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EMBARGOED – 00.00 TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2003
Women’s
aid sees new hope for
Tackling domestic violence
Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation (Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland) welcomes the launch
today of Tackling Violence at Home, the Government’s proposals
on domestic violence in Northern Ireland.
Tackling Violence at Home
gives a clear indication of the Government’s commitment to addressing
violence in the home and sets out for consultation a range of measures
that will contribute to a long-awaited strategy on domestic violence.
Domestic violence is an issue that Government must address. Research
shows that as many as one in four women may experience abuse at home
including physical and sexual violence and emotional abuse. It is
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland’s view that an issue affecting such a significant number of women
in our community requires a clear and adequately resourced Government
strategy. Women’s Aid in Northern Ireland has been advocating the
development of such a strategy for many years now.
Hilary
Sidwell, Director of Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland commented “We will be seeking the views and
reactions of local Women’s Aid groups as well as consulting with other
women’s groups and interested parties throughout Northern Ireland to
ensure that a realistic and effective strategy is developed. We aim to
reflect the experience and responses of women who are survivors of
domestic violence as well as those who provide support services to
them.”
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland
wants to see a Northern Ireland inter-ministerial domestic violence team
established to develop a local strategy based on this consultation
paper, Tackling Violence at Home. This strategy
should set out to achieve the following goals:
·
To
increase safe choices including housing, judicial redress and financial
support for women and children fleeing domestic violence.
·
To hold
individual abusers accountable for their behaviour in such a way that
not only acts as a future deterrent to them but also as a deterrent to
potential abusers.
·
To run
a public education campaign that confronts social tolerance or approval
of domestic violence and challenges inaction by either individuals or
organisations.
Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland
hopes that the responses and recommendations stimulated during the
consultation process will make a major contribution to achieving these
goals. Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland will work with Government departments to support the full
and effective implementation of all recommendations.
ENDS
NOTES
TO EDITORS
·
The Government published Safety and Justice – a
consultation document for England and Wales in June 2003. It has
established a domestic violence inter-ministerial group for England and
Wales with representatives from five Government departments and has
committed funding of £21m for three years to local authorities in
England and Wales for the development of refuges for women fleeing
domestic violence.
·
The
Northern Ireland Women’s Aid Federation (Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland) was established in 1978
and is marking its 25th year of addressing domestic violence
in 2003. The role of Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland is to act as a co-ordinating and resource
support for the 10 local Women’s Aid groups that are affiliated to it.
·
Since
1996 44 people have been killed in Northern Ireland in domestic murders
and the PSNI responded to almost 90,000 domestic incidents over half of
which involved violence.
·
There
have been over 78,000 calls to the Women’s Aid Federation
Northern Ireland 24 hour helpline since it was
established in 1995.
·
The
British Crime Survey indicates that 1 in 4 women experience domestic
violence at some point in their lives. It cuts across class, age,
religion and ethnic group. It is most commonly perpetrated by men
against women.
·
The
impact of domestic violence on the lives of women can result in
homelessness, protracted health problems – mental and physical due to
repeated threatened and actual emotional, sexual and physical abuse,
hospitalisation and at its most extreme death.
·
The
Women’s Aid 24 hour Helpline number is 028 90331818. Women can call the
Helpline for assistance and support. For women who do not speak
English, the helpline now uses Language Line, a UK wide professional
interpreting service in over 100 languages. |
