The impacts of family violence experienced generally can therefore be exacerbated if a person falls within a specific group in society. It is therefore necessary to develop a national understanding of the nature of these groups and how family violence is experienced from their perspective. By developing this understanding then, and only then, will it be possible to develop an effective and relevant protection and prevention framework. INQUIRY FINDING 5: Family violence has a wide range of long-term impacts on the physical and mental well-being of its victims and those who witness it. They include: • Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicide and aggressive behaviours; • Greater use of alcohol and drugs, increased sexual promiscuity and multiple sexual partners; • Direct injury and even death; • Maternal health problems, including unwanted pregnancies, miscarriages and pregnancy complications; • Low self-esteem leading to health and behavioural problems; • Inter-generational violence; • Reduced future productivity and undermining national economic development. INQUIRY FINDING 6: The impact of family violence further increase the risk a person will become a perpetrator or victim of violence in the future. 9.4 The Normalisation of Family Violence “Violence against women appears to be socially legitimized and accompanied by a culture of silence and impunity.” CEDAW Committee concluding observations during review of Samoa, 2012 “I do not think this is an illegitimate suggestion that there is social legitimization.” Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff, Attorney General, Inquiry public hearing Throughout the Inquiry it became increasingly apparent that family violence in some form has become an accepted part of life for most people in society. It is something which is inevitable, tolerated or simply goes unnoticed. This in itself is a significant barrier to both reporting family violence and contributes to an ever worsening cycle of violence at a societal level.