Belfast City Council’s Post

Thanks to The Labour Relations Agency for hosting this panel discussion on such a sensitive issue. It is vital that employers create an environment in which team members feel supported and helped, as they deal with the challenges of domestic abuse and violence. 🏳️🌈 #BelfastPride2024 #SafeAtHomeSafeAtWorkPride24

To celebrate International Women's Day 2024 the Baker McKenzie Belfast Centre held an informative session on Domestic Abuse delivered by Helen from Belfast & Lisburn Women's Aid. The aim was to give people a greater understanding of the types of abuse that can occur and the support that is available.   This follows the launch of our Domestic Abuse Policy demonstrating our drive to support employees who may be affected by offering tailored support. Key measures introduced are: - A paid leave provision for individuals experiencing domestic abuse and family violence - Financial assistance in order to meet urgent needs - Flexibility with working arrangements, practical safety measures within the workplace - Assistance with accessing internal and external resources and support.   With this policy we aim to ensure that any employees who experience domestic abuse receive appropriate support, as well as a safe and secure workplace. #inspireinclusion #iwd2024

Have you spotted 'This bus is a safe space" on Stagecoach buses across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Bedfordshire? Or maybe the flagship Buses & Businesses Against Abuse (BAA) bus? 👀 This is the result of a partnership between Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Stagecoach East and Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre to tackle male violence against women and girls by working together with local businesses to prevent sexual harassment and abuse in public spaces. As with all BAA accredited organisations, local Stagecoach staff, including drivers, receive training to enable them to spot predatory behaviour and safely support individuals being subjected to abuse in their spaces. Creating safe spaces for women and girls. Such an important and positive step in tackling the "national emergency" of male violence against women and girls. 86% of women in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in public spaces. Cambridgeshire businesses are leading the way in saying women and girls shouldn't have to keep themselves safe, their communities will. #Cambridge #Cambridgeshire #Peterborough #BusinessesAgainstAbuse #BusesAgainstAbuse #endVAWG #SexualHarassment #Harassment #endMaleViolenceAgainstWomen #buses #EndRapeCulture #RapeCrisis #SafeSpaces #SafeSpacesForWomen #CallItOut #partnership #PartnershipWorking #Collaborative #WomenSupportingWomen

On Wednesday 21 August, 2024, the Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commission presented its first Yearly Report on the progress of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 to Parliament. Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin shared the report's key findings including the importance of language, embedding lived experience and improving the capacity of frontline and crisis services. Leanne Collingburn and Courtney Thorne from HopgoodGanim's Pro Bono practice discuss the Report's findings further: https://lnkd.in/gsDT5vXg

Today marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Alongside DV-alert, Our Watch, ANROWS and the eSafety Commissioner, we are committed to the Australian Government’s vision of ending violence against women and children within one generation. This year’s campaign theme is 'Safe Everywhere, Always.' Everyone has the right to feel safe wherever they are - at home, at work, in public, and online. Together, we can create a world where everyone is free from violence. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic, family or sexual violence, you can contact 1800RESPECT: call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services. Interested in getting involved in the #16DaysOfActivism? We have created a stakeholder kit containing resources to draw attention to maintaining safety and accessing support – for more information, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gdmTJDda. You can also follow along with the accounts listed above for more information about what violence is, how to prevent it and how to get support. #1800RESPECT #counselling #support #relationships #familyviolence #domesticviolence #16days

2024 Yearly report on the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. Our key takeaways: 1. The importance of language - our choice of language when speaking about FDSV needs to be clearer & not inadvertently suggest this is a women's issue. 2. Embedding lived experience - those with lived experience of FDSV (on both sides!) are best placed to define problems and deliver solutions. 3. Engaging with men - men are critical to ending gender-based violence. 4. The need for improved system governance - systems need to talk to each other & ensure they are not causing harm. 5. Building workforce capability - more and better training is necessary 6. Improving systems capacity - significantly more funding is critical Read more below ...

🌟 Say NO to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) 🌟 Gender-Based Violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions of people around the world, shattering lives and futures. It’s time we take a stand—together. Whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological, any form of violence is unacceptable. We all have a role to play in creating safe and supportive environments for everyone, regardless of gender. 🔹 Raise your voice against violence. 🔹 Support survivors and empower them to speak out. 🔹 Advocate for policies that protect the vulnerable. 🔹 Educate others to foster a culture of respect and equality. Ending GBV isn’t just about preventing harm; it’s about building a world where everyone can live with dignity and freedom. Let’s unite to create a society where #GBV has no place. #SayNoToGBV #EndViolence #EqualityForAll #Empowerment #HumanRights

The ABS has recorded the highest rate of sexual assault in the history of its 31-year dataset, with 39% of reported sexual assaults relating to domestic and family violence.   I joined a crossbench roundtable with frontline services including Safe and Equal, Warringu, Engender Equality, DVCS, Domestic Violence NSW, WESNET (Women's Services Network) Inc., Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), Women's Safety Services of Central Australia, Tangentyere Council Aboriginal Corporation, Sexual Assault Services Victoria, Full Stop Australia, Women's Legal Service Tasmania Inc, to discuss the increased reporting and demand on frontline services, as well as the clear need for more resourcing and funding.   Funding frontline responses services to meet demand is necessary if we are to have any chance of keeping women and children safe. The women’s safety sector has called for $1 billion per year for frontline services to be able to help everyone who seeks it, Labor has so far only committed less than two thirds of this amount.

The first Yearly Report on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children was tabled on Wednesday. Key findings from the report include: 1. The importance of using explicit language to address "men's violence" against women. 2. Listening to the voices of those who have experienced DFSV to inform solutions. 3. Engaging with men in every aspect of ending gender-based violence. 4. Improving system governance using a holistic multi-sectorial and culturally informed approach. 5. Building workforce capability to improve system responses. 6. Understanding the demand for DFSV services to improve funding and resources. Click below to read more

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month   Intimate Partner Violence can happen to ANYone: any socio-economic background, culture, gender, orientation, or identity. Yet the recipient of harm is often blamed with, “Well, why don’t they just leave?”*   Here are just a few reasons: They Hope The Abuser Will Change One Day, Fear Of Their Abuser, They Want To Protect Their Children, They May Be Intimidated by Their Partner’s Social Standing, Isolation, They Question Their Self-Worth, They Feel Pressured To Live Up To Society’s Image, They Feel They Can Save Their Partner, It has Become Their Normal, Gaslighting , Threats of Suicide, Economic Necessity, Lack of resources/Information, Fear of Homelessness, Failure of the criminal/legal system, Shame, Immigration status, Distrust of police, Elderly or having a Disability, Stigma for those from marginalized sexual orientations or gender identities, concern for their pets. Instead of Asking, "Why don't you just leave?" Try taking a deep breath and then asking them what they need. For more information, you can visit the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. https://wscadv.org/ (*Some of the content compiled from the websites “Women Connection” and “Battered Women’s Support Services” )