100 Parliamentarians mark UK SAYS NO MORE week by signing Charter on Prevention

Rally held in Parliament today to say ‘No More’ to domestic abuse

24th May: Yesterday, over 100 Parliamentarians in both Commons and Lords have pledged their commitment to ending sexual violence and domestic abuse by signing up to the UK SAYS NO MORE campaign, run by charity Hestia. Today Parliamentarians are signing up to its new Charter on Prevention and will be attending a rally in Parliament today to highlight this important cause and to stand together to say “No More” to domestic abuse.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Carolyn Harris MP, who is heading up the campaign in Parliament, has urged the Government to ensure the new Domestic Abuse Bill includes stronger measures to prevent domestic abuse. Highlighting the Charter on Prevention she calls for:

• Greater support for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse. This can have a long term impact on children and more funding needs to be channelled into ensuring young people have access to mental health support.

• Domestic abuse to be everyone’s business. In particular there needs be greater awareness raising amongst employers who can play a key role in supporting employees who are experiencing abuse. The employers ‘duty of care’ needs to be expanded to include their responsibilities in dealing with domestic abuse.

• Responsibility for education and awareness to be enshrined in the role of the new Domestic Abuse Commissioner and for education around healthy relationships to spread into all walks of life. It will be incumbent on the new Commissioner, the Government and local authorities to make this happen.

The call comes as new data from Hestia, the largest provider of domestic abuse refuges in London, reveals that more than half (55%) of Brits who witness domestic abuse as a child will go on to be victims of domestic abuse in their adult life. The polling by Opinium highlights the stark need for more action to break the cycle of abuse.

Parliamentarians will show their support by wearing the campaign’s distinctive blue pin and joining survivors of domestic abuse and the Victim’s Commissioner at the rally in Parliament today.

Carolyn Harris MP for Swansea East and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities said:

“Domestic abuse has become a silent national health epidemic. It destroys people’s lives and children’s futures. I welcome the Domestic Abuse Bill but the Government can and must go further. I applaud the work of Hestia in taking forward UK SAYS NO MORE week to highlight the extent of domestic and sexual violence in this country. I stand with them and over 100 others in Parliament in calling on the Government to adopt this Charter for Prevention and collectively we are saying “No More”.

Lyndsey Dearlove, Head of UK SAYS NO MORE at Hestia said:

“1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will be a victim of domestic abuse or sexual violence in their lifetime. We can only end this by turning up the volume on the conversation and recognising that each of us has a role to play. We hope the support shown today from across the political spectrum will result in long-term measures that will bring an end to domestic abuse.”

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Case studies are available for interview

 

 

About UK SAYS NO MORE:

UK SAYS NO MORE Week runs from 21 – 25 May.

UK SAYS NO MORE is a national campaign launched to raise awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence across the UK. The campaign was launched by London charity Hestia in 2016. UK SAYS NO MORE seeks to unite and strengthen a diverse community of members of the public and organisations nationwide to actively take a stand against domestic violence and sexual assault under one powerful, visual symbol. The campaign provides open-source tools and resources for individuals and organisations to take action and get involved in ending domestic abuse and sexual violence. Together we can challenge the myths and misconceptions around these issues, share resources and information, and ultimately work together to make real positive change.

This year’s UK SAYS NO MORE Week theme is #WhatICanDo and calls for individuals, non-profit and corporate organisations, communities and groups across the UK – to unite and keep the conversation going around domestic abuse and sexual violence. The campaign asks members of the public to:

• Get talking about domestic abuse and sexual violence
• Share resources with friends, family and colleagues
• Wear the UK SAYS NO MORE pin

MPs that have signed up to the campaign include Diane Abbott, Luke Graham, David Davies, Rosie Duffield, Justine Greening, Iain Duncan Smith and Harriet Harman.

Lords that have signed up to the campaign include Baroness Newlove, Lord Gus O’Donnell, Lord Morgan, Lady Lane-Fox, Lord Dubs, Lady Corston, Baroness Hodgson, The Rt Revd the Lord Bishop of Coventry and Lord Newby.

UKSAYSNOMORE.org

@UKSAYSNOMORE #WhatICanDo

 

About Hestia

At Hestia, we support adults and children across London in times of crisis. Last year we worked with more than 9,000 people including women and children who have experienced domestic abuse, victims of modern slavery, young care leavers and older people. From giving someone a home to helping them to get the right mental health support, we support and enable people at the moment of crisis.

Hestia is the largest provider of domestic abuse refuges in London and last year we supported 3,657 people to recover from the trauma of domestic abuse including 668 children. We provide families refuge accommodation, dedicated children and family support, IDVA (Independent Domestic Abuse Advocates) and MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Centre) support and community group support.

 

Hestia.org

@Hestia1970

 

About the data

Hestia commissioned market research company Opinium to undertake a survey of 2,003 nationally representative UK adults (aged 18+). The data is based on the results of an online survey. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

The survey found:

 

• 1 in 4 Brits (25.7%) have experienced some form of domestic abuse as an adult.

 

• 1 in 8 Brits (12%) say they witnessed domestic abuse in their household as a child.

 

• More than half (55%) of those who witness domestic abuse as a child also go on to later become a victim of domestic abuse themselves.