New local campaign raises awareness of coercive control

November 25 last marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. This is an annual global campaign in a bid to highlight the elimination of violence against women and runs until December 10 which is Human Rights Day.

It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership. This year Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service is raising awareness of the complexities of domestic abuse, in particular, coercive control.

“The 16 days of action allows for front line organisations to inform and educate the community on what a victim of domestic violence may be experiencing on a daily basis,” says Manager of ODVSS Anne Clarke. “Domestic violence isn’t always physical in fact according to Professor Evan Stark who coined the term he states that only 6% of domestic violence results in an injury and if we wait for the bruise, we have missed supporting 94% of victims," continues Ms Clarke.

Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim. This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.

Coercive control can be disclosed by name calling, controlling what you wear or who you see, isolating you from family and friends in a covert way, financial abuse allowing no access to money or only giving you a small amount to pay bills and feed children. It can also include threats to harm, sexual coercion, and gaslighting which is a term used to make the victim doubt their own thoughts and reality. The perpetrator can monitor who you talk too both physically and online, can have cameras in the home or tracking devices on phones and cars.

ODVSS has seen a marked increase in the number of clients attending the service for support disclosing these forms of abuse. At least 8 out of 10 will have been exposed to coercive control, expressed Ms Clarke. This form of abuse is not one single incident but a series of incidents over time that forms a pattern. The victim becomes almost powerless in fear of the “or else” consequence that might happen if they don’t comply with these rules.