Breaking the domestic violence cycle

CAPTAIN ’S CORNER BY CAPTAIN MAHMOOD AL MAHMOOD

There are moments of glory in any sporting event – the Olympics, the Paralympics, triathlons, marathons, why even a school sports day – when the human spirit, mind and physique are tested and emerge triumphant against odds.

There are moments of heartbreak when athletes who have given their all to a rigorous training schedule for years, lose their goal by a whisker.

The case of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat who was disqualified for being a mere 100 grams over the weight for her class, is a case to point.

We have also heard tales of dread where athletes from some countries competed with a sword hanging over their heads – if they failed to bring home medals, they were literally wiped off the sporting rolls and suffered untold humiliation, sometimes even death.

Now from the African continent has come a sad ending to a promising story of strength and determination: the death of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei in a horrific episode of domestic violence where her boyfriend set her on fire in front of her two children.

The incident underscores the extra layer of danger that women athletes have to face when choosing to be competitive sportspersons. It also puts the focus on the subject of domestic violence which brutalizes society.

Bahrain was one of the early countries to implement laws to safeguard victims’ rights in cases of domestic violence.

We have safe houses where the victims can be protected from the perpetrators, the first responders such as emergency medical staff and police are trained to be observant and supportive to victims of domestic abuse and when we follow court cases, we see that judges are responsive to the pleas by victims for support.

Some years ago, a psychiatrist made a seemingly strange plea that the abusers too should be the focus of more than just punishment – that their abuse is often the result of childhood trauma and poor family role models so they should be mandated therapy sessions to tackle their behavior.

I think that is a very constructive suggestion to break the cycle of domestic abuse – for the whole family suffers and not just the immediate victim but also the abuser and the other family members who bear witness to the pain and trauma must find relief and healing. I hope we will see mandatory therapy made a legal requirement for the whole family as part of the healing process.