Dealing with an Abusive Spouse? What You Need to Know About Violence against Women and Girls

The surge of gender-based violence has raised serious concerns regarding the safety of women. Economic insecurity and alcohol consumption rates have emerged as risk factors that have been found attributive to domestic violence.

As many as 1 in 4 women in the UK are susceptible to being violated at the hands of an abusive spouse in their lifetime.

Explaining gender-based violence

Gender-based violence is a public health issue that causes pain, injury, and suffering either mentally, physically, or sexually. Despite the remarkable progress in our society, innumerable inequalities still exist between men and women, one being the fear and harm perpetrated by men and experienced by women. Factors such as age, financial dependency, and instability in immigration status often heighten a woman’s vulnerability.

Gender-based violence and health

The experience of violence results in a range of physical and sexual health problems; they mostly display deteriorating gynaecological and cardiac symptoms. They’re also prone to health risk behaviours, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Gender-based violence adversely affects mental health. Women experiencing domestic abuse are greater mental health service users with symptoms of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, self-harm, psychosis, and suicidal ideation.

Responding to gender-based violence

Often, victims are reluctant to come forward through shame or fear, so they don’t disclose their abuse experience. While healthcare workers are trained to recognize the abuse to treat health problems, the society must also hold perpetrators accountable and treat the victims with warmth and empathy.

The government has taken action to end violence against women and girls. We at the Wembley Solicitors can help you preserve your rights.  Located in Wembley, Middlesex, our legal solicitors’ team is highly trained and experienced in matters involving an abusive spouse.

We also offer legal expertise in UK immigration law, personal injury claims, family law, children law, landlord and tenant, commercial lease, and litigation.