SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Department of Justice is in the process of planning a new program which takes aim at men who resort to violence.

It is hoped the program will help abusive men understand why they use violence and, in turn, protect their families from harm.

Rebecca Latour, family violence program analyst with the department, said it aims to protect victims of violence and hold men accountable.

The program will focus on men 18 and over.

"We do know women and children are victims of the most severe violence and they're the most at risk. We're going where the need is most," she said. "If we really want to solve violence against women, men have to be part of the solution."

While the specifics aren't ironed out yet, a request for proposals is due Aug. 24 for an individual or company to create a training manual for the intervention process, but Latour envisions a program where men will be able to attend individual and group sessions over the course of several months to help them address violence in their own lives.

It'll be a community-based program where men can attend by choice, or through a court mandate.

"Some people might be coming in with other issues, alcohol or drug issues or housing issues," she said. "There might be goals other than helping them be non-violent. We'd help hook them into whatever support they may need."

Though there are existing anger management and counselling programs, Latour said this would be the first abuser intervention program in the territory. Such a program is needed because the NWT has such high rates of reported violence and the number of women who seek help at shelters shows violence is more prevalent than reported, she said.

Earlier this summer, interviewers travelled to 12 communities to talk to men about their experiences. Instead of focusing on when and why they used violence, a cross-section of Northern men talked about their strengths and instances when they don't use violence.

Latour said by discussing reactions and decision making, men can become more aware of their values, attitudes and beliefs - including ones that result in violence.

"Violence is deliberate and people are making choices. What we want to do is look at times when people are not violent, and slow that down: find out what they're thinking, what they're drawing on, what's going on in those situations."

A video and the results of the first phase of the study will be available in September, said Latour.

While women won't participate in the program, Latour said counsellors could get in touch with them if they think they're at risk, and they'll be aware of what the goals and expectations of the program are.

"Most women don't want their partners to be punished or to go to jail. They just want the violence to stop. If there was something that would provide an opportunity for change, for healing, to make things better."

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