| While everyone agrees that victims of domestic | | | | are also male and who themselves might have been |
| violence must be helped, no on talks about the | | | | perpetrators some time in their lives. Domestic |
| perpetrators of domestic violence or if they do at all, | | | | violence perpetrators who take part in the classes |
| many will want the perpetrators to be given the | | | | are taught to confront their anger and behavior and |
| highest punishment possible. The truth however is, | | | | also to take responsibility for their acts of violence |
| that perpetrators of domestic violence also need help | | | | instead of blaming others. They are taught to |
| and sometimes their behavior itself is a call for help | | | | recognize the signs and how to stop when they are |
| which unfortunately is not recognized by many. | | | | about to become violent. |
| Although there are quite a number of female | | | | If perpetrators of domestic violence have relationship |
| perpetrators, we have to agree that most of the | | | | problems where they become provoked by a |
| perpetrators of domestic violence happen to be male. | | | | partner's anger, they will be taught how to approach |
| A majority of them realize that they need help but | | | | the partner without being abusive and also by helping |
| are not aware how to get it. Some of them are | | | | the partner to manage her anger in a better way. |
| really desperate to change their ways. With most of | | | | Most importantly, they learn that it is up to them to |
| the domestic violence cases ending in courts, an | | | | choose whether they wish to be violent and abusive |
| order to attend classes conducted on domestic | | | | or solve problems with a non abusive approach that |
| violation is often a stipulation of the court. There are | | | | would help to build a relationship or make it stronger. |
| of course some perpetrators who having realized the | | | | At the meetings they have to report on their |
| dire straits they are in, start attending these classes | | | | behavior since the last meeting and to comment on |
| of their own free well. | | | | the progress they have made in controlling their |
| These classes are designed with the idea of changing | | | | anger. |
| the violent behavior of a person and help him to | | | | What one has to understand is that in the same way |
| realize how disruptive and unhealthy it is for him and | | | | that the abused is the victim of the abuser, the |
| all those around him. The perpetrators are educated | | | | perpetrator is also a victim of circumstances which |
| about the consequences of domestic violence | | | | would have made an impact in his life when he was |
| especially on the children and how the behavior of | | | | quite young such as an abusive and violent |
| the father will impact on the lives of the children who | | | | relationship between his parents or he himself being |
| have to witness abuse and violence daily in their | | | | abused when he was young either by his parents, a |
| homes. These classes also help to draw out the | | | | teacher or relative. |
| underlying reason for this type of violent behavior so | | | | According to reports and testimonies received from |
| that the perpetrator can confront them and start | | | | many past perpetrators, these classes have really |
| changing his beliefs and attitudes which so far has | | | | helped them to change and build a healthy relationship |
| made him to act the way he has. | | | | with their partners and they are quite positive about |
| Perpetrators of domestic violence can be from any | | | | the help they received which as stated by them is |
| walk of life, race, religion or background. The classes | | | | very practical and relevant to the problems they had |
| are conducted in small groups where the instructors | | | | been having for a long time. |