News Release Archive
STATUS OF WOMEN--VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ----------------------------------------------------------------- Patti Doyle Bedwell, spokesperson for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women, questions the commitment of Nova Scotia's judges to the principles and actions needed to eliminate violence against women in their homes. "In the ruling made last week, the police acted correctly in arresting a man who had allegedly been assaulting his wife. The Crown did its job by requesting a no-contact order. Then the process fell apart because the judge ruled the man can go back home. So we see that the concept of zero-tolerance for domestic violence still has to become a reality here," said Ms. Doyle Bedwell. "It's discouraging for police and Crowns who are doing the job correctly to see their work go for nought when the judge rules in the old way, favouring the man charged with assaulting his wife, while allegedly exposing children to the violence, and who is now excused from facing the full consequences, particularly a no-contact order." "The judges in this province have received various kinds of training and education on the dynamics of family violence. They know about the cycle of violence, where the perpetrator invariably expresses remorse, but then goes on to commit progressively more serious assaults. Without concrete action supporting the safety of women, the judiciary in this province continues to support a general climate of tolerance for domestic violence." "If judicial education is not very effective, we need to change the law, to limit the discretion of judges in cases like this," says Ms. Doyle Bedwell," and at the same time make sure that the family supports are in place to avoid re-victimizing the family members. One problem here is the length of time it takes to bring domestic assaults to trial. Given the seriousness of family violence, these trials should have priority to avoid situations like this from recurring." -30- Contact: Patti Doyle Bedwell 902-494-1024 or 902-477-6573 trp August 12, 1996 - 3:51 p.m.