WOC opts for direct approach to promote awareness on issue
SIBU: Women’s Organisation for Change (WOC) will focus on using the direct contact approach in its efforts to promote awareness on domestic violence among rural women.
WOC treasurer Veronica Ambas said the organisation is also promoting itself as a platform to help women facing crisis in their homes.
“We want rural women to better understand their rights and what to do especially when they are a victim of domestic violence. Domestic violence cases involving the Dayaks are very low as far as I am concerned. Such incidents happen in rural areas but they are not reported to the authority because the victims are unaware of their rights,” she said when met after attending the ‘ Laws Literacy Seminar: Iban Marriage Customs’ event recently.
Veronica was representing WOC president Dr Haliza Zurah Zulkefeli at the programme held at Rumah Nyanggau Ason at Mile 36, Sibu/Selangau Road here.
For example, she said, in a longhouse when a man beats his wife during a fight, the victim is usually given emotional support by family members and neighbours.
She said because of lack of
We want rural women to better understand their rights and what to do especially when they are a victim of domestic violence. Veronica Ambas, WOC treasurer
knowledge or illiteracy, the victim will keep silent over the whole situation although her spouse continues to hurt her physically or emotionally.
“Domestic violence is like cancer if it goes unreported. It will destroy the victim slowly from inside,” she said.
WOC’s registration was approved by the Registrar of Societies ( ROS) on Aug 24, 2016. So far the organisation has about 60 members comprising survivors of domestic violence.
It was founded by Dr Haliza who herself is a survivor of domestic violence after eight years of marriage.
WOC has conducted programmes in Kuching, Bintulu and Sibu since it was registered.