotional and physical – come from the abusers desire for power and control over other family members or intimate partners. Although every situation is unique, there are common factors involved in all.

The session came to a close after both Rebecca and Rosette gave accounts of Domestic Violence stories from the UK and Rwanda, leaving the group moved by the intensity the cases can get to and aware of the similarities anywhere in the world. Despite the culture differences of both nations we all came together to acknowledge that despite culture or class, anyone can experience Domestic Violence.

Coming next in our Group Reflection Session, we explore Globalisation with Charlotte (UK Volunteer) and Leontine (Rwandan Volunteer.)