BLOGS
I hope to encourage Dads in Australia to create and maintain blogs, and for us to nework these blogs.
My list so far:
Geoff H
http://equalparentingtime.blogspot.com/
Paul D
http://injurysupport.blogspot.com/
Simon H
http://mumsdadsandkidsagainstsolecust.blogspot.com/
http://thefamilycourtphenomenon.blogspot.com/
Steve H
http://parentalalienationischildabuse.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Parental Alienation
6. Parental Alienation
Approximately 150 children per year are either taken out of Australia to New Zealand, UK, US, Netherlands, and other countries (76 signatory countries in total) that are signatories to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, or taken from these countries to Australia.
It is not known how many other children are taken to or from Australia to or from other non-signatory countries each year.
Child Abductions
2005-06: 137 abductions, involving 75 applications for the return of children abducted from Australia, 62 for children abducted from another Hague Convention country into Australia.
Of the applications:
Total children returned: 55
Applications rejected: 9
Applications withdrawn: 15
Still pending: 58
Countries Involved 2005-06
New Zealand: 30 children abducted from NZ into Australia, 24 abducted to NZ
UK: 7 abducted into Australia, 18 abducted to UK
US: 7 abducted into Australia, 11 abducted to US
Netherlands: 3 abducted into Australia, 3 to Netherlands
Source: Attorney-General's Department
Cited in ‘Parents now more likely to flee with kids’ Liz Porter The Age (Melbourne) 09 July 2006
www.theage.com.au/news/national/parents-now-more-likely-to-flee-with-kids/2006/07/08/1152240539921.htm
Approximately 150 children per year are either taken out of Australia to New Zealand, UK, US, Netherlands, and other countries (76 signatory countries in total) that are signatories to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction, or taken from these countries to Australia.
It is not known how many other children are taken to or from Australia to or from other non-signatory countries each year.
Child Abductions
2005-06: 137 abductions, involving 75 applications for the return of children abducted from Australia, 62 for children abducted from another Hague Convention country into Australia.
Of the applications:
Total children returned: 55
Applications rejected: 9
Applications withdrawn: 15
Still pending: 58
Countries Involved 2005-06
New Zealand: 30 children abducted from NZ into Australia, 24 abducted to NZ
UK: 7 abducted into Australia, 18 abducted to UK
US: 7 abducted into Australia, 11 abducted to US
Netherlands: 3 abducted into Australia, 3 to Netherlands
Source: Attorney-General's Department
Cited in ‘Parents now more likely to flee with kids’ Liz Porter The Age (Melbourne) 09 July 2006
www.theage.com.au/news/national/parents-now-more-likely-to-flee-with-kids/2006/07/08/1152240539921.htm
Physical abuse of children
5. Physical abuse of children
An average of 25 children were killed each year by their parents or step-parents in the period 01 July 1989 – 30 June 2002. The risk of death from a parent or step-parent is similar for boys and girls. In this period, fathers and step-fathers were responsible for 63% of all filicides according to the report Family Homicide in Australia. [However, the graph in Fig 2 of the report suggests that this figure is closer to 50%].
Mothers and step-mothers were slightly more responsible than fathers and step-fathers for killing their children for children under the age of 15yrs [eg 55% ?].
Family Homicide in Australia, Australian Institute of Criminology, Jenny Mouzos, Catherine Rushforth, 12-14 Feb 2003.
Child homicide rates 1989-1999 [note, all child homicide, no just filicide]
(rate per 100,000 relevant population)
male perp. female perpetrator
less than 1yr 2.8 2.55
1-4yrs 1.05 1.25
5-9yrs 0.55 0.52
10-14yrs 0.48 0.43
15-17yrs 1.7 1.1
Australian Institute of Criminology, 2000, Jenny Mouzos
Solved Child Homicides (under 18yrs) in 2001 in Canada
Total Family Child Homicides 43 62%
Total fathers 20 29%
Biological father 16 23%
Step-father 4 6%
Total mothers 17 25%
Biological mother 16 23%
Step-mother 1 1%
Other family 6 8%
Total non-family 26 38%
“Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2003” Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Catalogue no. 85-224-XIE. Ministry of Industry, June 2003. Chapter 3 (Kathy Au Coin).
Even though more children live with their biological father than step-father, this data does not support the contention that children are more likely to be killed by their step-father than their biological father.
Here, the total number of filicides was the same for biological fathers and biological mothers.
Given that it is likely that a number of filicides by fathers follow family separation and prejudiced Orders by the Family Court system, when these filicides are treated separately (ie some of them may be preventable given a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time), mothers may generally be more likely to commit filicide. (It can also be argued that this is because they spend more time with their children).
Key observations of the Dewar Research 2004 which reviewed studies in
· A parent is the principal suspect/perpetrator in 50% to 70% of all family
child homicides
· Male parents are responsible for about two thirds of family child homicides
and female parents about one third
· Biological fathers are responsible for about 55% of murders of their own
offspring and biological mothers about 45%
· Mothers are responsible for the majority of infant deaths
· A substantial number of filicides occur following parental separation,
primarily by fathers: of these, a substantial proportion then commit suicide
and a further significant proportion require psychiatric services
· Male parents who kill their children are generally treated more harshly and
unsympathetically by the legal process than female parents: fathers are
more likely than mothers to be charged with murder than manslaughter,
and more fathers than mothers convicted of manslaughter are imprisoned;
convicted mothers are more likely than fathers to be hospitalised or treated
rather than imprisoned.
Child Homicide – Review of Statistics and Studies compiled by David J Yarwood on behalf of Dewar Research www.dewar4research.org June 2004
A study of family homicides in 1994 in British Columbia by the British Columbia Institute
Against Family Violence (BCIFV) found that about one third of filicides occurred following
parental separation. Filicide committed following parental separation was primarily committed by fathers or those acting in their place.
“Overview of Family Violence”. BC Institute Against Family Violence, Canada 2000. Chapter 4 Familial
Homicide.
In Australia data from the National Homicide Monitoring Program for the period July 1989
to December 1993 revealed that there were 126 children homicide victims under age 11 in
the period. Of the 123 children with known details, 43 (35%) died as a consequence of family separation and fathers were the killers. 17 of the 28 family dispute incidents resulting in the deaths of these 43 children
also involved the suicide of the father.
Strang, Heather. Children as Victims of Homicide. Australian Institute of Criminology. Trends
and issues in crime and criminal justice, No.53. Canberra, March 1996.
This suggests that about 11 children a year are murdered by fathers as a result of family separation. How many of these murders (and murder-suicides) could be avoided by a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time ?
Women’s groups may argue that lives of children saved by a policy of Presumption of Equal Parenting Time may be negated by an increase in children murdered by violent fathers who have been given greater access to their children as a result of the policy.
Violence of parents towards their children
In the United States in 2004 it is documented that children were killed twice as often by their mothers as by their fathers. There is no reason to believe this is not the pattern generally.
Table 4-5 Perpetrator Relationships of Fatalities in the United States, 2004Child Maltreatment 2004Child Fatalities Number % Mother Only 307 31.3Father Only 141 14.4Mother and Father 201 20.5Mother and Other 91 9.3
Father and Other 12 1.2
Female Partner of Parent 1 0.1Male Partner of Parent 32 3.3Other 84 8.4
Unknown or Missing 102 10.4
Total 981 98.9 (rounding)
Source:
CAF (Admin. for Children and Families)
Based on data from 32 States.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm04/table4_5.htm
US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
There is an argument that because women on average spend more time with their children they are more likely to murder or accidentally kill their children. This study does not distinguish between murder and manslaughter, and it is unclear to what extent, if at all, it includes accidental death.
An average of 25 children were killed each year by their parents or step-parents in the period 01 July 1989 – 30 June 2002. The risk of death from a parent or step-parent is similar for boys and girls. In this period, fathers and step-fathers were responsible for 63% of all filicides according to the report Family Homicide in Australia. [However, the graph in Fig 2 of the report suggests that this figure is closer to 50%].
Mothers and step-mothers were slightly more responsible than fathers and step-fathers for killing their children for children under the age of 15yrs [eg 55% ?].
Family Homicide in Australia, Australian Institute of Criminology, Jenny Mouzos, Catherine Rushforth, 12-14 Feb 2003.
Child homicide rates 1989-1999 [note, all child homicide, no just filicide]
(rate per 100,000 relevant population)
male perp. female perpetrator
less than 1yr 2.8 2.55
1-4yrs 1.05 1.25
5-9yrs 0.55 0.52
10-14yrs 0.48 0.43
15-17yrs 1.7 1.1
Australian Institute of Criminology, 2000, Jenny Mouzos
Solved Child Homicides (under 18yrs) in 2001 in Canada
Total Family Child Homicides 43 62%
Total fathers 20 29%
Biological father 16 23%
Step-father 4 6%
Total mothers 17 25%
Biological mother 16 23%
Step-mother 1 1%
Other family 6 8%
Total non-family 26 38%
“Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile 2003” Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.
Catalogue no. 85-224-XIE. Ministry of Industry, June 2003. Chapter 3 (Kathy Au Coin).
Even though more children live with their biological father than step-father, this data does not support the contention that children are more likely to be killed by their step-father than their biological father.
Here, the total number of filicides was the same for biological fathers and biological mothers.
Given that it is likely that a number of filicides by fathers follow family separation and prejudiced Orders by the Family Court system, when these filicides are treated separately (ie some of them may be preventable given a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time), mothers may generally be more likely to commit filicide. (It can also be argued that this is because they spend more time with their children).
Key observations of the Dewar Research 2004 which reviewed studies in
· A parent is the principal suspect/perpetrator in 50% to 70% of all family
child homicides
· Male parents are responsible for about two thirds of family child homicides
and female parents about one third
· Biological fathers are responsible for about 55% of murders of their own
offspring and biological mothers about 45%
· Mothers are responsible for the majority of infant deaths
· A substantial number of filicides occur following parental separation,
primarily by fathers: of these, a substantial proportion then commit suicide
and a further significant proportion require psychiatric services
· Male parents who kill their children are generally treated more harshly and
unsympathetically by the legal process than female parents: fathers are
more likely than mothers to be charged with murder than manslaughter,
and more fathers than mothers convicted of manslaughter are imprisoned;
convicted mothers are more likely than fathers to be hospitalised or treated
rather than imprisoned.
Child Homicide – Review of Statistics and Studies compiled by David J Yarwood on behalf of Dewar Research www.dewar4research.org June 2004
A study of family homicides in 1994 in British Columbia by the British Columbia Institute
Against Family Violence (BCIFV) found that about one third of filicides occurred following
parental separation. Filicide committed following parental separation was primarily committed by fathers or those acting in their place.
“Overview of Family Violence”. BC Institute Against Family Violence, Canada 2000. Chapter 4 Familial
Homicide.
In Australia data from the National Homicide Monitoring Program for the period July 1989
to December 1993 revealed that there were 126 children homicide victims under age 11 in
the period. Of the 123 children with known details, 43 (35%) died as a consequence of family separation and fathers were the killers. 17 of the 28 family dispute incidents resulting in the deaths of these 43 children
also involved the suicide of the father.
Strang, Heather. Children as Victims of Homicide. Australian Institute of Criminology. Trends
and issues in crime and criminal justice, No.53. Canberra, March 1996.
This suggests that about 11 children a year are murdered by fathers as a result of family separation. How many of these murders (and murder-suicides) could be avoided by a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time ?
Women’s groups may argue that lives of children saved by a policy of Presumption of Equal Parenting Time may be negated by an increase in children murdered by violent fathers who have been given greater access to their children as a result of the policy.
Violence of parents towards their children
In the United States in 2004 it is documented that children were killed twice as often by their mothers as by their fathers. There is no reason to believe this is not the pattern generally.
Table 4-5 Perpetrator Relationships of Fatalities in the United States, 2004Child Maltreatment 2004Child Fatalities Number % Mother Only 307 31.3Father Only 141 14.4Mother and Father 201 20.5Mother and Other 91 9.3
Father and Other 12 1.2
Female Partner of Parent 1 0.1Male Partner of Parent 32 3.3Other 84 8.4
Unknown or Missing 102 10.4
Total 981 98.9 (rounding)
Source:
CAF (Admin. for Children and Families)
Based on data from 32 States.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm04/table4_5.htm
US Dept. of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
There is an argument that because women on average spend more time with their children they are more likely to murder or accidentally kill their children. This study does not distinguish between murder and manslaughter, and it is unclear to what extent, if at all, it includes accidental death.
Sexual Abuse of Children
4. Sexual abuse of children
Child sexual abuse is any act, by an adult, involving a child under the age of 15 years in sexual activity.
Women were more likely to have been sexually abused than men. Before the age of 15, 12% (956,600) of women had been sexually abused compared to 4.5% (337,400) of men.
(This does not give any idea of the ratio of perpetrators of sexual abuse).
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4906.0Main%20Features12005%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4906.0&issue=2005%20(Reissue)&num=&view=
Research overseas has estimated that 20% of sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by women according to psychologist Dr Rebecca Deering, of Melbourne's Deakin University, who studied the issue of sexual abuse as part of her PhD.
Deering says "People spoke about having told someone earlier on in their lives and having either been mocked and denied that it was anything serious, or disbelieved."
Source:
“Sex abuse by women 'ignored'” Janelle Miles The Australian 02 May 2006
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19002872-1702,00.html
Note that it is necessary to look at definitions of sexual abuse of children. A sexual relation with a teenager under the age of consent would be included in the statistics. The age of consent varies amongst countries, eg 14 yrs and 16 yrs. Consensual sexual relations between a girl (or boy) of 15 yrs and 10 months and a boy (or girl) of 16yrs and five months could be regarded as sexual abuse if it was brought to the notice of authorities.
However, since these factors would apply to both genders, one would expect that they would cancel out.
Another factor is the degree to which reported incidences of child sexual abuse by women are ignored and thus not included in statistics, and whether this is taken into account when making the 20% estimate.
Child sexual abuse is any act, by an adult, involving a child under the age of 15 years in sexual activity.
Women were more likely to have been sexually abused than men. Before the age of 15, 12% (956,600) of women had been sexually abused compared to 4.5% (337,400) of men.
(This does not give any idea of the ratio of perpetrators of sexual abuse).
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4906.0Main%20Features12005%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4906.0&issue=2005%20(Reissue)&num=&view=
Research overseas has estimated that 20% of sexual abuse of children is perpetrated by women according to psychologist Dr Rebecca Deering, of Melbourne's Deakin University, who studied the issue of sexual abuse as part of her PhD.
Deering says "People spoke about having told someone earlier on in their lives and having either been mocked and denied that it was anything serious, or disbelieved."
Source:
“Sex abuse by women 'ignored'” Janelle Miles The Australian 02 May 2006
www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19002872-1702,00.html
Note that it is necessary to look at definitions of sexual abuse of children. A sexual relation with a teenager under the age of consent would be included in the statistics. The age of consent varies amongst countries, eg 14 yrs and 16 yrs. Consensual sexual relations between a girl (or boy) of 15 yrs and 10 months and a boy (or girl) of 16yrs and five months could be regarded as sexual abuse if it was brought to the notice of authorities.
However, since these factors would apply to both genders, one would expect that they would cancel out.
Another factor is the degree to which reported incidences of child sexual abuse by women are ignored and thus not included in statistics, and whether this is taken into account when making the 20% estimate.
Domestic Violence
3. Domestic Violence
Rates of physical violence for people over 18 yrs in Australia
PSS 2005 NCSS 2005 GSS 2002
Males 10.4% 4.9% 10.9%
Females 4.7% 4.0% 7.2%
People 7.5% 4.4% 9.0%
PSS – Personal Safety Survey
NCSS – National Crime and Safety Survey
GSS – General Safety Survey
The differences are attributable to methodological and procedural factors, context effects (preceding questions influence
responses to subsequent questions) and question wording. For example, the 2005 PSS asked about the most recent incident of sexual assault and sexual threat and then respondents were instructed to exclude any incidents they had already reported when reporting any incidents of physical assault and physical threat, whereas the GSS only asked about physical assaults and threats. It is possible an incident that may have been reported as sexual assault in the PSS would have been included as a physical assault in the GSS.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, p28
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4906.0.55.0032005?OpenDocument
Women who in the last 12 months experienced:
2005 1996
violence 5.8% 7.1%
physical violence 4.7% 5.9%
sexual violence 1.6%
(both sexual and non-sexual physical violence 0.5%)
physical assault 3.1% 5.0%
threat or attempt of physical violence 2.1%
(both physical violence and threat/attempt 0.5%)
sexual assault 1.3%
threat or attempt of sexual assault 0.5%
(both sexual assault and threat/attempt 0.2%)
Men who in the last 12 months experienced:
violence 10.8%
physical violence 10.4%
sexual violence 0.6%
(both sexual and non-sexual physical violence 0.2%)
physical assault 6.5%
threat or attempt of physical assault 5.3%
(both physical violence and threat/attempt 1.4%)
sexual assault 0.6%
threat or attempt of sexual assault 0.1%
(both sexual assault and threat/attempt 0.1%)
Note: Violence = assault + threat and/or attempt at assault
People may have experienced violence more than once on the past 12 months, and so the incidence of violence would be higher.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4906.0.55.0032005?OpenDocument
It appears the incidence of physical assault against women may have decreased by as much as 40% in the period 1996-2005. This is great news. How about the incidence of violence against men ?
Physical Assault
by male stranger by fem. stranger by partner or ex-p other
men 65% 4.4% (21,200)
women 15% 31% (73,800)
Indicates partner or ex-partner violence (a key form of domestic violence) is perpetrated 22.3% by women and 77.7% by men.
This data could vary somewhat depending on statistics of gay relationships and partner violence within those relationships. It is said that partner violence is greatest between lesbian couples.
Also it is suggested that most partner violence involves both couples. However, the above data would contradict this assertion (ie even if there were no examples of women assaulting male partners without male partner retaliation, the above data would indicate about 55% of couples would consist of 55% of men assaulting women without retaliation from the female.
125,100 women experienced physical assault by a male perpetrator at home while 60,900 men experienced physical assault by a female perpetrator at home. This suggests partner or ex-partner violence at home (a key form of domestic violence) is perpetrated 33% by women and 67% by men.
There is likely to have been a greater proportion of women assaulted by unknown male perpetrators entering the home, than men assaulted by female perpetrators entering the home. This implies the ratio of men assaulting women in the home compared to women assaulting men would be closer than 33:67 (eg possibly 40:60 ?)
Of 40,400 of women who were assaulted by a female perpetrator, 25,300 (38%) occurred in a home and 15,100 (22.7%) occurred at licensed premises.
Physical assaults in 12 months prior to the 2005 PSS ABS study.
By men By women Total (By both men and women)
Women victims 195,300 66,579 242,000 19,879
Men victims 425,429 79,500 485,400 19,529
The reason that the total number of victims is less than the number of victims by men plus the number by women is that some people have been a victim of both men and women.
The ratio of male assaulting female compared to female assaulting male (but not only in the home) appears to be 29:71
During the 12 months prior to the survey 1.6% (126,100) of women and 0.6% (46,700) of men experienced an incident of sexual violence.
Of the women who experienced sexual violence 81% (101,600) experienced an incident of sexual assault and 28% (34,900) experienced a threat of sexual assault.
22% (22,100) of women had experienced sexual assault by a stranger in the most recent incident, 21% (21,500) by a previous partner, 39% (39,700) by a family member or friend and 32% (32,500) by an other known person.
In the 12 months prior to the survey, 0.6% (42,300) of men reported experiencing sexual assault.
44% (18,500) had experienced sexual assault by a family member or friend in the most recent incident, 35% (14,900) by an other known person, and 33% (13,900) by a stranger
Since the age of 15, 5.5% (408,100) of men reported experiencing sexual violence compared to 19% (1,469,500) of women.
Since the age of 15, 0.9% (68,100) of men and 2.1% (160,100) of women experienced current partner violence. This implies a ratio of 29:71
10% (16,100) of women who had experienced violence by their current partner had a violence order issued against their current partner as a result of the violence. Of those women who had violence orders issued, 20% (3,200) reported that violence still occurred.
How many men take out violence orders ? How many of those are contravened ?
49% (111,700) of men and women who experienced violence by a current partner reported that they had children in their care at some time during the relationship. An estimated 27% (60,700) said that these children had witnessed the violence.
The proportion of women and men who experienced physical abuse before the age of 15 was 10% (779,500) and 9.4% (702,400) respectively.
Women were more likely to have been sexually abused than men. Before the age of 15, 12% (956,600) of women had been sexually abused compared to 4.5% (337,400) of men.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4906.0Main%20Features12005%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4906.0&issue=2005%20(Reissue)&num=&view=
It is clear that female perpetration of domestic violence is not insignificant and likely to be about one third. The common myth is that when women do commit domestic violence, they are driven to it following chronic violence and psychological oppression etc. This myth needs to be tested, as does the rate of psychological and emotional violence perpetrated by both men and women and the relationship of this to physical violence.
Since female perpetration of domestic violence is significant - an estimated 33% - the Domestic Violence campaigns of 2005-06 produced by the Office for the Status of Women which portrays ALL perpetrators as men as ALL victims as women, is biased, sexist and discriminating against men.
Moreover it erodes the self-esteem of men and risks leading to an increase of violent behaviour by men ! Domestic violence has many forms and must be dealt with not as a blame game but a community problem where we can find creative solutions.
Scottish Study
The vast majority of incidents reported to the Scottish Police are recorded as incidents involving male perpetrators abusing female victims. As Table 2.1 reveals, the police data suggest that there was little change in the ratios of male to female victims and perpetrators in the last two years in question.
Table 2.1: Incidents of domestic abuse in terms of the sex of the victim and
Perpetrator
Victim / Perpetrator Percentage of all incidents of domestic abuse
1999 2000
Female / Male 92.3 92.1
Male / Female 7.0 7.2
Male / Male 0.4 0.4
Female / Female 0.3 0.3
TOTAL 100.0 100.0
Domestic Abuse Against Men in Scotland David Gadd, Stephen Farrall, Damian Dallimore
and Nancy Lombard, Department of Criminology, Keele University, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit
2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/kd01/green/dvam.pdf
It is often argued by men’s groups that data based on police reports give an inaccurate ratio of domestic violence between men and women, because men are more reluctant to report such incidents to police for a variety of reasons. Also they argue, women often make false claims in order to obtain a domestic violence restraining order, either to alienate a father from his children and/or to obtain an advantage in Family Court proceedings.
Rates of physical violence for people over 18 yrs in Australia
PSS 2005 NCSS 2005 GSS 2002
Males 10.4% 4.9% 10.9%
Females 4.7% 4.0% 7.2%
People 7.5% 4.4% 9.0%
PSS – Personal Safety Survey
NCSS – National Crime and Safety Survey
GSS – General Safety Survey
The differences are attributable to methodological and procedural factors, context effects (preceding questions influence
responses to subsequent questions) and question wording. For example, the 2005 PSS asked about the most recent incident of sexual assault and sexual threat and then respondents were instructed to exclude any incidents they had already reported when reporting any incidents of physical assault and physical threat, whereas the GSS only asked about physical assaults and threats. It is possible an incident that may have been reported as sexual assault in the PSS would have been included as a physical assault in the GSS.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, p28
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4906.0.55.0032005?OpenDocument
Women who in the last 12 months experienced:
2005 1996
violence 5.8% 7.1%
physical violence 4.7% 5.9%
sexual violence 1.6%
(both sexual and non-sexual physical violence 0.5%)
physical assault 3.1% 5.0%
threat or attempt of physical violence 2.1%
(both physical violence and threat/attempt 0.5%)
sexual assault 1.3%
threat or attempt of sexual assault 0.5%
(both sexual assault and threat/attempt 0.2%)
Men who in the last 12 months experienced:
violence 10.8%
physical violence 10.4%
sexual violence 0.6%
(both sexual and non-sexual physical violence 0.2%)
physical assault 6.5%
threat or attempt of physical assault 5.3%
(both physical violence and threat/attempt 1.4%)
sexual assault 0.6%
threat or attempt of sexual assault 0.1%
(both sexual assault and threat/attempt 0.1%)
Note: Violence = assault + threat and/or attempt at assault
People may have experienced violence more than once on the past 12 months, and so the incidence of violence would be higher.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4906.0.55.0032005?OpenDocument
It appears the incidence of physical assault against women may have decreased by as much as 40% in the period 1996-2005. This is great news. How about the incidence of violence against men ?
Physical Assault
by male stranger by fem. stranger by partner or ex-p other
men 65% 4.4% (21,200)
women 15% 31% (73,800)
Indicates partner or ex-partner violence (a key form of domestic violence) is perpetrated 22.3% by women and 77.7% by men.
This data could vary somewhat depending on statistics of gay relationships and partner violence within those relationships. It is said that partner violence is greatest between lesbian couples.
Also it is suggested that most partner violence involves both couples. However, the above data would contradict this assertion (ie even if there were no examples of women assaulting male partners without male partner retaliation, the above data would indicate about 55% of couples would consist of 55% of men assaulting women without retaliation from the female.
125,100 women experienced physical assault by a male perpetrator at home while 60,900 men experienced physical assault by a female perpetrator at home. This suggests partner or ex-partner violence at home (a key form of domestic violence) is perpetrated 33% by women and 67% by men.
There is likely to have been a greater proportion of women assaulted by unknown male perpetrators entering the home, than men assaulted by female perpetrators entering the home. This implies the ratio of men assaulting women in the home compared to women assaulting men would be closer than 33:67 (eg possibly 40:60 ?)
Of 40,400 of women who were assaulted by a female perpetrator, 25,300 (38%) occurred in a home and 15,100 (22.7%) occurred at licensed premises.
Physical assaults in 12 months prior to the 2005 PSS ABS study.
By men By women Total (By both men and women)
Women victims 195,300 66,579 242,000 19,879
Men victims 425,429 79,500 485,400 19,529
The reason that the total number of victims is less than the number of victims by men plus the number by women is that some people have been a victim of both men and women.
The ratio of male assaulting female compared to female assaulting male (but not only in the home) appears to be 29:71
During the 12 months prior to the survey 1.6% (126,100) of women and 0.6% (46,700) of men experienced an incident of sexual violence.
Of the women who experienced sexual violence 81% (101,600) experienced an incident of sexual assault and 28% (34,900) experienced a threat of sexual assault.
22% (22,100) of women had experienced sexual assault by a stranger in the most recent incident, 21% (21,500) by a previous partner, 39% (39,700) by a family member or friend and 32% (32,500) by an other known person.
In the 12 months prior to the survey, 0.6% (42,300) of men reported experiencing sexual assault.
44% (18,500) had experienced sexual assault by a family member or friend in the most recent incident, 35% (14,900) by an other known person, and 33% (13,900) by a stranger
Since the age of 15, 5.5% (408,100) of men reported experiencing sexual violence compared to 19% (1,469,500) of women.
Since the age of 15, 0.9% (68,100) of men and 2.1% (160,100) of women experienced current partner violence. This implies a ratio of 29:71
10% (16,100) of women who had experienced violence by their current partner had a violence order issued against their current partner as a result of the violence. Of those women who had violence orders issued, 20% (3,200) reported that violence still occurred.
How many men take out violence orders ? How many of those are contravened ?
49% (111,700) of men and women who experienced violence by a current partner reported that they had children in their care at some time during the relationship. An estimated 27% (60,700) said that these children had witnessed the violence.
The proportion of women and men who experienced physical abuse before the age of 15 was 10% (779,500) and 9.4% (702,400) respectively.
Women were more likely to have been sexually abused than men. Before the age of 15, 12% (956,600) of women had been sexually abused compared to 4.5% (337,400) of men.
Personal Safety Survey, Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4906.0Main%20Features12005%20(Reissue)?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4906.0&issue=2005%20(Reissue)&num=&view=
It is clear that female perpetration of domestic violence is not insignificant and likely to be about one third. The common myth is that when women do commit domestic violence, they are driven to it following chronic violence and psychological oppression etc. This myth needs to be tested, as does the rate of psychological and emotional violence perpetrated by both men and women and the relationship of this to physical violence.
Since female perpetration of domestic violence is significant - an estimated 33% - the Domestic Violence campaigns of 2005-06 produced by the Office for the Status of Women which portrays ALL perpetrators as men as ALL victims as women, is biased, sexist and discriminating against men.
Moreover it erodes the self-esteem of men and risks leading to an increase of violent behaviour by men ! Domestic violence has many forms and must be dealt with not as a blame game but a community problem where we can find creative solutions.
Scottish Study
The vast majority of incidents reported to the Scottish Police are recorded as incidents involving male perpetrators abusing female victims. As Table 2.1 reveals, the police data suggest that there was little change in the ratios of male to female victims and perpetrators in the last two years in question.
Table 2.1: Incidents of domestic abuse in terms of the sex of the victim and
Perpetrator
Victim / Perpetrator Percentage of all incidents of domestic abuse
1999 2000
Female / Male 92.3 92.1
Male / Female 7.0 7.2
Male / Male 0.4 0.4
Female / Female 0.3 0.3
TOTAL 100.0 100.0
Domestic Abuse Against Men in Scotland David Gadd, Stephen Farrall, Damian Dallimore
and Nancy Lombard, Department of Criminology, Keele University, Scottish Executive Central Research Unit
2002 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/kd01/green/dvam.pdf
It is often argued by men’s groups that data based on police reports give an inaccurate ratio of domestic violence between men and women, because men are more reluctant to report such incidents to police for a variety of reasons. Also they argue, women often make false claims in order to obtain a domestic violence restraining order, either to alienate a father from his children and/or to obtain an advantage in Family Court proceedings.
Suicide, homicide and the Family Court system
2. Suicide, Homicide and the Family Court system and Child Support Agency in Australia
Male suicide rates in Australia each year.
Male suicide rates with a link to family separation each year.
Of these (2.) male suicide rates where the Family Court process was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Of these (2.) male suicide rates where the Child Support Agency was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Female suicide rates in Australia each year.
Female suicide rates with a link to family separation each year.
Of these (5.) female suicide rates where the Family Court process was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Of these (5.) female suicide rates where the Child Support Agency was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
To date we know of only one small survey which has tried to gauge the extent of a link between male suicide and we are attempting to obtain results of this study. Considering the increasing rates of male suicide and the resolution of the National Forum on Men and Suicide in Sydney 02 May 2006 to stamp out male suicide by 2030 (The Australian, 04 May 2006 “Bid to stamp out male suicide by 2030” source AAP http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19014598-29277,00.html ) one would think that a study to gauge the relative importance of family separation and the influence of the Family Court system and the Child Support Agency in suicide rates (and homicide rates) would be a priority.
Male and Female Suicides in Australia
Note – these statistics have been estimated from a graph so they are accurate +/- 20.
Male % Female % Total
1994 1800 80.0 450 20.0 2250
1995 1875 79.3 490 20.7 2365
1996 1950 80.9 460 19.1 2410
1997 2120 77.9 600 22.1 2720
1998 2125 79.4 550 20.6 2675
1999 2000 80.2 495 19.8 2495
2000 1875 78.9 500 21.1 2375
2001 1950 79.3 510 20.7 2460
2002 1775 78.0 500 22.0 2275
2003 1750 78.0 495 22.0 2245
2004 1650 78.6 450 21.4 2100
Source:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
3309.0 - Suicides, Australia, 1994 to 2004
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/03/2006
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/7a5013a2773b6167ca2570a6008230c8!OpenDocument
The trend in suicide for both men and women is decreasing since a peak in the late nineties. Between 4-5 men suicide each day on average in Australia. It is difficult to imagine how many suicides have the Family Court system and/or the Child Support Agency as a significant factor. It could be as high as one suicide per day, or even higher.
Homicide rates in Australia each year.
Of these (1.) the number with a link to family separation.
Of these (2.) the total for males.
Of these (3.) the number with a causal link to the Family Court system.
Of these (3.) the number with a causal link to the Child Support Agency.
Of these (2.) the total for females.
Of these (6.) the number with a causal link to the Family Court system.
Of these (6.) the number with a causal link to the Child Support Agency.
Male suicide rates in Australia each year.
Male suicide rates with a link to family separation each year.
Of these (2.) male suicide rates where the Family Court process was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Of these (2.) male suicide rates where the Child Support Agency was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Female suicide rates in Australia each year.
Female suicide rates with a link to family separation each year.
Of these (5.) female suicide rates where the Family Court process was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
Of these (5.) female suicide rates where the Child Support Agency was seen as a major factor in suicide each year.
To date we know of only one small survey which has tried to gauge the extent of a link between male suicide and we are attempting to obtain results of this study. Considering the increasing rates of male suicide and the resolution of the National Forum on Men and Suicide in Sydney 02 May 2006 to stamp out male suicide by 2030 (The Australian, 04 May 2006 “Bid to stamp out male suicide by 2030” source AAP http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,19014598-29277,00.html ) one would think that a study to gauge the relative importance of family separation and the influence of the Family Court system and the Child Support Agency in suicide rates (and homicide rates) would be a priority.
Male and Female Suicides in Australia
Note – these statistics have been estimated from a graph so they are accurate +/- 20.
Male % Female % Total
1994 1800 80.0 450 20.0 2250
1995 1875 79.3 490 20.7 2365
1996 1950 80.9 460 19.1 2410
1997 2120 77.9 600 22.1 2720
1998 2125 79.4 550 20.6 2675
1999 2000 80.2 495 19.8 2495
2000 1875 78.9 500 21.1 2375
2001 1950 79.3 510 20.7 2460
2002 1775 78.0 500 22.0 2275
2003 1750 78.0 495 22.0 2245
2004 1650 78.6 450 21.4 2100
Source:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
3309.0 - Suicides, Australia, 1994 to 2004
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/03/2006
http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/7d12b0f6763c78caca257061001cc588/7a5013a2773b6167ca2570a6008230c8!OpenDocument
The trend in suicide for both men and women is decreasing since a peak in the late nineties. Between 4-5 men suicide each day on average in Australia. It is difficult to imagine how many suicides have the Family Court system and/or the Child Support Agency as a significant factor. It could be as high as one suicide per day, or even higher.
Homicide rates in Australia each year.
Of these (1.) the number with a link to family separation.
Of these (2.) the total for males.
Of these (3.) the number with a causal link to the Family Court system.
Of these (3.) the number with a causal link to the Child Support Agency.
Of these (2.) the total for females.
Of these (6.) the number with a causal link to the Family Court system.
Of these (6.) the number with a causal link to the Child Support Agency.
Residency outcomes following separation in Australia
1. Residency outcomes following separation in Australia
We seek to identify statistics which document
1. Number of incidences of separation in Australia for each year
2. Of these, (1.) the number of incidences of separation involving children
3. Of these, (2.) the percentage resolved without need to go to the Family Court system in
Australia.
4. Of these, (3.) the percentage with an Equal Residency outcome.
5. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage where both parents
seek Equal Residency (or more).
6. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage which result in
6.1 Equal Residency 182/3 nights
6.2 Shared Residency 146-219 nights but excluding Equal Residency 182/3
nights
6.3 Major Residency 220-255 nights for the father
6.4 Sole Residency 256+ nights for the father
6.5 Substantial Residency 110-145 nights for the father
6.6 Less Residency 0-109 nights for the father
7. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage involving chronic domestic violence [and citing gender(s) of the perpetrator(s) ]
8. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage involving physical or sexual abuse toward the child(ren) [and citing gender(s) of the perpetrator(s) ]
We have contacted both the Family Court of Australia and the Attorney General’s Dept. and neither has been able to provide these statistics. Considering that the Federal Government has promised better outcomes for children and fathers in the new system of Family Relationship Centres (FRCs), one would expect that such statistics would be fundamental in assessing one aspect of the success of the FRCs.
Trend away from ‘Joint Residence’ ?
Of all Family Court system cases which reach the stage of a Final Hearing and Final Orders, the frequency of handing down 'Joint Residence' had dropped from 5.1% in 1994-95 to 2.5% in 2000-01.
Source:
"Family Court of Australia, Residence and Contact orders - Any Application, For children by outcome 1994-95 to 2000-01"
www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/connect/www/home/about/business_administration/statistics/statistics_public_interest/
Here, 'Joint Residence' includes Equal Parenting but also all other variations of Joint Residence - and it offers no precise definition for this (presumably anything greater than every second weekend contact). The frequency of handing down Equal Parenting, or Equal Residency is likely to be a small fraction of 2.5% !
We have not been able to obtain any more recent statistics.
Family Court outcomes.
In FY2002-03
number of consent applications 11,607
number of applications for Final Orders 16,695
number of parenting and other matters 1,115
Applications for Final Orders by Primary Issue FY 2002-03
Children and financial issues 12.2%
Children's issues 53.6%
Financial issues 28.5%
Procedural issues 1.0%
Survival Pattern of Applications FY 2000-01
Applications initiated 100%
Case conference / directions hearing 90%
Mediation / conciliation events 58%
Pre-hearing conference 36%
Trial preparation 21%
Trial hearing commenced 13%
Case heard to judgment 6%
Source:
"Submission of Family Court of Australia, Part B Statistical Analysis and Part C Full Court Analysis, Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs, Inquiry Into Joint Custody Arrangements in the Event of Separation." Family Court of Australia, 16 Oct 2003
http://www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/resources/file/eb000240ff79dc9/iijca2.pdf
We presume the Family Court is suggesting that only 6% of all applications for Final Orders - eg approx 16,695 - went to a Final Hearing where Final Orders were handed down. That is, about 1000 cases a year go to the Final Hearing where Final Orders were handed down.
The argument that only 6% go to a Final Hearing is used frequently by opponents of Presumption of Equal Parenting Time, suggesting that these are mostly the hardcore cases involving violent and abusive men.
But this report states that "Family Violence Events" were a ‘moderate’ or ‘high importance’ factor taken into consideration in only 24.2% of Final Hearing cases.
The report concludes:
"Despite criticisms that the Court is biased towards mothers and against fathers when residence of children is an issue, that data show that parents themselves are more likely to agree that the primary carer after separation should be the mother than is the Court to order such an outcome. This suggests that the reasons for the so-called 'mother preference' is societal rather than specific to the Court - or the Family Law Act.
The frequency with which allegations of child abuse are not only alleged but are considered by judges to be relevant to children's best interests also indicate how perilous are the lives of many parents whose parenting arrangements come before the Court".
The logic of the author is flawed because they apparently have not considered such factors as:
1. fathers may surrender to unfair access terms because they are advised or otherwise know their chances of achieving a better outcome in the Family Court are minimal, and cannot justify or afford to spend more on legal fees.
2. cases that are not voluntarily agreed on are more likely to be cases where fathers want Equal Residency and so we should expect a far higher incidence of Equal Residency outcomes in the Family Court if it were not biased.
The implication of the last paragraph is that all the perpetrators of child abuse are male (because of its juxtaposition with criticism of bias against fathers). Of the cases where family violence events where of moderate or high importance (24.2% of Final Hearings) it is not specified how many involve violence or sexual abuse against the children, (and of these, what percentage was perpetrated by mothers and what percentage by fathers), and how many related to violence between the parents, and of these, perpetrated by the man, the woman or both.
Incidence of separation (marriage and de facto)
Divorces involving children
Of the total number of divorces each year, the number of divorces involving children under the age of 18 has decreased slightly from 52.4% in 1994 to 49.8% in 2004.
No. of divorces No. of children
involving children involved in these divorces.
1984 26,274 50,713
1994 25,316 47,537
1999 28,331 53,444
2000 26,295 49,612
2001 28,345 53,396
2002 26,820 50,509
2003 26,637 49,850
2004 26,289 46,260
Source:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
“Divorces, Australia” (cat. no. 3307.0.55.001)
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyTopic/F356DBB7EA7A96EECA256F10007B6B1A?OpenDocument
The divorce rate obviously does not include the rate of separation of de facto couples.
We seek to identify statistics which document
1. Number of incidences of separation in Australia for each year
2. Of these, (1.) the number of incidences of separation involving children
3. Of these, (2.) the percentage resolved without need to go to the Family Court system in
Australia.
4. Of these, (3.) the percentage with an Equal Residency outcome.
5. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage where both parents
seek Equal Residency (or more).
6. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage which result in
6.1 Equal Residency 182/3 nights
6.2 Shared Residency 146-219 nights but excluding Equal Residency 182/3
nights
6.3 Major Residency 220-255 nights for the father
6.4 Sole Residency 256+ nights for the father
6.5 Substantial Residency 110-145 nights for the father
6.6 Less Residency 0-109 nights for the father
7. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage involving chronic domestic violence [and citing gender(s) of the perpetrator(s) ]
8. Of those that go to the Family Court system in Australia, the percentage involving physical or sexual abuse toward the child(ren) [and citing gender(s) of the perpetrator(s) ]
We have contacted both the Family Court of Australia and the Attorney General’s Dept. and neither has been able to provide these statistics. Considering that the Federal Government has promised better outcomes for children and fathers in the new system of Family Relationship Centres (FRCs), one would expect that such statistics would be fundamental in assessing one aspect of the success of the FRCs.
Trend away from ‘Joint Residence’ ?
Of all Family Court system cases which reach the stage of a Final Hearing and Final Orders, the frequency of handing down 'Joint Residence' had dropped from 5.1% in 1994-95 to 2.5% in 2000-01.
Source:
"Family Court of Australia, Residence and Contact orders - Any Application, For children by outcome 1994-95 to 2000-01"
www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/connect/www/home/about/business_administration/statistics/statistics_public_interest/
Here, 'Joint Residence' includes Equal Parenting but also all other variations of Joint Residence - and it offers no precise definition for this (presumably anything greater than every second weekend contact). The frequency of handing down Equal Parenting, or Equal Residency is likely to be a small fraction of 2.5% !
We have not been able to obtain any more recent statistics.
Family Court outcomes.
In FY2002-03
number of consent applications 11,607
number of applications for Final Orders 16,695
number of parenting and other matters 1,115
Applications for Final Orders by Primary Issue FY 2002-03
Children and financial issues 12.2%
Children's issues 53.6%
Financial issues 28.5%
Procedural issues 1.0%
Survival Pattern of Applications FY 2000-01
Applications initiated 100%
Case conference / directions hearing 90%
Mediation / conciliation events 58%
Pre-hearing conference 36%
Trial preparation 21%
Trial hearing commenced 13%
Case heard to judgment 6%
Source:
"Submission of Family Court of Australia, Part B Statistical Analysis and Part C Full Court Analysis, Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs, Inquiry Into Joint Custody Arrangements in the Event of Separation." Family Court of Australia, 16 Oct 2003
http://www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/resources/file/eb000240ff79dc9/iijca2.pdf
We presume the Family Court is suggesting that only 6% of all applications for Final Orders - eg approx 16,695 - went to a Final Hearing where Final Orders were handed down. That is, about 1000 cases a year go to the Final Hearing where Final Orders were handed down.
The argument that only 6% go to a Final Hearing is used frequently by opponents of Presumption of Equal Parenting Time, suggesting that these are mostly the hardcore cases involving violent and abusive men.
But this report states that "Family Violence Events" were a ‘moderate’ or ‘high importance’ factor taken into consideration in only 24.2% of Final Hearing cases.
The report concludes:
"Despite criticisms that the Court is biased towards mothers and against fathers when residence of children is an issue, that data show that parents themselves are more likely to agree that the primary carer after separation should be the mother than is the Court to order such an outcome. This suggests that the reasons for the so-called 'mother preference' is societal rather than specific to the Court - or the Family Law Act.
The frequency with which allegations of child abuse are not only alleged but are considered by judges to be relevant to children's best interests also indicate how perilous are the lives of many parents whose parenting arrangements come before the Court".
The logic of the author is flawed because they apparently have not considered such factors as:
1. fathers may surrender to unfair access terms because they are advised or otherwise know their chances of achieving a better outcome in the Family Court are minimal, and cannot justify or afford to spend more on legal fees.
2. cases that are not voluntarily agreed on are more likely to be cases where fathers want Equal Residency and so we should expect a far higher incidence of Equal Residency outcomes in the Family Court if it were not biased.
The implication of the last paragraph is that all the perpetrators of child abuse are male (because of its juxtaposition with criticism of bias against fathers). Of the cases where family violence events where of moderate or high importance (24.2% of Final Hearings) it is not specified how many involve violence or sexual abuse against the children, (and of these, what percentage was perpetrated by mothers and what percentage by fathers), and how many related to violence between the parents, and of these, perpetrated by the man, the woman or both.
Incidence of separation (marriage and de facto)
Divorces involving children
Of the total number of divorces each year, the number of divorces involving children under the age of 18 has decreased slightly from 52.4% in 1994 to 49.8% in 2004.
No. of divorces No. of children
involving children involved in these divorces.
1984 26,274 50,713
1994 25,316 47,537
1999 28,331 53,444
2000 26,295 49,612
2001 28,345 53,396
2002 26,820 50,509
2003 26,637 49,850
2004 26,289 46,260
Source:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
“Divorces, Australia” (cat. no. 3307.0.55.001)
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyTopic/F356DBB7EA7A96EECA256F10007B6B1A?OpenDocument
The divorce rate obviously does not include the rate of separation of de facto couples.
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