Ministry Mulls Over Shelter For Domestic Violence Victims

KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development are currently deliberating on the information gathered from various departments in the state to propose a possible shelter for domestic violence victims.

Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development, Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah said this at a press conference after a working visit to Kuching District Police Headquarters at Simpang Tiga here yesterday.

Fatimah disclosed that currently there is no specific venue to house these victims after their traumatic experience.

“Currently, we only have shelters for victims aged 18 and below. Because of that we need the information from all departments so that we can deliberate and determine whether there is a need for a shelter in the state,” she said.

Prior to her working visit yesterday, Fatimah has also made working visits and received courtesy calls in the effort of gathering inputs from other departments such as the health, mufti and religious department.

“Statistics presented by the police have shown that the number of domestic violence involving women and children in the state has decreased significantly from 247 cases in 2014 to 95 cases in 2015.

“We want to work closely with the police so that we know what is the standard of procedure (SOP) carried out by the police in handling domestic violence cases and how we, as the state government advisory board of welfare, are able to follow up and establish a support system for these victims,” said Fatimah.

On another matter, Fatimah explained on the role of the one stop crisis centre at general hospitals nationwide.

“These centres are catering to pregnant teenagers who are victims of domestic violence. They (victims) can also lodge a police report via the centres other than receiving treatments and counselling,” she said, adding that the ministry is looking into the possibility of providing a shelter for the victims as they could only stay at the centre for three days. 

  

Also present were Women and Family Development Department director, Noriah Ahmad and Kuching Police District chief, ACP Roslan Bek Ahmad.