Early Day Motion

I recently received the below message to highlight an Early Day Motion that has been tabled in Westminster recently:

"Coventry Rape Crisis have managed to get an Early Day Motion tabled asking the government to provide core funding for all 38 Rape Crisis Centres throughout the country. This is a real chance to secure funding for the whole country. Coventry Rape Crisis have been lobbying MPs to sign up and their view is that if constituents have not approached them about the issue, then they won't - so please write to your MP and let them know you want them to add their name. It really does make a difference. You can find your MP's details here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

Ask them to sign Early Day Motion 1604 http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=38782&SESSION=899

Thank-you everyone."

One Wales Government Consultation

Last week the One Wales Government launched a consultation on domestic abuse. It is important that a proper strategy is in place in Wales to deal with domestic violence and that’s why I welcome the launch of this consultation. Domestic abuse takes many forms in our society, and it is vital that the strategy recognises this. Therefore it is important that people from all walks of life, with experience of domestic abuse take part in the consultation process, and have their say.
It is a positive step that the Welsh government is developing a Wales specific strategy, designed to fit Welsh needs in terms of domestic abuse. However I am concerned that this strategy doesn’t address violence against women specifically. Scotland already has a violence against women strategy in place and one is currently being developed in England. I am concerned that without such a strategy in place, women in Wales will miss out on vital help and support. I will be raising these issues with the Minister in order to impress upon him the need to develop this strategy into one that addresses the issues faced by women specifically.

It is important that we have a proper strategy in place to deal with these issues in Wales. We need to empower people to speak out and get the support they need. I am hopeful that the strategy will play an important role in stopping the cycle of violence. This consultation document highlights how a Christmas advertising campaign led to an increase in calls to the helpline. By developing an effective strategy we can ensure that successful initiatives like this are improved upon and repeated.

Nerys

The Purple Directory

I just wanted to let you know about a new service directory for domestic abuse that has been launched across Dyfed- Powys. The website www.thepurpledirectory.org is now live in 3 languages - Welsh, English and Polish.

If you have an opportunity please tell other people about the website.

Thanks,
Nerys

Domestic Abuse Guide launched

Recently I was involved with the a launch of a new guide that informs Assembly Members what they should do if they are approached by a constituent experiencing domestic abuse. This is a initiative from the Welsh Government and the Minister for Social Justice Dr. Brian Gibbons explained that this guide will enable Assembly Members to help constituents that may be suffering domestic abuse.

We as Assembly Members and politicians in general have a role to play to support victims of domestic abuse through our casework and this guide will help us to do that. If you are suffering from domestic abuse and don’t know where to go for help you can get in touch with your local AM .

Amnesty UK

I’d just like to tell you about some of the work Amnesty UK has been doing recently to mark International Women’s Day.

Firstly, I'd like to draw your attention to the following fact:
‘Each year, around 1 in 10 women in Britain experience rape or other violence. One in four local authorities leave female victims of violence without the specialised support they need’.

This is certainly shocking and that's why the work Amnesty UK has been doing recently to draw attention to this statistic is so important. To highlight this Amnesty UK urged thousands of people on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter to update their avatars and statuses at 1:10 on Friday 6th March.

The status update was: Each year, 1 in 10 women in Britain experience rape or other violence. Act now. http://www.oneten.org.uk/.

On Twitter, they asked members to change their profile picture to their avatar and use #1in10 to spread the message. They’ve also been directing everyone to http://www.mapofgaps.org/ where you can see which services are missing in your local area. All the information on the campaign is available at http://oneten.org.uk/ .

I would urge you to have alook at the information and see which services are lacking in your area and then write to your local MP or Assembly Member to highlight the issue.

Thanks,
Nerys

Help is available

you have my consent to using my story in publicity materials a nd resources. If it wasnt for welsh womens aid and an other womens aid organisation i know i wouldnt be the person that i am today. I hope my story helps in some way or gives the readers strength in getting through what they might be experiencing in their lives at the moment and for them to hang on in there, with whatever choices they decide, there is always light at the end of the tunnel,. even if you cannot see it right now. I was 17 when i met my partner, he was much older than me. Things were good for the first few years. When i had my daughter who is now 13 things changed. Looking back i couldnt see what was happening to me or things going on around me. I think to m yself at times,. i am the person that i am today , because of what i experienced and i became the strong assertive person that i am. Things took a turn for the worse after my second child was born, As we do, i put up with the abuse, violence, possesiveness my confidence and self esteem crumbled bit by bit until i hit rock bottom. The turning point was boxing day , 6 years ago now. Drunk as usual , he hit out at me, my youngest then nearly 5 saw him, and tried to protect me!. That was the day i got up , i was their mother i am the one that protects them! and left my life with this man behind!. I moved into a refuge , but in the same town as their father. I thought things would improve , but he would hound me , watch out for me , it go so bad that i made the decision to move far far away from my family and the place i grew up in, to a place i didnt know, or have any friends. Welsh womens Aid and other agencies helped me so much, i cannot thank them enough. After 5 months living in a refuge the three of us moved into our new home in yet another new town, Things were difficult, adapting to being in a new area, kids adapting to a new school yet again, and making new friends. At times i thought i cant do this anymore i just wanted to go home, yes and at times thought it might be easier to go back! but knew in my heart it wasnt what was right for me or my children. Womens aid were marvellous!! from supporting me with court cases to helping me with the children. Every day was a battle but i knew i could do it! believe in yourselves, dont let what you have gone through destroy the rest of your life? dont be a victim!!! Over the next couple of years i plucked up the courage with the help of womens aid - support groups, assertiveness classes, freedom programme, parenting puzzle, and eventually i did a womens aid volunteer training course which helped me enoromously with people and social skills again, to liking myself again and to realising nothing was my fault! three years on i am now engaged to be married to a wonderful wonderful man, we are in the process of building our own huose together, and own a successful business where we employ over 10 people. The children have settled down so well and are very happy! Thank you to welshwomens Aid for the support they gave me and my children and for all the people who are out there and experiencing domestic issues - dont give up on yourself!!!! talk to someone, there is help out there!

Women’s Institute No More Violence Against Women Campaign

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes has launched a new research project with Bristol University comparing and contrasting violence against women in rural and urban settings. It is hoped that the findings will help to tackle the stereotyping that for example, violence against women does not happen in rural areas and if it does, it’s only domestic violence. Hopefully it will also show what kind of support services are needed.

If you have an opportunity I would urge you to take part in the online survey which can be completed from the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2boN6N_2fdbHbhJ0gVoWqN4vA_3d_3d

The deadline for completed surveys is 14 February 2009 with the results of the research being launched in Spring 2009.

For further information about the No More Violence Against Women Campaign please visit http://thewi.org.uk/campaigns or contact the NFWI-Wales Office on 029 2022 1712.

Thanks,
Nerys