Taking action as female violence becomes national emergency

VIOLENCE against women and girls is happening at all levels in all areas of the UK to the extent that it is now classed as a ‘national emergency’.

Every three days a woman is killed by a man in the UK. Women and girls are at greater risk of being killed at home with 55% of all female killings being committed by intimate partners or other family members.

At Turning Lives Around we know only too well the impact domestic violence can have. It plays a big part in homelessness especially amongst women with many leaving home, in fear of their lives, despite not having anywhere else to go.

Today - November 25 - is significant in the fight against gender-based violence; White Ribbon Day and the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women both fall on this day as do other campaigns around the world.

It is also the start of 16 Days of Action, a global campaign against gender-based violence, which runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.

This year as part of 16 Days of Action, TLA colleagues are planning to donned orange clothing as a symbol of hope for a future free from violence and take part in a coffee and creation morning.

Individually they will create artwork which will be combined to create a collage representing the ongoing fight to eliminate violence against women and girls and a powerful display of commitment to preventing gender-based violence.

The event is being organised by Domestic Abuse Lead Practitioners Nicola Hastie and Shannon Hosken who primarily work with the Beacon Leeds service for multiply disadvantaged adults who are homeless which TLA delivers in partnership with fellow local charities Touchstone and Foundation.  They currently work with 74 Beacon clients, 71 of whom are women.

Nicola commented: “Since the offence of coercive control came into force on 29th December 2015, we have seen an increase in this being spoken about by the women we support. There has also been an increase in financial abuse due to more women receiving PIP payments relating to mental health issues, alcohol and drug use as a result of the domestic violence and abuse (DVA) they are experiencing and those suffering trauma due to historical abuse.

“It's important to hold events to mark occasions like White Ribbon Day and 16 Days of Action to raise awareness of the prevalence of female victims of both DVA and sexual violence.  It also highlights the different types of abuse being experienced, particularly those not often discussed such as coercive control and financial abuse.”