On Christmas Day there was yet another domestic dispute which ended up with someone being stabbed – this time the woman took the knife away from her aggressor and stabbed him in what appears to be self-defence.

While not all domestic squabbles end up making headlines because someone finishes up in the hospital, there seems to be an indication that arguments and fights between the four walls of a family home do erupt more often over the festive season.

When people are in the throes of violent rage, and feel that they have the right to assault their spouses or partners, they do not care what time of year it is. In fact, sometimes it is precisely this time of year which triggers the anger and mounting frustrations which have been building up over weeks and months. Some international studies have shown that the reason for an increase in domestic violence over Christmas could be twofold – first, there is the pressure to spend money on gifts and on going out, which can exacerbate already existing financial difficulties, and secondly, there is the fact that people tend to be on vacation leave so they spend more time together than they normally do at other times of the year.

Within a relationship which is already fraught with mounting tensions and where there is already a history of physical and emotional abuse, Christmas ends up being a holiday which is dreaded by many victims, rather than a joyful occasion which they look forward to. The fear that the abusive partner will flare up and lose control either during a family lunch with extended relatives or back home after a day of being forced to be on his/her best behaviour means that the victim spends the day in knots of anxiety.

Let us not forget the children in all this – living constantly in a state of fear that one “wrong” word or gesture will make the violent person resort to his usual pattern of smashing things and using his fists.

It has been a terrible year for domestic violence statistics, and yesterday’s silent demonstration to raise awareness and to call for better protection for victims, can only be supported. The message which needs to be constantly drummed home, especially to young men and women, is that being in a relationship does not give you the licence to hit someone, or abuse them in any way.

As we look back on 2010, and remember those who lost their lives because of domestic violence, let us all keep our eyes open for those around us, whether family or friends, who might be suffering silently, and who need to find the courage to finally leave a violent partner.