Children, men and violence against women

1. Children, men and violence against women Deborah McIlveen Policy Manager Respect Conference April 2009

2. 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

3. 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

4. Aims: • Women’s Aid work in relation to boys, men and violence against women • Key challenges • Next steps

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Protection • Justice system – criminal, civil, family – integrated approach – most survivors of VAW do not use • Safe child contact • Joint Birth Registration • ContactPoint

10. Provision • Safe separate services for women and children and services for men/boys • Support for children/young people • Joined up VAW response

11. Challenges: • Grants to commissioning • PSA’s and National Indicators Local Strategic Partnerships – Community Plan • Quality framework – margins to mainstream • EHRC • Political and economic climate

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. WA way forward • National Indicator • Quality framework • Provision in every area that includes children and young people • National publicity campaign • In partnership

16. 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 referson 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

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