Macau recorded 40 suspected cases of domestic violence last year, comprising 23 cases of physical violence, eight cases of psychological harm, five cases of sexual abuse and four cases of multiple violence/assaults, according to a report released by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) yesterday.

In 2022, the bureau recorded 39 suspected cases of domestic violence. In 2021, 81 such cases were recorded by the bureau.

According to the report, the bureau received 2,479 reports of alleged domestic violence in 2023, of which 1,781 cases were finally excluded for duplication, with only 40 cases identified as suspected domestic violence cases.

The report noted that in 2023, the bureau identified seven male and 33 female victims, involving 26 suspected cases of domestic violence against spouses, 11 against children and three against family members.

In spouse domestic violence cases, the report shows that 92 percent of the victims were female, mainly aged between 35 and 44, while in child domestic violence cases, the youngest victim was below two years old, with the perpetrators predominantly male.

Of the 26 cases of domestic violence against spouses, 24 were female victims and two were male, the report states, while of the 11 child violence cases, eight were girls and three were boys, among whom one was aged 0-2*, one aged 3-6, six aged 7-12 and three aged 13-15.

In terms of the background of the abusers, according to the report, 60 percent had primary and secondary school education, 45 percent had no income, and 40 percent were retirees or unemployed.

Among the risk factors associated with the abusers, 47.5 percent suffered an emotional disorder or loss of control, 30 percent regarded violence as a way of solving problems, 25 percent were alcoholics, and 17.5 percent were suspected to suffer mental disability.

Among the factors related to family relationships or family life, 72.5 percent of the suspected domestic violence cases were related to communication difficulties between spouses, 25 percent were related to communication problems among family members, 20 percent were related to communication problems between parents and children, 17.5 percent were related to extramarital affairs or suspected extramarital affairs, and 17.5 percent were related to breakups or divorces.

Demand for post-violence social support services provided by the bureau was highest for individual or family counselling, at 97.5 percent, followed by emergency shelter services at 50 percent, and school counselling at 30 percent, the report noted.

*“0” means under one year old

A purple ribbon is used to promote awareness of domestic violence.
– Photo & Caption: Wikipedia