Delegates share their stories of violence

Louise Nousratpour
Sunday February21, 2010
The Morning Star

Unison women's conference 2010: Delegates lined up on the final day of the conference to share their own heart-rending experiences of domestic violence.

They also revealed the major difficulties they had faced when seeking to escape their ordeal - and demanded more resources to help women suffering the same fate.

Croydon branch delegate Etna Holdsworth, whose daughter had been subjected to threats from a former partner, said: "We have had great difficulties in getting help from the police. The force still has a long way to go."

Portsmouth delegate Fran Fox called for proper investment in safe houses and training provisions for police and social workers to recognise signs of domestic violence and offer effective support for victims.

She added: "In my workplace employers pay for training and I urge you to campaign to get their workplace to do the same."

Surrey women's officer Jan Lynch pointed to research showing that women suffer physical and sexual abuse at least 35 times before they pick up the courage to report it, often due to the stigma surrounding the abuse.

On average two women are killed every week in England and Wales by their current or former partner - accounting for 65 per cent of all female murders in 2006-7, conference heard.

National women's committee speaker Margaret McKay called for domestic abuse policy to be enforced in "every workplace."

She added: "We need more women social workers who are properly trained to sign post victims to the right authorities."