The Role of Teachers in the Detection and Treatment of Child Victimization in the Context of Spousal / Partner Violence

Abstract

Children who experience violence in the family as witnesses of their mother's abuse by her husband / partner have been recognized by the international community in recent years also as victims of domestic violence for whom special interventions need to be developed. In many modern western culture countries according to the legislation, persons who identify these victims have to cooperate with police and prosecution authorities for the criminal investigation of cases. Within the educational community, cases of domestic violence are often revealed. Teachers are called upon to cope with them, often based only on their instinct or experience, without the support of a wider organized mechanism, or a network of services for support and guidance. This article develops a discussion on the role of the educational community in early detection of this form of child victimization, while the review of the literature highlights the critical points of intervention.