The case of Darian Henderson-Bellman, a 25-year-old woman who was tragically murdered by her on and off boyfriend in 2020, has left me deeply unsettled and contemplative about our systematic failures in addressing and protecting victims of intimate partner violence. This case has drawn and should continue to draw attention to the failures of the justice system in protecting victims of intimate partner violence. Her tragic death, in which, despite multiple previous incidents of violence and court orders to keep Darnell away from Darian, reveals how damaged the justice and support systems are when it comes to protecting victims of intimate partner violence. Failing to protect women from intimate partner violence…show more content… statement that the justice system had failed Darian, serves as a call to action. Darian?s and Cara?s unfortunate experiences made me reflect on how in many instances, we tend to focus more on the offenders rather than addressing the needs of the victims. Society tends to ask,?why do women go back? rather than?why does he keep abusing?. This mindset often leads to placing blame on the victim, rather than the abuser. Rephrasing the question to?why does he keep abusing? shifts the focus from the victim to the abuser, placing accountability where it belongs. This change in perspective opposes harmful societal norms that often place the blame on survivors for staying, instead of addressing the behaviour of the abuser. Darian?s story serves as an unfortunate reminder that intimate partner violence is a public issue, and our collective responsibility must include working towards improved preventive measures and enforcement of protective laws. Legal reform alone is not enough. We need fully developed systems of support for victims. There must be a greater emphasis on preventing abuse from escalating by holding offenders accountable earlier. Genuine protection stems from systematic changes, not just
