title: Reforming institutional responses to violence against women

authors: Robertson, Neville

abstract: Battering has been described as an example of the total institution (Avni, 1991), within which batterers use violence, threats of violence, isolation, and other tactics of abuse to enforce compliance with their rules. Battering has well-documented physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for women. It flourishes within the batterer-enforced privacy of the home. When it does come to the attention of outsiders, it is too often disregarded or trivialised - even when women seek protection through the justice system. In effect, this form of violence against women continues because it works.

Drawing on both the literature and my own research, I argue that although there are various positive initiatives, single interventions are rarely enough to successfully breach the walls of the total institution and provide the resources needed for women to live independently of the men who batter them. Refuges (shelters) and advocacy programmes for women, stopping violence programmes for men, criminal justice policies mandating the arrest and prosecution of batterers, and the availability of civil-law remedies for battered women - none of these has proved to be the “magic bullet” (Buzawa & Buzawa, 1993b) which will, of itself, end battering. This is hardly surprising considering the resilience of the total institution and the multiple resources battered women require if they are to exercise a presumed choice to leave the batterer.

I argue that a more comprehensive approach is needed in which multiple interventions are delivered in a consistent and co-ordinated manner with the twin objectives of (a) enhancing the safety and autonomy of women and (b) holding men accountable for their use of violence. Within the justice system, this can be achieved by legislative and administrative reforms which reduce the ability of decision makers to exercise discretion in woman-blaming and batterer-colluding ways, which ensure that there is a common set of priorities across agencies, which provide for the sharing of safety-relevant information between agencies and which include mechanisms for battered women’s advocates to monitor institutional practices so that decision makers can, in effect, be held accountable to battered women.

text: Reforming institutional responses to violence against women Battering has been described as an example of the total institution (Avni, 1991), within which batterers use violence, threats of violence, isolation, and other tactics of abuse to enforce compliance with their rules. Battering has well-documented physical, psychological, social, and economic consequences for women. It flourishes within the batterer-enforced privacy of the home. When it does come to the attention of outsiders, it is too often disregarded or trivialised - even when women seek protection through the justice system. In effect, this form of violence against women continues because it works.

Drawing on both the literature and my own research, I argue that although there are various positive initiatives, single interventions are rarely enough to successfully breach the walls of the total institution and provide the resources needed for women to live independently of the men who batter them. Refuges (shelters) and advocacy programmes for women, stopping violence programmes for men, criminal justice policies mandating the arrest and prosecution of batterers, and the availability of civil-law remedies for battered women - none of these has proved to be the “magic bullet” (Buzawa & Buzawa, 1993b) which will, of itself, end battering. This is hardly surprising considering the resilience of the total institution and the multiple resources battered women require if they are to exercise a presumed choice to leave the batterer.

I argue that a more comprehensive approach is needed in which multiple interventions are delivered in a consistent and co-ordinated manner with the twin objectives of (a) enhancing the safety and autonomy of women and (b) holding men accountable for their use of violence. Within the justice system, this can be achieved by legislative and administrative reforms which reduce the ability of decision makers to exercise discretion in woman-blaming and batterer-colluding ways, which ensure that there is a common set of priorities across agencies, which provide for the sharing of safety-relevant information between agencies and which include mechanisms for battered women’s advocates to monitor institutional practices so that decision makers can, in effect, be held accountable to battered women.

year: 1999

title: Bio self-healing nanoconcretes

authors: Seifan, Mostafa

abstract: Concrete as the most widely used construction material is susceptible to crack when exposes to stresses. Various types of passive techniques have been introduced to fill the generated cracks, however the majority of them are not permanent, effective, and environmentally friendly. Over recent years, the embedment of an active mechanism called “self-healing mechanism” in concrete has been proposed as an alternative approach to ineffective passive techniques. Among the investigated self-healing mechanisms, bio self-healing approach has drawn considerable attention as it can address the cracking issues by inducing calcium carbonate in a sustainable way. However, the effectiveness of bio self-healing concrete highly depends on the successful protection of bacteria in concrete matrix. So far, various types of micro-scale and recently nano-scale protecting careers have been tested to evaluate the effectiveness of bio self-healing concrete. In this chapter, the latest nanobiotechnological self-healing approaches for protection of bacteria in a harsh concrete pH are discussed.

text: Bio self-healing nanoconcretes Concrete as the most widely used construction material is susceptible to crack when exposes to stresses. Various types of passive techniques have been introduced to fill the generated cracks, however the majority of them are not permanent, effective, and environmentally friendly. Over recent years, the embedment of an active mechanism called “self-healing mechanism” in concrete has been proposed as an alternative approach to ineffective passive techniques. Among the investigated self-healing mechanisms, bio self-healing approach has drawn considerable attention as it can address the cracking issues by inducing calcium carbonate in a sustainable way. However, the effectiveness of bio self-healing concrete highly depends on the successful protection of bacteria in concrete matrix. So far, various types of micro-scale and recently nano-scale protecting careers have been tested to evaluate the effectiveness of bio self-healing concrete. In this chapter, the latest nanobiotechnological self-healing approaches for protection of bacteria in a harsh concrete pH are discussed.

year: 2019-11-15

title: Mai ngā reo pou tangata

authors: Nathan, Lisa Kiriwai

subjects: Maori

abstract: Globally the prevalence rate of dementia is estimated to be 50 million.  In 2016, Aotearoa New Zealand prevalence projections reported 62,287 people were affected by dementia.  Māori represented 5.1 per cent, which is expected to rise to 8 per cent by 2038.  Māori people prefer to care for ill kaumātua (older people) at home and are experiencing greater stress and increased caregiver burden due to the cultural expectations of caring for kaumātua at home.  The two aims of this study were first, to explore the perspectives of Māori whānau carers caring for kaumātua with dementia, and the second aim was to explore the perspectives of staff who work for dementia service providers, addressing areas such as staff’s experiences with Māori whānau carers and cultural competency in service delivery.
	Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight whānau (11 whānau carers) within the Waikato region of New Zealand and seven service provider staff participants. Whānau carers were interviewed first.  They were asked to share information about their kaumātua.  The topics explored the diagnosis process; the behavioural changes of the kaumātua living with dementia and the whānau caring experience.  Thematic analysis was conducted on the resulting transcripts to identify themes and to identify potential service providers to approach for interviews.  Five service provider organisations were selected, of which four service providers were able to commit to an interview.  One service provider could not commit to an interview due to thesis time constraints. Seven staff participants across the four service providers were recruited and invited to share their perspectives of working with Māori whānau.  Again, thematic analysis was conducted on the verbatim transcripts to identify salient themes.
	Two major findings amidst the perspectives of whānau carers was identified.  First, the systemic lack of support across three dimensions, and second the negative impact of caregiver burden. The first deficiency was the lack of support from whānau members, second, the lack of support from community services and third, the lack of support from the government.  Whānau experienced poor health as a result of caregiver burden. Staff participants findings were firstly staff believed they were culturally inclusive and responsive, second they reported going beyond their roles and the system to support Māori and third staff identified barriers which exist for Māori in terms of accessing services.
	Whānau carers are struggling to find support from other whānau members.  Some whānau members are critical of caring methods, while others place additional burden on the carers.  Whānau are often described as an interconnected unit, however findings show that Māori whānau carers are feeling isolated and alone, and as a result are experiencing poor health. 
	Whānau carers perceive a services in their community as not being culturally inclusive or appropriate.  Staff participants said that they incorporate respect and compassion into their service delivery.  Staff recognise that the numbers of Māori represented at services are low, compared to non-Māori clients.  Services need to be integrate cultural training on a regular basis to ensure Māori are comfortable with being Māori in service settings.

text: Mai ngā reo pou tangata Globally the prevalence rate of dementia is estimated to be 50 million.  In 2016, Aotearoa New Zealand prevalence projections reported 62,287 people were affected by dementia.  Māori represented 5.1 per cent, which is expected to rise to 8 per cent by 2038.  Māori people prefer to care for ill kaumātua (older people) at home and are experiencing greater stress and increased caregiver burden due to the cultural expectations of caring for kaumātua at home.  The two aims of this study were first, to explore the perspectives of Māori whānau carers caring for kaumātua with dementia, and the second aim was to explore the perspectives of staff who work for dementia service providers, addressing areas such as staff’s experiences with Māori whānau carers and cultural competency in service delivery.
	Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight whānau (11 whānau carers) within the Waikato region of New Zealand and seven service provider staff participants. Whānau carers were interviewed first.  They were asked to share information about their kaumātua.  The topics explored the diagnosis process; the behavioural changes of the kaumātua living with dementia and the whānau caring experience.  Thematic analysis was conducted on the resulting transcripts to identify themes and to identify potential service providers to approach for interviews.  Five service provider organisations were selected, of which four service providers were able to commit to an interview.  One service provider could not commit to an interview due to thesis time constraints. Seven staff participants across the four service providers were recruited and invited to share their perspectives of working with Māori whānau.  Again, thematic analysis was conducted on the verbatim transcripts to identify salient themes.
	Two major findings amidst the perspectives of whānau carers was identified.  First, the systemic lack of support across three dimensions, and second the negative impact of caregiver burden. The first deficiency was the lack of support from whānau members, second, the lack of support from community services and third, the lack of support from the government.  Whānau experienced poor health as a result of caregiver burden. Staff participants findings were firstly staff believed they were culturally inclusive and responsive, second they reported going beyond their roles and the system to support Māori and third staff identified barriers which exist for Māori in terms of accessing services.
	Whānau carers are struggling to find support from other whānau members.  Some whānau members are critical of caring methods, while others place additional burden on the carers.  Whānau are often described as an interconnected unit, however findings show that Māori whānau carers are feeling isolated and alone, and as a result are experiencing poor health. 
	Whānau carers perceive a services in their community as not being culturally inclusive or appropriate.  Staff participants said that they incorporate respect and compassion into their service delivery.  Staff recognise that the numbers of Māori represented at services are low, compared to non-Māori clients.  Services need to be integrate cultural training on a regular basis to ensure Māori are comfortable with being Māori in service settings.

year: 2019