Updates on the domestic abuse bill and Covid-19
WA

Women's Aid
 
To:Susan
Fri 24/04/2020 14:05
 

 
Dear Susan,

We have all seen unprecedented changes to our daily lives this past month, and we know many of you are worrying about what this means for survivors. Women’s Aid and our member services have been working hard to reach women and children experiencing domestic abuse during lockdown, and to call on government to ensure they put survivors at the heart of their response to Covid-19. The power of communities coming together during this crisis has been incredible, and this month we hope you will share advice and guidance for survivors and community members.

In a further twist to events, we were surprised to see the return of the domestic abuse bill to parliament next week! This bill remains a landmark opportunity to improve support for survivors but we need your support to ensure MPs make the most of this opportunity. In light of this unexpected and imminent return of the bill, it would be fantastic if you were able to write to your MP this weekend!

We hope you are all staying safe. Thank you for your ongoing support during such a challenging time - it means more than ever.

With best wishes,

Women’s Aid Campaign Champions team
 
Take action: Domestic abuse bill – write to your MP

In light of the Covid-19 crisis, we had expected the next stage of the domestic abuse bill to be delayed until parliament returned to ‘normal’. Yet this week we saw the surprise announcement that the bill will in fact return to parliament next week! The bills ‘second reading’ is scheduled for the Tuesday 28th April. At this stage it will be debated by all MPs, before moving to ‘committee stage’ where MPs will be able to make amendments (changes) and vote on the legislation. It is a key time to tell your MP what’s missing from the bill, and the changes we need to see.

Write to your MP using our template letter, sharing our campaigning priorities for the domestic abuse bill. Feel free to personalise the letter with why this matters to you. Find out who your MP is and how to contact them here.
Download the template letter here
 
Take action: Share our survivor and community resources

A group of domestic abuse and women’s sector organisations came together this month to produce a safety and wellbeing guide for survivors, and community guidance on how friends, family and neighbours can support survivors during this crisis. Please do take a look and share far and wide! We’ve seen some brilliant and creative ways to increase awareness of the support available during lockdown, and we would love to hear how you’ve been raising awareness.

Please share the following resources by clicking the button below: 

Covid-19/ Coronavirus – Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence, and other forms of Gender-Based Violence: How can you help? Advice for friends, family, neighbours and community members
Covid-19/Coronavirus: Safety and Wellbeing Advice for Survivors of Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and other forms of Gender-Based Violence
Download the safety and support resources here
 
Campaigning updates:

Covid-19/Coronavirus
We are working hard to make the government understand how Covid-19 is impacting survivors and specialist services and to take action. We are pushing ministers for emergency funding to ensure our life-saving services can cope with Covid-19. You can read more about our priorities in a letter to the prime minister, and watch our campaigns & policy manager deliver evidence to the home affairs committee about the response required.
 

Live Chat
We want to say a massive thank you for all of you who donated or shared our emergency appeal for our Live Chat service. This support could not have come at more critical time, with a 41% increase in demand since lockdown measures were put in place. Your support has enabled us to temporarily open up longer opening hours (10am-2pm) to better support survivors during this crisis. We could not do all of this without your help – thank you!
 

Ministry of Justice (MOJ) review of the family courts
We were expecting to the see the final report of the MOJ review into the family court response to domestic abuse published in April. But due to the Covid-19 crisis we expect this to be delayed. We will, however, keep you posted on this urgent concern for survivors.
 





 
 

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