I grew up in an environment where the invisible wounds of family violence were an everyday reality. In my experience with the law enforcement system and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Orders, I discovered an imbalance that made me, a victim too, inadvertently a lawbreaker. I want to address this, not just for my own healing, but as a contribution to the ongoing struggle to correct the systemic failures that perpetuate violence.

It is widely recognized that Domestic Violence is a serious and pervasive problem. Prevention orders exist to provide necessary protection, but an overlooked aspect in many such orders is that they typically state that respondents cannot contact the aggrieved parties, even if contact is initiated by the aggrieved parties themselves. This could mislead unsuspecting respondents into breaching the order, while the aggrieved faces no consequences.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2019). While these figures are staggering, they do not capture the complexity of situations where respondents might also be victims.

I believe our system can do better. We need to reform these prevention orders to hold both parties accountable. By doing so, we can deter aggrieved parties from initiating contact and protect respondents from unintentionally breaching orders. What our society needs, and what victims of domestic violence deserve, is balance, justice, and fairness. This is not about removing protective measures. It is about fortifying them while also maintaining the integrity and fairness of our legal system.

Please, add your name to this call for reform. It is your support and shared belief in justice that can make a difference. Sign this petition to make Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Orders fairer and more effective.