16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence 2020
From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end gender-based violence around the world.
The mission of the global campaign is:
- raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
- strengthening local work around violence against women
- establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
- providing a forum in which organisers can develop and share new and effective strategies
- demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organising against violence against women
- creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women
Communities all over the world held events and raised their voices to tackle gender-based violence. In 2020, Barking and Dagenham reflected on the impacts of gender-based violence in the context of a global pandemic.
Every day throughout the 16 Days we invited you to join an online conversation with us. We posted a piece of learning or information about local services from different perspectives and you discussed your thoughts and feelings in this space.
If you or a friend is need of support, please see links to in the chats for information or head to https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/domestic-abuse-and-sexual-violence
Perspectives
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5th December: International Volunteer Day
Today is International Volunteer Day and a massive thank you to all our volunteers across the borough – you have been instrumental in being able to keep residents safe and looked after throughout the pandemic and beyond.
In relation to gender- based violence we wanted to welcome the 11 new peer mentors who have recently been recruited into the local domestic and sexual violence service, delivered by Refuge.
The peer mentors will help break isolation; help build social networks and support survivors whilst they regain control of their lives. The peer mentors will be given several days of training and... Continue reading
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7th Decemeber: LGBT+ Experiences of Abuse
LGBT+ experiences are often missed out in the public narrative of violence and abuse but are no less harrowing.
Galop is the pan-London LGBT+ anti-violence organisation working around domestic abuse, sexual violence and hate crime. They run services for LGBT+ people via their Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence and Young People’s Services.
Galop has a Specialist Young People’s Service, which works with 13-25 year olds experiencing violence and abuse. As well as intimate partner abuse, grooming, CSE and ISVA work, the service offers a specialist service for LGBT+ children and children/young people experiencing honour based abuse, family and community based abuse... Continue reading
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8th December: Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) endorses DAHA as national best practice in the national Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. In February 2021, the Council will be undertaking an accreditation assessment with DAHA to recognise the huge amount work undertaken over the last year. This includes a wide range of training offers for housing teams, awareness events and partnership working as well as scrutinising our systems and processes to ensure high standards are maintained for our residents who are experiencing domestic abuse.
Housing is, clearly, a massive factor towards ensuring safety of survivors and children... Continue reading
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9th December: Domestic Abuse in the Workplace
For Barking and Dagenham, more than a third of our staff also live in the borough. If we accept domestic abuse is a problem for our residents then it stands to reason that it can also impact our staff. 75% of women who experience domestic abuse are targeted at work from harassing phone calls and abusive partners arriving at the office unannounced, to physical assaults. In the context of homeworking and COVID 19, work may not offer the lifeline that it once did as people are trapped at home with their abusers.
Over the last 18 months we have undertaken... Continue reading
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10th December: World Human Rights Day
To conclude the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence we are drawing attention to World Human Rights Day.
All forms of gender-based violence are human rights issues. Violence against women is a violation of women’s fundamental human rights:
- The right to life
- The right not to be tortured or treated in an inhuman and degrading way
- The right to respect for private and family life (including the right to physical and psychological integrity)
- The right not to be discriminated against
Thank you for taking part in the last 16 days. Sometimes it can feel lonely holding space for people... Continue reading
Who's Listening
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HN
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Email wayne.trevor@lbbd.gov.uk