System Thinking Is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges - Essay Example

Name Tutor Course Date System Thinking is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges A system is an entity that consists of elements that interact with each other on an individual, local or global level, to produce a desired result. A change in the interrelated elements of a system could affect the operations of all the elements. The science of system theory, studies the impact of patterns and behaviour to the system. By using general theory or the system thinking theory to study the system, a specialist is able to predict how the operating environment affects the stability of the system. System thinking evaluates the complexity of social challenges. A case in point of the social challenge in the system, also referred to as messy or wicked problem, is domestic violence (Cabrera and Cabrera 2015). I am of the view that systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges, such as domestic violence. When domestic violence is examined within the context of a system, it reveals the impact that individual or local actions have on a global scale. Within the framework of such a system, domestic violence raises concern on matters of gender, sexual orientation, cultural, class, cause of anger and hostility, family values and system approach to such violence, to mention but a few. When system thinking is applied to critically analyse this social violation, it is possible to identify the vice within the structure that methodically develops solutions to sustainability challenges. To achieve this positive result, experts have scrutinized domestic violence in the setting of court system, measures to protect victims, prevention of vice reoccurrence, the vice impact on health, racial and minority effects among others (Stroh 2015). Domestic violence in relation to race and minority ethnic communities Cultures and perceptions may cause persons from certain cultural backgrounds, racial orientation or ethnic communities to experience higher risk of domestic violence. There are some cultures that may tolerate violence against women and children from the dominant male (Cooper and Vetere 2005). In addition, immigrates and persons from minority ethnic communities or races record higher tendency of violence in the domestic setup. In some societies in Europe, it has been observed that natives attract more respect in the domestic setup than their immigrants’ counterparts. Hence, more cases of violence are recorded against the minorities in a domestic setup (Great Britain 2008). Some persons from certain minority groups and cultures find it difficult to seek help when they face domestic oppression. As a result, the affected persons end up enduring repeat violation from their authoritarians. Similarly, some religious practices are either tolerant or intolerant to domestic violence and hence followers may refrain or engage in domestic violence depending on the level of accountability demanded by their spiritual believes. Creating Awareness and Prevention of Domestic Violence The most effective way to prevent domestic violence is through the creation of awareness. For instance, if the domestic violence awareness program is introduced in primary as well as secondary levels of the education curriculum, young people are informed on the domestic violence, its prevention, protection and mitigating measures, at a tender age. This is therefore an appropriate platform to influence positive attitude change, in the young minds. Most importantly, such training enlightens the learner on importance of disclosure, where and how to seek help when domestic violence occurs. For this to be achieved, it is important for teachers to be trained and equipped with relevant project training material. In addition, health centres should be assigned with a unit that handles domestic violence education and mitigation (World Health Organisation 2009). Lastly, the government relevant agencies, should run an ongoing program, that targets to continually create awareness and educate the citizenship on the vice. Education and awareness empowers the society and promotes intolerance to domestic, gender and sexual related violence. In addition to creating awareness, the government agencies should improve the safety of persons living under the threat of domestic violence. Safety can be approached in various ways. For instance, when affected persons have a conducive environment to report crime, perpetrators are likely to be arrested and charged with the violent offence (Habert and SchlüTer 2016). Proper investigation also leads to adequate prosecution and subsequent conviction. When perpetrators are convicted, they are put through a rehabilitation program to ensure offences are not repeated. Subsequently, the danger posed by the culprits is eliminated from the social setup following the verdict. Other appropriate measures would be to heighten the security of those under the threat of domestic violence. This can be done by installing appropriate alarm systems, offering protection to the victim, installing video surveillance cameras. The data captured by the camera can then be presented in court as evidence to prove guilt. This will in turn reduce or eliminate cases of repeat victimization and increase awareness in the community at large. In addition, victims should make a risk assessment and opt to take personal safety measures. The Role of the Police and Court System in Domestic Violence The biggest challenge in the intervention of domestic violence has been the reluctance of victims to report the crime to relevant authorities. To improve on this, experts recommend that the police and judicial organs be integrated with the mitigating projects (Buzawa 2012). In so doing, victims who are seeking help and medical treatment, have immediate access to the police as well as legal advocacy. This integration also enables the police to collect evidence at the earliest opportunity from victims seeking medical help. This evidence includes photographs and recorded statements. Notably, the one stop access to the police and legal services at the project level, enables speedy access to civil as well as the criminal justice system. Regrettably, the judiciary do not have a specific laws that address domestic violence. Many cases have been prosecuted through the criminal justice system and failed to secure a conviction. Gender violence experts attribute this to the lack of specific training of the stakeholders. Research shows that better results would be attained if the police, magistrates and judges were trained and specialized in domestic violence (Meyersfeld 2010). Accordingly, it would be helpful to have a specific court that engaged in domestic violence cases. For instance specialized training for magistrates and judges would inform them that in some cases anger management training does not substitute a custodial sentence which also incorporates rehabilitation. Here, victims of such atrocity would have better support and privacy that may be lacking in a general open court. Possibly, many precedents would be set in many decisions made in such court, culminating to informed case laws. Proper use of data collected on domestic violence Domestic violence multi-agencies should compile data on persons affected by the vice. This data can be shared among the multi-agencies in order to disseminate information and seek solutions to the underlying concerns. Further, adequate data compels stakeholder and relevant agencies to improve on services both in term of facilities and relevant social interventions (Nicholl and Osmond 2012). With adequate data, relevant agencies can maintain and possibly share relevant data with the aim of making follow up of affected persons in order to administer appropriate help. This may include providing counselling. In addition, the agencies are able to follow up pending court cases and their outcome. In general, this information is used to improve a wide range of services such as health care, police awareness on how to handle such case, legal system as well as the judiciary. Proponent for topic From the study of reports on research by different writers and domestic violence specialist, it is clear that indeed incidents of violations cannot be addressed in isolation. Certainly, the action of an individual in defiling another, triggers a chain reaction in a system. In tackling this wicked problem, systems thinking is critical in arriving at solutions to sustainability challenges. Initially when a domestic violence is committed, the person facing such oppression is likely to seek for health related assistance. At this point, the health center directs the victim to a specialized unit that addresses gender and family based violence. After treatment has been administered, the health care assistance or a domestic violence project worker initiates a routine enquiry on the victim’s violation. Thereafter, the project worker may be required to undertake a counseling session with the defiled person and advice on safety as well as legal measures that can assist in avoiding repeat victimization (Pycroft and Gough 2010). Further down the chain, police are called in by the victim or project worker to conduct investigation and secure an arrest of the culprit. At this point, a legal advocacy is called on board to direct the victim on appropriate legal measures. After conclusion of investigation by the police the case is forwarded to the prosecution team and thereafter determined by a judicial system in a civil or criminal mater. All this actions are inter related in addressing the messy problem of domestic violence. When the system fails to properly address the issue using appropriate system theories the statistic of violence escalates, victims are denied justice and safety while perpetrators go without punishment and proper rehabilitation. References World Health Organization, 2009. Changing cultural and social norms that support violence. Buzawa, E. S., Buzawa, C. G., Stark, E., & Buzawa, E. S. (2012). Responding to domestic violence: the integration of criminal justice and human services. Thousand Oaks, Calif, Sage Publications. Cooper, J., & Vetere, A. (2005). Domestic violence and family safety: a systemic approach to working with violence in families. London, Whurr Pubs. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10257599. Great Britain. (2008). Domestic violence, forced marriage and "honour"-based violence: sixth report of session 2007-08. London, TSO. Habert, G., & SchlüTer, A. (2016). Expanding Boundaries: Systems Thinking in the Built Environment: Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) Regional Conference Zurich 2016. Meyersfeld, B. (2010). Domestic violence and international law. Oxford, Hart. Nicholl, A., & Osmond, J. (2012). Wales' central organising principle: legislating for sustainable development. Cardiff, Institute of Welsh Affairs. Pycroft, A., & Gough, D. (2010). Multi-agency working in criminal justice: control and care in contemporary correctional practice. Bristol, Policy Press. Stroh, D. P. (2015). Systems thinking for social change: a practical guide to solving complex problems: avoiding unintended consequences, and achieving lasting results. White River Junction, VT, Chelsea Green Publishing. Cabrera, D., & Cabrera, L. (2015). Systems thinking made simple: new hope for solving wicked problems. Read More