The purpose of this study is to examine how professionals reason about domestic violence against older individuals with dementia within municipal elderly care. Previous research indicates that violence in intimate relationships against older individuals is a globally growing issue. Research suggests that this issue is often overlooked, which can be interpreted as ageism. Older people are at risk of being seen as a homogeneous group rather than individuals.This may result in neglecting the needs and support of the older individuals. There is a lack of knowledge on the subject of violence in intimate relationships against older individuals with dementia and how professionals experience the situation. In this study, we aim to further explore how professionals describe domestic violence against older individuals with dementia. We also aim to highlight the challenges that professionals face in addressing violence in intimate relationships against older individuals with dementia, as well as the strategies and preventive measures they use in their work on this issue. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews, where five social workers and three unit managers in municipal elderly care participated. The results of the study show that neglect is the most common form of violence against elderly people with dementia. Results also highlight the challenges faced by professionals in working with voluntarism as a basis. Professionals are calling for more initiatives related to support for family members in order to prevent and mitigate violence in close relationships with elderly people with dementia.

On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned, effectively eliminating the federally protected right to an abortion. Following the overturning, several state-specific restrictions or bans on abortion were passed, creating increasingly difficult conditions for people seeking an abortion. Research shows that abortion bans and restrictions disproportionately affect victims of sexual and domestic violence. Hence, this study aims to understand the specific impact of the overturning of Roe v. Wade for victims of domestic and/or sexual violence by analysis of news articles. This issue has not been researched in depth, creating a gap in our understanding. The database NexisUni was used to collect relevant news articles for content analysis, and an iterative process was used to develop themes within the identified relevant articles. The findings show several impacts of reduced abortion access for victims, including reduced reproductive choice, exacerbation of victim trauma through law enforcement requirements, lack of access to legal abortion and sexual/domestic violence resources, increased severity of violence in abusive relationships, and negative consequences disproportionately affecting minoritized or marginalized populations. Understanding the implications of abortion legislation for survivors of violence provides insight into the effects of future policies and changes as states continue to enact abortion bans and restrictions throughout the country.

Yes / This paper highlights the scarring effects of early life exposure to civil war, by examining the impact of exposure to conflict in childhood on the incidence of domestic violence in adulthood among married women. To estimate these effects, we use a difference-in-differences model which exploits variation in exposure to Nigeria’s 30-month-long civil war by year of birth and ethnicity. Our results, based on the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, show that women exposed to the war during childhood are more likely to be victims of domestic violence in adulthood compared to those not exposed to the war, with larger effects observed for those exposed at younger ages. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms through which exposure to civil war might affect domestic violence, and find some support for both the normalisation of violence and weakened bargaining power hypotheses. Understanding the root causes of domestic violence is important given the high prevalence in developing countries and the deleterious consequences for women and their children.

Résumé Le but de cette recherche est de comprendre le conflit de loyauté chez les enfants exposés à la violence conjugale lorsque les parents sont séparés. Le premier objectif vise à décrire le contexte relationnel de l’enfant avec son père et sa mère. Le second objectif cherche à évaluer la présence et à décrire, le cas échéant, la nature du conflit de loyauté et ses conséquences chez l’enfant. Un troisième objectif porte sur l’identification de sous-groupes d’enfants similaires quant à leur discours sur le conflit de loyauté. Enfin, l’objectif final consiste à décrire un possible changement d’intensité du conflit de loyauté dans le temps. La recherche adopte une méthode qualitative pour recueillir le point de vue des enfants sur un possible vécu de conflit de loyauté des enfants entre leur père et leur mère. Douze enfants, ayant reçu des services d’intervention en maison d’hébergement, donnent leur point de vue sur leur expérience de conflit de loyauté. L’opinion de leur mère raconte l’histoire d’exposition à la violence conjugale de l’enfant ainsi que sa relation avec chacun des deux parents. La perception des intervenantes sur un possible conflit de loyauté chez l’enfant ainsi que sur sa relation avec chacun de ses parents vient enrichir cette recherche. Une description du contexte relationnel de l’enfant avec son père et sa mère démontre que la relation des enfants avec leur père ne semble pas toujours facile, alors que celle de l’enfant avec sa mère est plus positive. Les intervenantes jugent que les douze enfants vivent un conflit de loyauté, alors qu’un seul de ces participants verbalise ne pas en vivre. Une première analyse qualitative du discours des enfants a permis de constater qu’aucun des onze enfants n’identifie le père ou la mère comme étant le seul initiateur du conflit de loyauté. Comme résultat des verbalisations des enfants, deux groupes sont formés selon le degré d’élaboration du discours (élaboré ou non élaboré). Les résultats principaux permettent de constater que le degré de conflit de loyauté initié par les mères demeure stable dans le temps alors qu’il s’intensifie lorsqu’initié par certains pères de l’étude. / Abstract The purpose of this research is to explore any conflict-of-loyalty that may be present in children exposed to domestic violence after their parents have separated. Our initial objective was to describe the context of the childrens’ relationships with each of their parents. A second goal was to evaluate its presence and to describe, if it existed at all, the nature of this conflict-of-loyalty and its consequences for the children. A third objective was to identify sub-groups of children who had similarities in their verbalizations about a conflict-of-loyalty. Our final aim was to investigate any change in intensity of the conflict-of-loyalty over a specific period of time. Our research used a qualitative methodology to determine the childrens’ perceptions about a possible conflict-of-loyalty they may have had between their father and their mother. Twelve children who previously had services from women’s shelters expressed themselves about their experiences pertaining to conflict-of-loyalty. The mothers of each of these 12 participants gave us their perspectives regarding the exposure of their children to conjugal violence, as well as about their children’s relationships with each parent. Also, the perceptions of the shelter workers about possible conflicts of loyalty among the children they cared for, as well as about the childrens’ relationships with each of their parents, added to this research. A description of the childrens’ relationships with their mothers and fathers showed that the relationship between children and their fathers did not always seem easy, while the one with their mothers was more positive. The shelter workers assumed that all of the 12 children experienced a conflict-of-loyalty, while only 11 of the participants themselves stated they had. An initial qualitative analysis of the childrens' verbalizations allowed us to say that none of the 11 children identified either their father or their mother as having been the sole initiator of the conflict-of-loyalty. Issuing from the children’s verbalizations, two groups were identified according to the extent they responded (extensively or minimally). The children clearly identify both their parents as initiating the conflict-of- loyalty. However, results show that there are differences among fathers and mothers in the way they trigger such a conflict in their child. Our principal findings allow us to determine that the degree of conflict-of-loyalty that had been initiated by the mothers remained stable over time, although it was greater over time when it had been introduced by some of the fathers.

A violência contra a mulher tem se revelado uma importante questão de saúde pública, pois além de promover o aumento de morbidade e mortalidade quando relacionada à saúde da mulher, tem o potencial de provocar conseqüências ainda mais desastrosas, como ocorre na violência durante a gravidez, comprometendo também a saúde de seus descendentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a violência doméstica entre as mulheres que receberam assistência ao parto em uma maternidade de baixo risco de Ribeirão Preto - SP. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo transversal, realizado na Maternidade do Complexo Aeroporto (Mater). A amostra constituiu-se de 547 mulheres que receberam assistência ao parto no período de julho a setembro de 2006. Os dados foram coletados no puerpério, durante a internação no alojamento conjunto, em local privativo e sem a presença de acompanhantes, após assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. O instrumento utilizado para a coleta de dados foi um questionário contendo 41 perguntas, elaborado para ser utilizado em serviços de saúde. Os dados foram processados e analisados no programa Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS, versão 11.5). Na análise, realizou-se distribuição simples de freqüência, Teste Qui-quadrado (X2) ou Teste Exato de Fisher para verificar a associação entre as variáveis e Razão de Chance (RC) e intervalo de confiança (IC) de 95% para estimar a associação. Observou-se que 58,5% das mulheres entrevistadas sofreram algum tipo de agressão ao longo da vida pelo parceiro e 19,6% sofreram durante a gestação. Em relação à violência perpetrada por outras pessoas, notou-se que 52,3% sofreram algum tipo de agressão alguma vez na vida e 15,0% sofreram durante a gestação. A prevalência de mulheres que sofreram violência, alguma vez na vida, pelo parceiro foi maior entre as que: eram solteiras, separadas, divorciadas ou viúvas; não tinham um relacionamento na época ou tinham parceiros, mas não moravam juntos; pertenciam aos estratos econômicos D e E; engravidaram no mínimo três vezes; tiveram aborto; consumiram bebida alcoólica pelo menos uma vez por semana antes ou durante a gestação; usaram drogas ilícitas alguma vez na vida; agrediram fisicamente alguém; referiram medo de alguém próximo; se sentiam controladas pelo parceiro; viram o companheiro alcoolizado alguma vez durante a gestação e referiram que o companheiro usava ou usou drogas ilícitas. Além dos fatores de risco acima relacionados, a violência doméstica pelo parceiro durante o período gestacional também foi maior entre as mulheres que: consideravam-se negras ou pardas; iniciaram a vida sexual antes dos 15 anos e relataram que o companheiro usava bebida alcoólica pelo menos uma vez por semana. Portanto, o estudo comprovou a alta magnitude da violência doméstica entre as mulheres que receberam assistência ao parto em uma maternidade de baixo risco em Ribeirão Preto - SP e, dessa forma, espera-se que os resultados possam contribuir para uma maior visibilidade do problema, enfatizar a necessidade de se desenvolver uma assistência integral e auxiliar no adequado delineamento das políticas de saúde que envolvam a saúde da mulher. / Violence against women has revealed to be an important public health issue as, besides leading to increased morbidity and mortality in terms of women\'s health, it has the potential to provoke even more disastrous consequences. This is the case of violence during pregnancy, which also jeopardizes the children\'s health. This study aimed to analyze domestic violence committed against women who received delivery care at a low-risk maternity hospital in Ribeirão Preto - SP. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out at the Airport Complex Maternity (Mater). The sample consisted of 547 women who received delivery care between July and September 2006. Data were collected in the puerperal period, during hospitalization at the rooming-in unit, in a private space and without the presence of companions, after the signing of the Free and Informed Consent Term. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire with 41 questions, elaborated for usage in health services. Data were processed and analyzed in Statistical Package for the Social Science software (SPSS, version 11.5). The analysis involved simple frequency distribution, the Chi- Square Test (X2) or Fisher\'s Exact Test to check for associations between the variables and a 95% Odds Ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) to estimate the association. It was observed that 58.5% of the interviewed women suffered some kind of aggression by their partner during their life, and 19.6% while pregnant. What violence committed by other people is concerned, it was found that 52.3% suffered some kind of aggression at some point in their life and 15.0% while pregnant. The prevalence of women who suffered violence committed by their partner at some point in their life was higher among: single, separated, divorced or widowed women; without a relationship at that time or with partners, but without living together; who belonged to economic groups D and E; got pregnant at least three times; had an abortion; consumed alcoholic beverages at least once per week before or during the pregnancy; used illicit drugs at some point in their life; physically attacked someone; indicated fear of a close person; felt controlled by their partner; witnessed their partner under the influence of alcohol at some point during the pregnancy and mentioned that their partners used or were using illicit drugs. Besides the above mentioned risk factors, domestic violence committed by the partner during pregnancy was also greater among women who: considered themselves black or mulatto; started sexual life before the age of 15 and mentioned that their partner used alcoholic beverages at least once per week. Thus, the study proved the great extent of domestic violence among women who received delivery care at a low-risk maternity in Ribeirão Preto - SP. Hence, it is expected that the results can contribute to a greater visibility of the problem, emphasize the need to develop integral care and help in the adequate outlining of health policies involving women\'s health.

Introdução: A violência doméstica contra as mulheres apresenta-se, na atualidade, como relevante questão social e problema de saúde pública que afeta a maioria dos países. Portanto, não está mais restrita a países considerados do terceiro mundo e tende a ampliarse e a se generalizar. Em Moçambique pouco se investigou sobre a importância e papel das Delegacias de Mulheres no processo de implementação da Lei 29/2009 sobre Violência Doméstica contra a Mulher. Objetivo: Conhecer como profissionais de Delegacias de Mulheres acolhem e encaminham aos Tribunais os casos de violência doméstica; como interpretam o texto da lei, seu alcance, limitação e desafios na defesa dos direitos das mulheres vivendo em situação de violência na cidade de Maputo. Metodologia: Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas entrevistas com 21 profissionais, operadores de Delegacias da cidade de Maputo Moçambique, que autorizaram a entrevista, segundo Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Resultados e Discussão: Os entrevistados apresentaram, em seus relatos, grande identificação com o tipo de trabalho exercido, considerando as Delegacias como espaços significativos para o reconhecimento da cidadania das mulheres, assim como um campo de atuação políticojurídica em defesa dos direitos das mesmas via atuação na implementação da Lei 29/2009. Reconhecem a relevância da Lei, tendo em vista a significativa expressão da violência como prática naturalizada, na sociedade moçambicana, pela cristalização de valores tradicionais do poder masculino sobre as mulheres, secundados por diferentes práticas culturais. Tais entrevistados Identificam alcances, mas igualmente limites no processo de implementação da mesma, destacando a importância de sua maior divulgação em todas as regiões do país, quer urbanas, sobretudo nas periferias, assim como zonas rurais. Destacam, igualmente, a necessidade de maior capacitação dos próprios agentes do setor jurídico, considerando a multiplicidade de aspectos envolvidos na prática cotidiana dos serviços, notadamente nas delegacias, em relação à aplicação e ampliação do alcance da Lei. Considerações Finais: As tradicionais práticas culturais vigentes na sociedade moçambicana apresentaram-se como aspecto limitante para a implementação da Lei, assim como a remissão das penas, prevista na Lei, que, impossibilita a punição do agressor, em termos de detenção, uma vez que substitui a mesma por prestação de serviços à comunidade, pagamento de cestabásica e/ou multas, tendo em vista, sobretudo, sua estreita relação com o artigo 37 sobre a salvaguarda da família. Diante disso, foram sugeridas, para maior alcance e efetividade na aplicação da Lei, modalidades como o trabalho reflexivo com grupos de homens, com o objetivo de desconstrução dos tradicionais valores sobre masculinidade vigentes nas relações entre homens e mulheres nessa sociedade, que mantém tanto a desigualdade quanto a iniquidade de gênero, pela permanência de tradicionais valores culturais, a exemplo do lobolo e da poligamia / Introduction: Domestic violence against women is presented, today, as a relevant social issue and a public health problem that affects most countries. Therefore, it is no longer restricted to countries considered third world and tends to extend up and to generalize. In Mozambique little investigated on the importance and role of Police Stations for Women in Law 29/2009 implementation process on Domestic Violence against Women. Objective: To learn as Women Police Stations professionals welcome and refer to the courts cases of domestic violence; they interpret the text of the law, their scope, limitations and challenges in defending the rights of women living in situations of violence in the city of Maputo. Methodology: This is qualitative research, in which interviews were conducted with 21 professionals, operators delegacies of Maputo - Mozambique, which authorized the interview, according Term of Consent. Results and Discussion: respondents had in their accounts, great identification with the kind of exercised work, considering the police stations as significant spaces recognition of citizenship of women, as well as a political-legal field of action in defense of the rights of same via actions in the implementation of Law 29/2009. Recognize the relevance of Law, with a view to significant expression of violence as a naturalized practice in Mozambican society, the crystallization of traditional values of male power over women, seconded by different cultural practices. These respondents identified scope, but also limits the implementation of the same process, highlighting the importance of its dissemination in all regions of the country or urban areas, especially in the suburbs, and rural areas. Emphasize also the need for greater training of the agents of the legal sector, considering the multiplicity of aspects involved in the daily practice of services, particularly in police stations, in relation to the implementation and expansion of the scope of Law. Conclusions: Traditional cultural practices existing in Mozambican society is presented as a limiting aspect to the implementation of the Law, and the remission of penalties provided for in the law that prevents the punishment of the offender in terms of detention, as it replaces the same for service the community, payment basket of food staples and / or fines, with a view, above all, its close relationship with Article 37 on the \"protection of the family.\" Thus, were suggested for greater reach and effectiveness in the application of the law, modalities such as reflective work with groups of men, in order to deconstruct the traditional values of prevailing masculinity in relationships between men and women in this society that keeps both inequality as gender inequity, the permanence of traditional cultural values, such as lobolo and polygamy

Introdução: A violência doméstica contra as mulheres apresenta-se, na atualidade, como relevante questão social e problema de saúde pública que afeta a maioria dos países. Portanto, não está mais restrita a países considerados do terceiro mundo e tende a ampliarse e a se generalizar. Em Moçambique pouco se investigou sobre a importância e papel das Delegacias de Mulheres no processo de implementação da Lei 29/2009 sobre Violência Doméstica contra a Mulher. Objetivo: Conhecer como profissionais de Delegacias de Mulheres acolhem e encaminham aos Tribunais os casos de violência doméstica; como interpretam o texto da lei, seu alcance, limitação e desafios na defesa dos direitos das mulheres vivendo em situação de violência na cidade de Maputo. Metodologia: Trata-se de pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, na qual foram realizadas entrevistas com 21 profissionais, operadores de Delegacias da cidade de Maputo Moçambique, que autorizaram a entrevista, segundo Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido. Resultados e Discussão: Os entrevistados apresentaram, em seus relatos, grande identificação com o tipo de trabalho exercido, considerando as Delegacias como espaços significativos para o reconhecimento da cidadania das mulheres, assim como um campo de atuação políticojurídica em defesa dos direitos das mesmas via atuação na implementação da Lei 29/2009. Reconhecem a relevância da Lei, tendo em vista a significativa expressão da violência como prática naturalizada, na sociedade moçambicana, pela cristalização de valores tradicionais do poder masculino sobre as mulheres, secundados por diferentes práticas culturais. Tais entrevistados Identificam alcances, mas igualmente limites no processo de implementação da mesma, destacando a importância de sua maior divulgação em todas as regiões do país, quer urbanas, sobretudo nas periferias, assim como zonas rurais. Destacam, igualmente, a necessidade de maior capacitação dos próprios agentes do setor jurídico, considerando a multiplicidade de aspectos envolvidos na prática cotidiana dos serviços, notadamente nas delegacias, em relação à aplicação e ampliação do alcance da Lei. Considerações Finais: As tradicionais práticas culturais vigentes na sociedade moçambicana apresentaram-se como aspecto limitante para a implementação da Lei, assim como a remissão das penas, prevista na Lei, que, impossibilita a punição do agressor, em termos de detenção, uma vez que substitui a mesma por prestação de serviços à comunidade, pagamento de cestabásica e/ou multas, tendo em vista, sobretudo, sua estreita relação com o artigo 37 sobre a salvaguarda da família. Diante disso, foram sugeridas, para maior alcance e efetividade na aplicação da Lei, modalidades como o trabalho reflexivo com grupos de homens, com o objetivo de desconstrução dos tradicionais valores sobre masculinidade vigentes nas relações entre homens e mulheres nessa sociedade, que mantém tanto a desigualdade quanto a iniquidade de gênero, pela permanência de tradicionais valores culturais, a exemplo do lobolo e da poligamia / Introduction: Domestic violence against women is presented, today, as a relevant social issue and a public health problem that affects most countries. Therefore, it is no longer restricted to countries considered third world and tends to extend up and to generalize. In Mozambique little investigated on the importance and role of Police Stations for Women in Law 29/2009 implementation process on Domestic Violence against Women. Objective: To learn as Women Police Stations professionals welcome and refer to the courts cases of domestic violence; they interpret the text of the law, their scope, limitations and challenges in defending the rights of women living in situations of violence in the city of Maputo. Methodology: This is qualitative research, in which interviews were conducted with 21 professionals, operators delegacies of Maputo - Mozambique, which authorized the interview, according Term of Consent. Results and Discussion: respondents had in their accounts, great identification with the kind of exercised work, considering the police stations as significant spaces recognition of citizenship of women, as well as a political-legal field of action in defense of the rights of same via actions in the implementation of Law 29/2009. Recognize the relevance of Law, with a view to significant expression of violence as a naturalized practice in Mozambican society, the crystallization of traditional values of male power over women, seconded by different cultural practices. These respondents identified scope, but also limits the implementation of the same process, highlighting the importance of its dissemination in all regions of the country or urban areas, especially in the suburbs, and rural areas. Emphasize also the need for greater training of the agents of the legal sector, considering the multiplicity of aspects involved in the daily practice of services, particularly in police stations, in relation to the implementation and expansion of the scope of Law. Conclusions: Traditional cultural practices existing in Mozambican society is presented as a limiting aspect to the implementation of the Law, and the remission of penalties provided for in the law that prevents the punishment of the offender in terms of detention, as it replaces the same for service the community, payment basket of food staples and / or fines, with a view, above all, its close relationship with Article 37 on the \"protection of the family.\" Thus, were suggested for greater reach and effectiveness in the application of the law, modalities such as reflective work with groups of men, in order to deconstruct the traditional values of prevailing masculinity in relationships between men and women in this society that keeps both inequality as gender inequity, the permanence of traditional cultural values, such as lobolo and polygamy

Résumé Le but de cette recherche est de comprendre le conflit de loyauté chez les enfants exposés à la violence conjugale lorsque les parents sont séparés. Le premier objectif vise à décrire le contexte relationnel de l’enfant avec son père et sa mère. Le second objectif cherche à évaluer la présence et à décrire, le cas échéant, la nature du conflit de loyauté et ses conséquences chez l’enfant. Un troisième objectif porte sur l’identification de sous-groupes d’enfants similaires quant à leur discours sur le conflit de loyauté. Enfin, l’objectif final consiste à décrire un possible changement d’intensité du conflit de loyauté dans le temps. La recherche adopte une méthode qualitative pour recueillir le point de vue des enfants sur un possible vécu de conflit de loyauté des enfants entre leur père et leur mère. Douze enfants, ayant reçu des services d’intervention en maison d’hébergement, donnent leur point de vue sur leur expérience de conflit de loyauté. L’opinion de leur mère raconte l’histoire d’exposition à la violence conjugale de l’enfant ainsi que sa relation avec chacun des deux parents. La perception des intervenantes sur un possible conflit de loyauté chez l’enfant ainsi que sur sa relation avec chacun de ses parents vient enrichir cette recherche. Une description du contexte relationnel de l’enfant avec son père et sa mère démontre que la relation des enfants avec leur père ne semble pas toujours facile, alors que celle de l’enfant avec sa mère est plus positive. Les intervenantes jugent que les douze enfants vivent un conflit de loyauté, alors qu’un seul de ces participants verbalise ne pas en vivre. Une première analyse qualitative du discours des enfants a permis de constater qu’aucun des onze enfants n’identifie le père ou la mère comme étant le seul initiateur du conflit de loyauté. Comme résultat des verbalisations des enfants, deux groupes sont formés selon le degré d’élaboration du discours (élaboré ou non élaboré). Les résultats principaux permettent de constater que le degré de conflit de loyauté initié par les mères demeure stable dans le temps alors qu’il s’intensifie lorsqu’initié par certains pères de l’étude. / Abstract The purpose of this research is to explore any conflict-of-loyalty that may be present in children exposed to domestic violence after their parents have separated. Our initial objective was to describe the context of the childrens’ relationships with each of their parents. A second goal was to evaluate its presence and to describe, if it existed at all, the nature of this conflict-of-loyalty and its consequences for the children. A third objective was to identify sub-groups of children who had similarities in their verbalizations about a conflict-of-loyalty. Our final aim was to investigate any change in intensity of the conflict-of-loyalty over a specific period of time. Our research used a qualitative methodology to determine the childrens’ perceptions about a possible conflict-of-loyalty they may have had between their father and their mother. Twelve children who previously had services from women’s shelters expressed themselves about their experiences pertaining to conflict-of-loyalty. The mothers of each of these 12 participants gave us their perspectives regarding the exposure of their children to conjugal violence, as well as about their children’s relationships with each parent. Also, the perceptions of the shelter workers about possible conflicts of loyalty among the children they cared for, as well as about the childrens’ relationships with each of their parents, added to this research. A description of the childrens’ relationships with their mothers and fathers showed that the relationship between children and their fathers did not always seem easy, while the one with their mothers was more positive. The shelter workers assumed that all of the 12 children experienced a conflict-of-loyalty, while only 11 of the participants themselves stated they had. An initial qualitative analysis of the childrens' verbalizations allowed us to say that none of the 11 children identified either their father or their mother as having been the sole initiator of the conflict-of-loyalty. Issuing from the children’s verbalizations, two groups were identified according to the extent they responded (extensively or minimally). The children clearly identify both their parents as initiating the conflict-of- loyalty. However, results show that there are differences among fathers and mothers in the way they trigger such a conflict in their child. Our principal findings allow us to determine that the degree of conflict-of-loyalty that had been initiated by the mothers remained stable over time, although it was greater over time when it had been introduced by some of the fathers.

The purpose of this study is to investigate what family law court secretaries take into consideration in investigations regarding custody where domestic violence and possible mental illness because of the violence are present. Since it is primarily women who experience domestic violence, this study chose to focus on the mothers parenting abilities and her possible mental illness. To answer the study's research questions and purpose the approach was qualitative and the method used was semi-structured interviews. Semi-structured interviews allow a more in depth and nuanced understanding of the social problem which is being studied. The result was interpreted by using thematic analysis and then analyzed through a theoretical framework, which was Marianne Hester's "Three planet model". The theoretical framework consisted of three planets which are called domestic violence, child protection and child contact. The results of this study show that family law secretaries struggle to discern whether domestic violence has occurred or not, since there rarely are any police rapport that supports claims of domestic violence. Regarding the mother's parenting abilities, she is considered not being able to fully parent the child, due to the domestic violence she has been exposed to. Furthermore, the results show that mental illness in investigations of custody focuses on whether the mother is still capable of raising the child. The results also show that mental illness is broad and difficult to define, since the spectrum for mental illness is quite broad.

This dissertation focuses on issues of domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse) against men. It looks into the issue why male victims are not taken seriously by the Czech police forces. Domestic violence against men is less common than domestic violence against women. However those males affected by domestic abuse often struggle to find support in society and in the Czech law. They are often left to deal with the problems on their own. In many cases male victims are not treated seriously by society and police forces. It is very important to highlight this issue in society and find support by the Czech government. Abuse against men should be taken as seriously as violence on female victims. The focus should be on early intervention and prevention.