Domestic Violence
Conference recognises that domestic violence is widespread in our society. Despite this, its existence remains hidden by many of those who experience it. Conference also recognises that although it is a fact that the majority of victims of domestic violence are women, children who live in households where domestic violence occurs are also victims. Conference recognises also that domestic violence can also take place in same sex relationships.
Conference notes that domestic violence has a devastating effect on the lives of women and children. The statistics from the Government’s own document, ‘Living with Fear’ states that:
1.one woman in four experiences domestic violence at some stage in her life;
2.every week two women are killed by their current or former partners;
3.domestic violence accounts for 25% of all violent crime.
Conference notes:
a.that, according to the police, there has been a big rise in reported domestic violence cases, doubling in some regions;
b.the evidence from a study funded by the Economic Social Research Group, conducted by a group of universities including Warwick, found that a significant number of boys of all ages believed women victims ‘deserved what they got’;
c.that Home Office research admits that work in schools to teach young people that violence against women is wrong is at a very early stage;
d.that there is still a severe lack of refuges in England and Wales;
e.that this crisis is augmented by the difficulties of rehousing women and their families in affordable houses;
f. a study which revealed severe under-reporting of same sex domestic violence.
Conference welcomes recent Government initiatives to begin to tackle these enormous problems, but accepts that a lot more resources are necessary.
Conference recognises that the Union has an important contribution to make in combating violence in the home by:
i.recognising that a majority of our members are women, some of whom will be experiencing domestic violence and who will therefore be in need of particular support to ensure that they do not suffer at work as a result of this;
ii.campaigning on, and highlighting, the particular issues around the effects of domestic violence on the children and young people for whom we are responsible as teachers;
iii.becoming involved in the wider campaigns which are demanding more resources to help women and children who are experiencing domestic violence;
iv.by campaigning for a lead person in every LEA who can provide advice to schools and who can co-ordinate a response to protect the emotional well being and educational attainment of pupils in whose homes domestic violence is taking place.
Conference therefore instructs the Executive to:
A.set up a working group to focus specifically on raising awareness amongst members on the issue of domestic violence, with the aim of producing training materials for use within the Union;
B.produce guidance for all Union officers on dealing with members who may be experiencing domestic violence;
C.press the Government to make available funding to enable every school to have access to a counsellor specially trained in domestic violence issues, to ensure that children and young people have the help and support they need;
D.press the Government to fund a training programme for all teachers on the issues surrounding the effects of domestic violence on children and young people and how to recognise them;
E.campaign for more funding to support participative learning in school about domestic violence in order to begin to change attitudes;
F.support campaigns which are campaigning for more resources for women and their families experiencing domestic violence;
G.press local authorities to adopt policy on Domestic Violence, in line with TUC guidance that will:
- identify a point of contact for members suffering from domestic violence, and ensure that any person identified as a point of contact has undergone appropriate training;
- guarantee discretion and confidentiality within limitations of legislation;
- offer paid leave to enable victims to access solicitors, police, GPs, hospital and other agencies;
- provide a speedy response to requests for new financial arrangements, including contingency arrangements where necessary;
- ensure safety in the workplace.