One can only imagine the anguish felt by a woman or a man, often with children
to protect, when a spouse is bent on making trouble.
Protection orders offer a line of defence, and the effectiveness and delivery of
those orders is soon expected to be under scrutiny by a consultant hired by the
territorial government.
One must applaud Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA, for questioning
what happens to those removed from a home after a protection order has been
approved, forcing them from their household for up to 90 days.
Getting both sides of a story is important in properly understanding an issue,
and the territorial government is missing the boat on this. By not including
those who are forced to leave their home - mostly men - it's only getting half
the picture as to the effectiveness of the program. By not focusing the review
to include alleged abusers, it's neglecting a significant portion of the people
who are involved in protection orders.
While protecting women and children from abusive situations is important, it is
equally important those being accused be given a fair chance. Men can be removed
from their home for as long as three months if a protection order is granted by
a justice of the peace. In this process, the men aren't given a chance to make
their case. This opens the system to potential abuse.
While protection orders are necessary to protect those who are preyed upon for
their vulnerability, a potential spat or heated argument could lead to a person
being removed from their home without having heard their side of the story.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said "being able to protect those
victims is a more important thing to do than inconvenience a person who has been
abusive."
While nobody wants abuse to continue without intervention, the existing process
doesn't give the accused a fair say - the protection order is granted solely
based on what the complainant is telling police and the justice of the peace.
The YWCA has the act in mind when it wants to know the other side of the story.
Everyone deserves to have their voices heard when allegations of abuse are
involved and it's imperative the territorial government include men who have
been labeled abusers.
It's the only way the GNWT will get a full view of just how well the act has
worked since it came into effect in 2005.
Reported from the Yellowknife.
to protect, when a spouse is bent on making trouble.
Protection orders offer a line of defence, and the effectiveness and delivery of
those orders is soon expected to be under scrutiny by a consultant hired by the
territorial government.
One must applaud Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA, for questioning
what happens to those removed from a home after a protection order has been
approved, forcing them from their household for up to 90 days.
Getting both sides of a story is important in properly understanding an issue,
and the territorial government is missing the boat on this. By not including
those who are forced to leave their home - mostly men - it's only getting half
the picture as to the effectiveness of the program. By not focusing the review
to include alleged abusers, it's neglecting a significant portion of the people
who are involved in protection orders.
While protecting women and children from abusive situations is important, it is
equally important those being accused be given a fair chance. Men can be removed
from their home for as long as three months if a protection order is granted by
a justice of the peace. In this process, the men aren't given a chance to make
their case. This opens the system to potential abuse.
While protection orders are necessary to protect those who are preyed upon for
their vulnerability, a potential spat or heated argument could lead to a person
being removed from their home without having heard their side of the story.
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said "being able to protect those
victims is a more important thing to do than inconvenience a person who has been
abusive."
While nobody wants abuse to continue without intervention, the existing process
doesn't give the accused a fair say - the protection order is granted solely
based on what the complainant is telling police and the justice of the peace.
The YWCA has the act in mind when it wants to know the other side of the story.
Everyone deserves to have their voices heard when allegations of abuse are
involved and it's imperative the territorial government include men who have
been labeled abusers.
It's the only way the GNWT will get a full view of just how well the act has
worked since it came into effect in 2005.
Reported from the Yellowknife.
Comment