My aunt lives with her son and his family. I suspect that she’s
being abused. She acts nervous when her son is in the room, her
bedroom has a lock on the door, and she has bruises on her arm.
When I asked her about the situation she seemed very confused. Why
isn’t she reporting this abuse?
There are many reasons why people might not report abuse. They include
- shame that a family member treats them badly and a need to keep it in the family;
- fear of more abuse;
- fear of being placed in an institution;
- fear of losing a caregiver or contact with a family member;
- a belief that they are getting what they deserve, for example, if they feel they were not a good parent;
- a belief that police or social services cannot help them;
- a belief that they cannot prove the abuse is happening.
WARNING:
The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information
only.
If
you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.
January
2006 |
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