Children, men and violence against women

Deborah McIlveen Policy Manager

Respect Conference April 2009

Women’s Aid Federation of England

‣ National domestic violence charity‣ Membership organisation – national network of 500+

local domestic violence services across England‣ 320,000 women and children receive help and

support each year, 50,000 in refuges• Services – national helpline, UK Gold Book, training,

research, publicity and guidance, UK Refuges on-line, on-line Survivor Handbook ,Expect Respect Online Toolkit

‣ Partnerships - work with government, justice system, health, voluntary sector for a coordinated approach to end DSV

�⃗ Work is based on over 30 years of campaigning, research and advocacy to improve responses and to prevent domestic violence

Women’s Aid strategic aims:

• To work towards the prevention of domestic and sexual violence through public awareness and education

• To improve the protection available to women and children by ensuring their needs and experiences inform law, policy and practice

• To ensure the provision of high quality services for abused women and children

Aims:

• Women’s Aid work in relation to boys, men and violence against women

• Key challenges

• Next steps

Violence against women

• 3 million women and girls affected every year – impact on children

- 50% of rape survivors under 18

• VAW is causal and contributory to women’s inequality and a human rights issue

• WNC/VAW/EVAW

• Government joined up d & s violence now consulting on VAW

Work with women and children

• Children need loving parents. Safety is paramount.

• Rights of the Child

• Women still primary carers for children

• Until men take responsibility for the equal care of their children women and men will not have equality or an end to violence against women

• Work with men survivors

Risks with domestic violence, forced marriage, honour based violence/other vaw

• The factors and influences that combine to get in the way of ensuring safe and positive contact

Inadequate information and inconsistent practice Lack of robust, dynamic risk assessments and

management Lack of resources

Prevention

• Work with children and young people - statutory phse, citizenship – sexual bullying in the curriculum

• Constructs of masculinity and femininity – heterosexism and homophobia

• Media/other campaign work – inform adults, children and young people

Protection

• Justice system – criminal, civil, family – integrated approach – most survivors of VAW do not use

• Safe child contact

• Joint Birth Registration

• ContactPoint

Provision

• Safe separate services for women and children and services for men/boys

• Support for children/young people

• Joined up VAW response

Challenges:

• Grants to commissioning• PSA’s and National Indicators

Local Strategic Partnerships – Community Plan

• Quality framework – margins to mainstream

• EHRC• Political and economic climate

Tactics and tools

• Survival of voluntary sector + voices of women, men, girls and boys

• Gender Duty

• National Consultation ‘Together we can end violence against women and girls’

• People – organisations, groups, individuals

Using the gender equality duty

• What is in your local Gender Equality Scheme?

• Who was consulted? Does address gender inequalities experienced by women, girls, men and boys in your area?

• Across the equality strands• Gender impact assessments

VAW Strategy

• Role of schools/education• Attitudes• Protection and support• Statutory interventions• Tracking offenders + interventions• Quality• Journey safer at night – violence in the built

environment

WA way forward

• National Indicator

• Quality framework

• Provision in every area that includes children and young people

• National publicity campaign

• In partnership

Women’s Aid resources:– 0808 2000 247

– Freephone 24-hour National DV Helpline

– Run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge – Language Line and Type Talk availability

• Provides support, information, listening services to women experiencing DV and to those seeking help on a women’s behalf.

• Explores available options and if appropriate refers on to local refuges, DV services and other sources of help and information.

• UK-refuges online: up-to-date bed space availability across UK

• On- line Survivors Handbook • Expect Respect Campaign and On-line Educational Toolkit• www.thehideout.org.uk www.womensaid.org.uk

What does it take to get people to talk about it?