This paper explores the system responses required to support children exposed to intimate partner violence. Guiding principles for protecting children and adults exposed to child maltreatment and intimate partner violence include:
• Provide holistic support for children
• Support the non-abusing parent
• Support the mother-child relationship
• Hold the perpetrator accountable
• Be culturally responsive
Children’s safety and wellbeing is highly dependent on the quality of their bond with their non-abusive parent (most often the mother). Programmes to support mothers and children need to include a focus on supporting them to strengthen or re-establish their
relationship, which may have been damaged by exposure to violence.
Parenting programmes for fathers who have used violence need to emphasise the
need to end violence against their children’s mothers (they cannot be “a lousy partner
but a good dad”).