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A few days ago I saw this advertisement in one of the biggest national newspapers in France. The headline is shocking: “Sometimes the only witness to a scene where a woman is beaten up, is a two year old child.”  What is shocking too is that this advertisement is directly from the government, so not an institute helping these families. The situation is very serious. In 1 out of 5 families, women are abused by their own men. The effect on the children in these families is devastating; low self-esteem, feelings of guilt and shame, fear, … The government invites everybody (abused women, neighbours, friends, etc..) to report this to local authorities, so help can be offered. But what helps? Helping women to come forward and separate from a man like this, is no long-term solution. He will find a new victim soon enough. Treatment for these men is a much better strategy. Unfortunately the government website does not talk about this option.