Some perpetrators of domestic violence have gambling problems

A meeting about domestic violence was conducted last week at which victims of domestic violence in Macau shared their stories.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the Social Affairs Bureau’s (IAS) family service department, and some of the city’s associations, as well as several legal consultants from the region.

Chan Yiu Hung, head of the Family Service Division of the Department of Family and Community Services of IAS, said that in recent years, IAS established a Department of Social Reintegration to follow up domestic abusers. In the past, cases of domestic abuse were monitored by IAS’s family services department.

According to Chan, having a specific department responsible for handling situations of domestic violence has a beneficial effect on helping the people involved. This department is responsible for assisting other people’s visits to the perpetrators.

During the visits paid to domestic abusers, the department records the entire process. Chan said that visiting perpetrators helps with stabilizing their mood.

Local legal consultant, Cheong Lai Wa, said that participants at the meeting discovered that many domestic abusers had problems with substance abuse or gambling. She believes that social workers, when handling cases of domestic violence where substance abuse or gambling were suspected factors, should consider forwarding the cases to the relevant governmental department for more suitable and professional support.