Ssecond According to Istat, approximately 50% of the children of women who are victims of abuse witness acts of violence, while 10% suffer it. This leaves indelible marks on them, which can compromise physical, cognitive and behavioral development. To raise awareness of this very serious “side effect” of domestic violence, and to support women victims and their children, it is active until 29 October the fundraising campaign Violence is not a game. A title that takes inspiration from the first lie with which a mother can mask the violence she suffers: “Mom and dad were just playing”.
In Italy, over 400 thousand children witness episodes of violence against women
It will be possible to donate by text message or landline call to the solidarity number 45590. This will make a concrete contribution to the “Mother and Child” Program that the SOS Children’s Villages organization carries out through a network of accommodations. 48 mothers welcomed with their children, for a total of over 110 beneficiaries per year.
As Samantha Tedesco, SOS Children’s Villages programs and advocacy manager, explains, «in our 60 years of working on behalf of the most vulnerable children, we always put the best interests of the child at the centre. We are committed to in situations of domestic violence against women, the mother-child relationship is protectedwelcomed and may remain united and return to living peacefully.”
The effects of violence against women on their children
The effects that exposure to violence can have on a child’s well-being are serious physical, cognitive and behavioral development. And this not only when he visually witnesses the violence but also when he becomes aware of what is happening. Observing the effects on the victim’s body (bruises and wounds), on his psyche (stress/mood different from normal in the victim) or on the environment in which he lives (broken tables and doors). But also in the alteration of normal family life (coming into contact with social workers, the judicial system or healthcare personnel).
Not only. A traumatized mother is more likely to carry out contradictory behaviors towards her child, behaviors that denote fear and which in turn frighten the children.
Single mothers are often unemployed
Added to all this is the difficult economic situation in which mothers who manage to distance themselves from their violent partner end up living. According to the most recent data on unemployment, there are as many as 192,000 unemployed out of a total of over 1 million single parent mother-child households. Children are therefore increasingly at risk of marginalization: social and economic.
The “Mother and Child” Program of the SOS Villages
The “Mother and Child” Program is active in all SOS Villages in Italy through different types of services. The Mother and Child Home, which welcomes young mothers with children and pregnant women who need support. The Home for women victims of violence, dedicated to women victims of violence or at risk of possible mistreatment who are forced to leave home. The Apartments for autonomy, to work on the recovery of parenthood and the acquisition of working, economic and housing independence.
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