Women delegates demand support for victims

Louise Nousratpour in Eastbourne
Thursday March 11, 2010
The Morning Star

THE TUC women's conference has demanded action to address the "shocking failures" of local authorities in providing adequate support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Delegates in Eastbourne also condemned the increasing sexualisation of girls and young women in the media as highlighted by a Home Office report last month.

The UN Convention to Eliminate Discrimination against Women has repeatedly identified the link between the portrayal of women as sex objects and attitudes that underpin violence and discrimination against women, conference heard.

Speaking on a motion on sexualisation of young girls, NASUWT delegate Joanna Wright urged the TUC to raise awareness about the connection between sexual violence and the objectification of girls and women.

Speakers welcomed the launch of a government strategy in 2009 to tackle all forms of violence against women as well as its pledge to introduce awareness of domestic abuse to the classroom.

But they agreed that more needs to be done, especially in tackling the postcode lottery of services for victims.

Conference urged local authorities not to use the recession to cut resources for support services and crisis centres, which are already desperately underfunded and facing closures.

FBU delegate Jo Byrne urged the government to ensure councils provide "a steady stream of funding" for women services.

"In this recession such services are worst hit by cuts and the chasm of inequality just grows and grows," she said.

"Domestic abuse accounts for a fifth of all violent crimes and has the highest level of repeat victimisation."

CPS speaker Kim Gainsborough called for better training programmes for front-line staff to improve support for victims and urged the TUC to offer "short training packages" to union activists.