6 October 2001

Wales National Programme Action Study Day on ‘Domestic Violence’

Llanbadarn Campus at the University of Aberystwyth was the setting for an extremely well attended meeting organised by Wales South PA Chairman, Jennifer Hewlett. Among the 81 Soroptimists present there were delegates representing 7 of our North Wales clubs and 20 clubs in Wales South.

Delegates from North Wales clubs

Speakers James Hehir, Pat Vogt, Gwenda Williams,
Jill Evans MEP with Jennifer Hewlett and Sadie Morton

We are indebted to Diane John of SI Abergavenny who took very detailed notes of the meeting. Since they contain information that will be of interest to all clubs they are shown below in their entirety.

JILL EVANS MEP

Jill gave us an overview of how the European Parliament is trying to combat Domestic Violence. She is the Vice-Chairman of the Women’s Rights and Opportunities Committee, which is against all kinds of violence against women. Some commissioners are very active; therefore Domestic Violence is on the action agenda. The subject is now discussed much more openly largely because of the work undertaken by local and national voluntary groups. There are more reported incidents of violence by partners than road accidents

Most cases are perpetrated by men against women and children. 1 in 5 women in Europe experience some form of violence against them during their lives. Only 1 in 20 cases are reported to the police.

1992 The United Nations included violence in gender-based discussions.

1996 The report on Trafficking highlighted many incidences.

1997 The Daphne Initiative was launched to strengthen co-operation between voluntary groups and governments.

1997 Zero tolerance towards violence against women was advocated by the European Parliament which also undertook a major survey in Europe on attitudes to Domestic Violence and sixty nine projects have been initiated, e. g developing schools’ curricular, networks of men against violence, directories of help lines for children.

2000 A sum of 20 million Euros was made available to exchange information and mobilise local authorities to combat violence against women.

There is a five-year strategy on gender equality related to the subject, but there are many cultural and legal difficulties to be faced. European funding is essential to maintain the services already established and to initiate more.

Male leaders are needed to advocate change and educate perpetual offenders-successful workshops are already being held in Nicaragua.

Thanks to the ‘White Ribbon Campaign’ men are encouraged to wear a badge on the International Day of Violence against Women to promise never to use violence or to ignore the problem.

A group of men based in Brussels have produced a CD ROM about the plight of women facing violence and prostitution following trafficking from Eastern Europe. A refuge has been set up in Antwerp to help protect and provide advocacy for escaped victims who have no money or papers. 500,000 come in illegally each year and the majority are women.

The European Women’s Lobby identifies organisations in other countries through databases so that joint funding can be applied for.

GWENDA WILLIAMS, WELSH WOMEN’S AID

Gwenda is the information co-ordinator for Welsh Women’s’ Aid, and is based at Aberystwyth. In Wales 1 in 4 women suffer abuse at some time during their lives. Two women are killed per week by a former or present partner. Fear, stigma etc., prevent the majority of cases from being reported.

The main forms of abuse are:

1. Physical
2. Psychological and emotional (causing feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem)
3. Economic (being kept short of money, dictating what can and cannot be bought).
4. Sexual (affairs, accusations of affairs, sexual demands).

Children are inevitably affected either directly or indirectly and are often at risk.

• 40% to 60% are assaulted.
• 95% are in the next room.
• They are often injured when they try to intervene.
• Almost all suffer damage to their health and to their educational, emotional and social development.

Welsh Women’s Aid is a national organisation of thirty-two groups, core funded by the National Assembly.

Women’s Aid is funded by local authorities.

Welsh Women’s Aid runs 42 refuges providing safe accommodation and support services including outreach support for re-integration into society. Each refuge has a person trained to counsel children about their problems. Some areas already have a 24-hour help-line.

Services are designed to give practical help and psychological support, legal information, benefit advice, act as advocates and accompany clients to solicitors.

Workers are trained to enable discussions, but to be non-judgemental and non-directive.

Domestic Violence Forums have been set up all over Wales drawing together a variety of disciplines e.g. police, housing, schools, hospitals.

PAT VOGT, SOCIAL SERVICES INSPECTORATE, WELSH ASSEMBLY

Pat’s work involves the developmental issues of the inspectorate and deals especially with the problems of vulnerable adults. The legislation in this area has not been as straightforward as in the area of Child Protection. In September 2000 it became mandatory for LEAs to facilitate the working together of agencies on issues of vulnerable adults so that there would be common guidelines for enforcing agencies to act if necessary.

Although there is room for local flexibility, certain structures will be the same throughout Wales and should be in place by the end of this year. Agreed common terminologies could assist the sharing of information whilst protecting confidentiality. It is essential that a common monitoring and recording system be established. Some authorities had good systems in place by 1998 whilst others have still not achieved this.

Some adults are dependent on others to administer their medication and physical abuse encompasses over and under provision of drugs.

As well as being vulnerable to sexual and psychological abuse, many people living with their families often suffer material and financial deprivation which amounts to neglect.

Stress is taken into consideration when dealing with such cases. Sometimes supporting the carer has been found to be the solution.

Adults have the right to make their own choices if they have the capacity to do so and this must be respected. However, it is possible to have an assessment of mental capability in the case, for instance, of educational sub normality or dementia. A strategy meeting for the co-ordination of facts would be held before an adult protection plan be put in place.

Advocacy is high on the agenda – raising awareness of the public and staff within disciplines e.g. care workers. Information sharing between different agencies is important so that each understands where everyone else is coming from and there are common outcomes. In April 2001 the new Care Standards Agency was established to standardise and improve ways of working.

The Care Council is regulating care services e.g. it is soon to be providing a list of known abusers that can be checked before people are employed.

More support is being given to the carers.

The Social Services Inspectorate is starting to work with Women’s Aid and seeking guidance from all the Royal Colleges.

MR. J. HEHIR, Clerk to the Justices, Neath Magistrates Court

Mr. Hehir asked us complete a quiz about common misconceptions relating to Domestic Violence.

This prompted a lively and informative ‘audience participation’ discussion which re-enforced and consolidated facts we had been told during the day.

One reason for not reporting incidences of Domestic Violence is that persons believe that what is happening in their own home is the norm. Many are scared of subsequent violence, of being removed from the family, or the thought of having to appear in court. Video evidence is now being used more extensively, but many cases are terminated because the key witness decides not to give evidence.

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