Women in Parliament Pinpoint Impact of Violence on Children
After Parliament resumed work yesterday, the parliamentary Women's Assembly is gathering for its first meeting after the holidays. The order of the day is to discuss issues related to domestic violence, especially its effects on children.
According to Heljo Pikhof, chairwoman of the Assembly, children encounter violence at homes much more often than sporadic media coverage shows. Society’s attitude towards what is happening behind closed doors to children is still too lenient, Pikhof argued.
Research has shown that kids growing up amidst domestic violence face more adjustment and learning difficulties. In addition, they also have a greater tendency to succumb to drugs or become suicidal, ETV reported.
During the meeting, Kadri Soo, researcher at the University of Tartu, will introduce the most recent results of studies conducted on the subject in Estonia.
The parliamentary Women's Assembly was founded in September 2011 and comprises all 20 women MPs.
Ingrid Teesalu