Early detection essential for dating violence prevention, says expert
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Thursday said that it plans to pilot a tool for diagnosing dating abuse to help people in relationships detect signs of violence in advance and to assist counselors and the public to take prompt action to support victims of dating abuse.
The tool categorizes dating violence into various forms -- stalking, emotional abuse, coercion as well as sexual, physical and economic violence -- and is intended to help assess how much they are exposed to such abuse.
According to the ministry, three versions of the tool are in development: one for counselors of institutions for dating violence victims and two for the general public. The tools for the public are being made for adults and teens.
The tool asks whether one's partner tries to figure out one's smartphone or social media account passwords, attempts to check one’s location or schedule frequently, gets angry or swears often.
The degree of dating violence is also expected to be determined by confirming the user's personal experiences, ranging from blackmail and extortion, to unwanted, sexual conversations, to one's partner's repeated attempts to interfere with one's clothing, looks and personal assets.
The ministry stated that this tool for the early detection of dating violence will be officially provided in May after three months of pilot use from February to April.
One of the unique aspects of dating abuse cases is that many victims tend to stay in intimate relationships without recognizing the apparent signs of domestic violence, according to one expert.
“The worst case scenario is when a victim refuses to acknowledge their partner’s abuse. It might be too late to take appropriate action when the victim actually feels they are in danger, so early detection is essential to preventing dating violence, which can even lead to homicide in extreme cases,” said Bae Sang-hoon, a former sociology and police administration professor at Woosuk University.
While the ministry’s latest checklist can assist potential victims, Bae emphasized that raising nationwide awareness of dating violence is a key preventive measure. Highlighting the role of bystanders in recognizing abuse — similar to child abuse cases — Bae stressed the importance of educating as many people as possible about the warning signs.
“Self-assessment can be difficult in many cases. Preemptive measures can be made by the people who are around the victims, so raising these people’s awareness about dating violence and ability to recognize the signs of dating abuse can be key,” Bae added.
Though the exact date has not yet been announced, the ministry plans to launch dating violence prevention education at public institutions and schools to underline the seriousness of such cases. It plans to increase the number of counseling centers, hire more consultants for dating violence and publish video content to enhance awareness.
sj_lee@heraldcorp.com
