‘Kids exposed to domestic violence perpetuate cycle’

Children who are brought up in homes where domestic violence prevails are more likely to become initiators of violence when they grow up, said an award-winning newspaper columnist who is on Saipan to conduct several awareness programs to educate victims.

Renee Mitchell, who penned her last column for The Oregonian on Oct. 1, 2008, is famous for touching readers with her tales of single parenthood and sparked thoughtful debate on issues of race and personal responsibility.

“A big percentage of the kids who grow up in a hostile environment in the home would think that violence is just natural, so when they enter into relationships in the future, they will carry on the vicious cycle and not think of it as anything bad,” Mitchell told her audience at a multi-media presentation held Wednesday night at the American Memorial Park theater.

“Domestic violence should not happen to anybody, and children should not see any form of domestic violence in the home because they learn by example,” she said.

Mitchell portrayed the different forms of domestic violence that victims from all over the world suffer.

“The problem with domestic violence is that majority of the victims refuse to acknowledge it, and they bear with it, hoping that their partners will change in the future, but this never happens,” Mitchell said.

She added that that hesitation to report and take a stand against domestic violence on the part of the victims is one cause why the number of domestic violence cases is increasing not only in the CNMI but all over the world.

“Oftentimes, the victims think having the perpetrators sent to jail is not the best option for their families,” she said.

She said most of the victims just want their partners to stop.

“It is high time for victims to stand up and put a stop to the incidents of domestic violence. Victims should realize that their lives are valuable and they need to realize that there is still hope for them to regain their lost self-esteem,” Mitchell said.

She added that once the victims realize they don’t have to bear with the violence, they would feel free and not helpless anymore.

October has been declared as the 14th Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Some of the activities slated for the month of October includes information dissemination at the Garapan Street Market on Thursdays where they will put up a booth, presentations at the Pacific Islands Club and American Memorial Park, softball goodwill tournaments, candlelight vigil and trophy presentations on Tinian, and a Halloween Men’s walk/candlelight vigil at the Garapan Fishing Base on Oct. 31.