Money control a hidden side of domestic abuse
A 38-year-old Christchurch mother-of-two was left in financial ruin after her husband manipulated her into remortgaging their house under false pretences to fuel his meth addiction.
When the truth eventually came out, she suddenly found herself a single mother burdened with debt, no income, a poor credit rating and the very real possibility of losing her home. His addiction cost her family an estimated $200,000.
Now victims’ advocates are demanding a crackdown. They want the Government to recognise this kind of economic abuse as a form of family violence in its own right – rather than a subset of psychological abuse, as it currently stands in the Domestic Violence Amendment Act.
New research by the Good Shepherd welfare organisation has found economic abuse – seeking power and control through economic means – was an unaddressed form of family violence.
Its report reveals financial resources are used to control women and children in ways including access to food, heating and adequate accommodation.
The report cites a Women’s Refuge survey of 445 women which found that they were denied money for sanitary products, food, power, rent and other necessities.
Women’s Refuge chief executive Ang Jury backed calls to move economic abuse into its own category in the domestic violence legislation.
Partners of women the refuge worked with often used money to control them.
‘‘We often see women who are forced into criminal behaviour by their partners, particularly with Work and Income claims. It’s a very, very effective way of keeping control.’’
The women in the study reported their partners controlling access to cash and bank accounts, manipulating them into debt, refusing to pay child support and and intentionally dragging out court processes.
The research comes as the White Ribbon Trust launches a new campaign to ask men to stand up and prevent violence towards women.
Tennis superstar Serena Williams has also become an advocate for victims of domestic violence after a video of her raising
awareness of economic abuse went viral last month.
Good Shepherd New Zealand’s social inclusion manager Nicola Eccleton said economic abuse should be more prominent in the ‘It’s not OK’ community awareness campaign.
‘‘It is alarming to see just how unknown and unaddressed economic abuse is in New Zealand,’’ she said.
‘‘Unlike physical abuse, there are no bruises or outward signs to act as evidence, and the onus is on the woman to prove that it’s happening.’’
Justice Minister Andrew Little said the new Domestic Violence – Victims’ Protection Act 2018 offered protection to victims of financial abuse through protection orders. Physical violence was the only type of domestic abuse that was punishable under the Crimes Act. However, a partner could be convicted of breaching a protection order if found guilty of financially abusing a protected person.