VIOLENCE is and always will be out of bounds and this weekend, local footy and netball clubs will seek to highlight the issue of domestic violence in a tangible way.
The 'Violence is out of Bounds' program has been embraced by the BFL, who are to be congratulated for their strong stance and positive support of the initiative aimed at stamping out the issue of violence against women.
Once upon a time, assaults in the home were viewed as 'just another domestic' and a blind eye turned to the problem. That such incidents happen in of all places the family home is abhorrent enough, but as a society we owe it to those who are vulnerable to offer support, encouragement and refuge.
Bendigo police have reported a sharp rise in the number of assaults in the home, or `domestics’ in the past 12 months, but are quick to point out their belief that this is more a matter of people feeling more comfortable reporting the crime, rather than a significant increase in the number of incidents.
We sincerely hope that the police have got it right, and if this is indeed the case, it is of some comfort that the environment now exists where women can come forward more readily to report violence in the home, and that similarly there are the support mechanisms put in place to help victims and their families.
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