Almost 8,000 people signed a petition urging the authorities to protect children who witness domestic violence, which was handed over to Minister of Welfare Gudbjartur Hannesson by the association Barnaheill – Save the Children Iceland on Monday.
A recent research study conducted by the association shows that the social system in Reykjavík does not offer satisfactory resources for children who are in this position, Morgunbladid reports.
There seems to be lack of collaboration between institutions in the case of children who witness domestic violence. These children aren’t given enough attention and their wellbeing isn’t evaluated to a satisfactory extent, the association concludes.
It is estimated that around 2,000 children witness violence in their homes every year, either their parents fight violently or a parent is subjected to domestic abuse. Barnaheill points out that these numbers aren’t reliable—domestic violence is a hidden problem.
