Domestic Violence
For some children and young people in New Zealand, domestic violence (also known as family violence) is an everyday part of their lives. Young people are particularly at risk of experiencing violence themselves, or of seeing a family member being abused.
Domestic violence is about abuse in situations where people are in a domestic relationship, such as boyfriend and girlfriend, parent and child, brothers and sisters, people who share a house, or other close personal relationships.
However, domestic violence is not just about being hit or smacked. It covers a range of abusive behaviour – physical, sexual and psychological – that causes fear, intimidation and emotional deprivation for the victim.
No matter what you have done, or what reasons someone gives for being abusive towards you, there is no excuse for domestic violence. Domestic violence can happen in all types of family situations and in all cultures. If you are experiencing domestic violence, there are legal steps you can take to try to change your situation.