Nearly 15,000 Brighton women victims of domestic violence in last year

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Communities, Housing

More than 14,800 women in Brighton & Hove experienced domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking in the last year, it has been revealed.

The figures were released as key public figures in the city today sign up to the White Ribbon Campaign to end violence against women.

Clare (not her real name) was a child when she was abused by her father, which continued until she left home at eighteen: “I think I was about eight when my father started to abuse me. I never told anyone at the time. I was too frightened that they’d think it was my fault. My dad said he would kill me if I ever left and he’d abuse my sister instead. He was a really gentle man, I didn’t think anyone would ever believe what he was capable of. I don’t think I really did either. ”

Now 20 years after leaving home, she still feels isolated and blames herself for the abuse she has suffered:

“For years afterwards I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat. I just felt horrible all the time. I had these feelings that were coming from everywhere, like I couldn’t go out anywhere, I couldn’t settle and had to keep moving to escape the memories that were coming at me every time I relaxed.”

Violence against women is common and widespread, and many women experience multiple forms of abuse in their lifetime, Which is why senior public figures in the city have individually signed up to the White Ribbon Campaign pledge: never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms today.

Signing up to the White Ribbon Campaign pledge coincides with the start of the International 16 Days for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which take place each year between 25 November (International End Violence Against Women Day) and 10 December (Human Rights Day).

The national White Ribbon Campaign is led by men, and calls on all men to take more responsibility for ending violence against women and to work with women to prevent it. Violence against women includes rape, domestic violence, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking and sexual exploitation through trafficking or the sex industry.

Councillor Ben Duncan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Equalities and Public Protection, said: “Crimes like domestic violence, rape, forced marriage and sexual exploitation disproportionately effect women and are most often perpetrated by known men, to exert power and control. Nearly half of women are likely to experience such violence in their lifetime, and it is a cause and consequence of gender inequality and breach of human rights.

“Last year in the city we estimated that at least 5,389 women experienced domestic violence, 2,736 women experienced sexual assault, and 6,682 women experienced stalking.

"Much of this goes unreported, yet it has a devastating impact on victims, families and communities. This is why the council is committed to taking coordinated action to deal with violence against women which will include working with men locally to prevent it from happening.”

Chief Superintendent Graham Bartlett said: “Women are disproportionately the victims of sexual and domestic violence and we are committed to a co-ordinated approach to tackle this abuse. Of course this does not mean other victims will receive any less of a service it just reflects our understanding of the complexities associated with violence against women. We are committed to providing protection and access to support for all victims of violence and abuse, and to bringing all offenders to justice”
 
Dr Tom Scanlon, Director of Public Health for Brighton and Hove said: “Violence against women is a public health issue of great concern. The NHS spends more time dealing with the impact of violence against women than other agencies, and has a clear duty to contribute to multi-agency efforts to ensure that women experiencing violence know where to get help and receive the very best care and support available.

"So I’m pleased Brighton and Hove is taking part in the 16 Days campaign, and I’m proud to pledge to work towards the eradication of violence against women”

Clare contacted Survivors Network, a local charity, which helps survivors of rape and sexual violence to find a way forward to recover from the abuse.

“I was in a real bad way when a friend told me about Survivors’ Network. I couldn’t bear to have anyone look at me and know what had happened, but the women I spoke to were great. At first I didn’t even have to say anything about the abuse – I could just talk about my feelings.

"Once I’d used the helpline a few times I was brave enough to try the drop-in. It really helped me, it felt safe and made me realise I’m not alone. I found myself sitting with these women and I finally felt something slip into place, that I wasn’t to blame for what had happened to me. It helped me feel like I was more normal.”
 
“I can’t tell you what a difference it has made knowing that there’s somewhere to come to every week where for those two hours I can truly be myself. I don’t have to get drunk to go to sleep anymore. When I do sleep I feel like I can cope better with my nightmares. I can go out of the house to do my shopping, I have friends that I’ve met through the service and we support each other. It really has changed my life. I think I might have killed myself if I didn’t find Survivors Network when I did, because I really couldn’t have gone on the way I was going.”  

Various local activities are taking place to mark Brighton & Hove '16 Days’ campaign, to raise awareness of the problem of violence against women, and the police will also be using social media over the next two weeks to raise awareness of the work they do to support victims of violence and take action against offenders. 

• This evening (Friday 25th) at the Grand Hotel, Survivors Network, which has been supporting women in the city for 21 years, hosts a debate on how men and women can work together to prevent rape. The debate will be informed by an invited panel of national experts and is expected to attract nearly 100 local people.
• On Tuesday 6 December from 8pm at the Komedia, Charity Chuckle presents ‘Stand-Up to End Violence Against Women’, featuring local and national comedians including Zoe Lyons, Kate Smurthwaite, Jo Neary, Dan Maskell and Jonwayne Connolly, and Julie Jepson. Proceeds will go to local charities Rise and Survivors Network.

Ruth Mason, Manager of Survivors Network, said:  “Locally, we support women in a crisis and help women and their families recover from the abuse, but more needs to be done to encourage survivors to speak out and seek help, and to prevent rape and sexual violence from happening in the first place.

"Too often, campaigns to prevent rape focus on the victim’s behaviour and not enough attention is given to stopping the men who commit these crimes. So we welcome the call by the police and council for men individually and collectively to come forward to sign the White Ribbon pledge to prevent violence against women.”

Gail Gray, Chief Executive of Rise, said: “Rise contributed to the 16 Days campaign by hosting a national conference on violence against women prevention which was informed by the experience and expertise of survivors. Any prevention work we engage with must recognise and address the root causes of power and control by challenging violence based on gender inequality.

"Because when we accommodate, when we compromise, when we turn the other way, we are collaborating in the destruction of another woman’s life.  Our collective goal must ultimately be to end violence against women. The question is how we do it, not if we do it. Because nothing less will do.”
 
Anyone needing help and support locally should contact the police on 101 or in an emergency call 999. For support on sexual violence, contact Survivors Network on 01273 203380; for support on domestic violence contact Rise on 01273 62282; or see the ‘Amber Card’ on the Safe in the City Website www.safeinthecity.info which has information about additional local and national help for male and female victims of violence and abuse.