Guest article: Women across Europe call on policy makers to #StepUp and protect women

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Image by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona-On Unsplash
ViewsJuly 13th, 2016

As the UK grapples with the recent EU referendum result, Alice Moore from Welsh Women’s Aid explains how the organisation is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women’s organisations across Europe in support of survivors of abuse.

As the UK begins a new relationship with our European neighbours, Welsh Women’s Aid is proud to be part of the Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE) Step up! CampaignWe’re calling on national and international decision-makers here and abroad to promote and protect the rights of women survivors of violence, and their children, to access specialist services throughout Europe. At a time when 1 in 3 women in Europe experience physical or sexual violence, and in the UK domestic abuse against women is increasing, it is more important than ever to join together with our sister organisations across the continent to stand up and speak out against violence against women.

Here in Wales, over 47,000 incidents on domestic abuse were reported to the police in 2014/15 and an estimated 11% women in Wales experience domestic abuse every year – and this doesn’t begin to cover the thousands upon thousands of women who felt too scared to report or to pick up the phone to ask for help. Whilst the Welsh Government has introduced a range of measures designed to prevent abuse and protect and support victims, we know that far too many women are still not always able to get the help they need, when they need it.

We also know that specialist services up and down the country face a difficult future amid insecure or unsustainable funding decisions. Many of them have experienced year-on-year funding cuts, resulting in over-stretched and under-resourced services, and could face yet even more uncertainty following the recent referendum result.

#StepUp

That is why we are calling on policy makers and funders in Wales to make sure that no woman or child is turned away from accessing critical support services delivered by refuges, rape support centres, and specialist support for Black and minority women. These services in Wales have been supporting families affected by domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women for decades. They provide safety and support with housing, health, and legal matters, alongside help to recover from abuse and to achieve independence. They also support families in the community who do not need, or cannot access, a refuge, or who do not want to leave their relationship. Without them, women who experience abuse – be it physical, sexual, psychological or financial – would have nowhere to turn for help when they need it the most.

The Istanbul Convention

We are also calling on the Welsh and UK Governments to support our demand to ratify the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe convention (completely separate from the EU) which would increase the protection of women fleeing violence, and the services that support them. This would also send a strong statement to our European neighbours, that working together to prevent violence against women will achieve a step up for women’s equality and safety.

So join us as we call on funders, policy-makers and Governments in Wales and across Europe to #StepUp and protect the rights of every woman survivor of violence.

If you are interested in supporting the Step Up! Campaign, please contact [email protected]. Welsh Women’s Aid is the lead, national membership organisation in Wales, which represents the views and experiences of Welsh domestic abuse and violence against women services. For anyone in Wales who needs help or support because of domestic abuse or sexual violence, the Live Fear Free Helpline can be contacted on 0808 80 10 800, day or night, for confidential support from a trained adviser.

Tagged with: Women

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