As part of the scientific and educational activities that the College of Education at Al-Mustaqbal University is keen to implement, the Department of Educational and Psychological Sciences organized an awareness lecture entitled "Domestic Violence: Its Causes and Treatment," presented by Dr. Haider Kadhim Mawla, in the presence of a number of faculty members and students.
The lecture highlighted the concept of domestic violence as one of the serious social phenomena that afflict human societies, and the challenge it poses to the structure and stability of the family. The lecturer explained that domestic violence is not limited to physical abuse, but also includes psychological, economic, sexual, and emotional abuse, which manifests in various behaviors to which a family member is subjected by another member who holds power or authority within the family.
Dr. Mawla pointed out that the spread of this phenomenon is due to several factors, most notably the lack of family awareness, the use of non-educational methods in dealing with family members, in addition to the influence of the social and cultural environment, which sometimes contributes to normalizing patterns of violence within the family. The lecture also addressed the psychological and social effects of domestic violence, including fear, intimidation, low self-esteem, and negative impacts on mental and physical health, particularly among children.
The lecturer emphasized the importance of developing preventative and therapeutic programs that promote family values, cultivate communication and dialogue skills, and provide psychological support to victims. He also stressed the need to activate legislation and laws that protect the rights of family members and curb violent practices within the family.
At the end of the event, a discussion session was held, during which attendees raised a number of questions and comments that enriched the lecture's topic. They expressed interest in implementing practical proposals to reduce this phenomenon, thereby contributing to building a safer and more stable family environment.
(Al-Mustaqbal University is the leading university in Iraq)