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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will allocate about $5 million to Po Leung Kuk (PLK) to operate a "Victim Support Programme for Victims of Family Violence", with an aim to enhance the support services for victims of family violence, particularly those undergoing judicial proceedings.
Speaking after attending a radio programme today (March 30), the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, said, "The government is committed to combating domestic violence and has been continuously providing new resources to enhance the preventive, supportive and follow-up services for victims of domestic violence and families in need."
"In 2010-11, the total provision earmarked for various services in relation to family and child welfare, including those for victims of domestic violence and families in need, is about $1.792 billion, representing an increase of 4.5% against 2009-10."
Among all the domestic violence cases, "battered spouse" remained the most significant category. In 2009, the total number of newly reported "battered spouse" cases decreased by 30% to 4,807 as compared with 6,843 cases in 2008, whereas the number of newly reported "child abuse" cases increased to 993, up more than 12% from 882 in 2008.
"From this, we still see the need of our concerted efforts to tackle domestic violence. Apart from promoting family harmony as core values and enhancing public awareness of family violence, we have to strengthen the services and support for victims of domestic violence."
"The new Victim Support Programme will provide comprehensive support service for victims of spouse battering and child abuse, particularly those undergoing judicial proceedings, with the aims to strengthen protection, alleviate their fear and feelings of helplessness, and help them return to normal life as early as possible."
The scope of service includes:
(1) Provision of information: including sources of information on civil and criminal proceedings (e.g. application for injunction order, interim custody order, divorce and related proceedings); and community resources (e.g. legal aid, accommodation, medical/ psychological treatment and child care support, etc).
(2) Provision of support: including emotional support; accompanying vulnerable victims/ witnesses of family violence who may have to make statement at the police station and/ or go through the legal proceedings, particularly acting as support person for child witnesses in giving evidence in court; accompanying victims and/ or their family members to locate and receive different services or community resources (e.g. legal service, accommodation, financial support, schooling and medical assessment/ treatment, etc.); temporary child care support during judicial process; and guidance and training to victims on basic skills in personal care, care to family members and household management.
(3) Training and development of volunteers: to recruit, develop and mobilise volunteers that may include, but are not limited to, ex-service users of the Programme. They can be mobilised to render mutual support, befriend service users and assist in providing support service as appropriate.
SWD will provide an annual subvention of about $5 million for the Victim Support Programme. SWD is now working with PLK in planning for the service delivery mode in detail and the new initiative is scheduled for commencement in June 2010.
Ends/Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:28
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