A frontline worker in Winnipeg says that there may be good intentions behind recent campaign promises, but much more than legislation is needed from both the government and the local Christian community to prevent domestic violence. 

On the weekend the Progressive Conservatives of Manitoba unveiled a plan to bring forth a law similar to one in the United Kingdom known as Clare's Law. The law allows police to notify people whose partners have a violent and/or abusive past.

It was enacted in the UK after the 2009 murder of Clare Wood by her boyfriend of 15 months. After her death, her parents found out the man had previously spent six years in prison for holding a woman at knifepoint for 12 hours. 

Incumbent PC candidate in the riding of Riel, Rochelle Squires, says that Clare's Law "provides vital information about a perpetrators background to people who need it the most."

Abusers often don't have records

"As much as I can appreciate the Conservative government wanting to do something to help fix this problem, and that they recognize it's a huge problem, I don't really think that this law is going to fix this issue," Loriann Tulk, Program Manager at Winnipeg's Charis Centre, says. She works with women coming out of addiction, many of whom of experienced domestic violence.

One of the main reasons why a law might not be enough, according to Tulk, is that many domestic violence offenders do not have a criminal history.

"So, what do we do in situations where there's a man who has a history of being violent but has never been charged with anything and has no record? A lot of it unfortunately for domestic violence still flies under the radar."

Difficult to leave

For victims of domestic violence, leaving a relationship is extremely difficult. Tulk says even when the victim has a good support network and people surrounding them with care, it's still difficult and dangerous.

She says that at the point someone is seeking to leave an abusive relationship, it is the most dangerous time. "That's the time, if he's going to kill her, that's probably when it's going to happen. So a lot of women just don't feel safe to leave if that makes sense."

Besides the physical violence, Tulk says there is often emotional and psychological abuse occurring, and the abuser uses mentally controlling tactics to keep the victims from leaving.

Start with belief

Tulk says the first thing that needs to start happening in order to prevent domestic violence is simply believing people.

"Domestic violence doesn't just touch a specific socio-economic class. It's all over. So whether you are considered someone who's considered wealthy and high class and very prominent in the city or your community or in your church even -- you could be shaking hands with someone in your church every Sunday who is a victim or offender of domestic violence."

Too often, especially when abuse occurs to people who are part of our church communities when a victim comes forward the response is one of disbelief. 

"Especially in church, I know of situations where someone has come out and said 'I'm being abused by my partner' and people respond with, 'No, that can't be. They're a member of our church.'"

Disbelief when someone reaches out for help, though, puts the victim in even more danger. Tulk says that then the victim also has to worry about whether their plea for help will now get back to the abuser, and reinforces to them that they should not bring it up and suffer in silence.

Programming over promises

Tulk appreciates that politicians want to focus on certain issues and make promises to fix them. However, she says, that won't happen if those promises are made from Legislature offices. While legislation might feel like an "instant fix," ending domestic violence takes much longer.

"Specifically with this topic I would encourage the people who have the power to make changes, who have the power to do something about it, to really come down to the frontlines. Come down to where we're working with individuals on a daily basis where we're dealing with this so you can see very clearly what needs to be done."

Tulk says while legislation is important it's programming that will truly help. "Specifically in Winnipeg, we need access to more shelters for women who are escaping domestic violence. We need more resources available to victims. We need counselling available because it's not easy to uproot your life and leave everything even if you're not safe in the situation you're in."

Programming, according to Tulk, is far more effective at preventing domestic violence from occurring or reoccurring than legislation.

"When you put in preventative measures you don't really see success until years down the road. You're going to see a slow decline, but we live in a society where we don't like a slow decline. We don't like to put the hard work into it.

"I'm not saying the proposed law is completely useless or anything; I think it could serve a purpose. But I don't think that's the only answer. If they do go ahead with the law then great, but don't let that be the only thing that you do. Look at other resources and programming for both the men and the women in these situations and go for the long term."