Extract

Today in Hungary, the concept of abuse is linked with the notion of domestic violence and is understood to include mostly the abuse of children and women. A broad social sensitization to the issue of domestic violence has taken place in recent years, which in no small measure relied on international experience and data. Meanwhile, due to disorganized domestic data collection, the lapses are significant, and instead of “hard” data, we deal with assumptions in the area of abuse. The experience of a small number of studies has not received much attention among professional circles,1 among the public, or in the public discourse. However, more recognized experts have tried to introduce the Hungarian conditions as well, but this is very difficult partly due to the low visibility of the problem and partly due to its complexity. In the public discourse, the topic of domestic violence appears only when there are sensational cases, e.g., cases involving death, rather than looking at hard data, inevitably rendering a tabloid-like discourse. Actions falling under the category of non-criminal offenses only rarely come to light. The stronger actions of a few organizations often bring forth prejudiced reactions and counter charges, rather than attempts at solving the problem. It is difficult to counter these charges, and again, the efforts are not directed at the problem, but rather at clarification of a position, its legitimacy, which cannot be a goal, but a tool.

As a result, most of those fighting violence only...