TEHRAN, October 22 -The British Parliament’s home affairs select committee has said that "much stronger action" is needed to tackle domestic violence in the UK.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -The British Parliament’s home affairs select committee has said that "much stronger action" is needed to tackle domestic violence in the UK.
In a report issued on Monday, the committee also urged the government to provide more support for victims of domestic abuse and to widen its reforms as a matter of urgency.
"The government is rightly proposing new legislation and a new strategy, but our inquiry found much stronger action is needed across the board,” the committee said.
According to the report's figures, 200 women and children, who are victims of domestic abuse, are turned away from emergency refuges every day due to a "desperate lack" of bed spaces.
An estimated 1.2 million women experienced domestic abuse last year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics’ crime survey while an estimated two women a week die at the hands of a current or former partner.
Refuge services supported 13,414 women with 14,353 children and young people in the year 2016-17, according to the charity Women’s Aid.
However, the charity added that every day refuge centers are turning away 60 per cent of their referrals, an average of 90 women and 94 children, because of a lack of space.
"We urgently need more refuge places - provision should be a requirement of local authorities, backed by national ring-fenced funding," Chair of the committee Yvette Cooper MP said.
She added: "Rightly the government has recognized the serious problem of economic abuse. But Universal Credit is making it much harder for women to maintain financial independence or to leave abusive relationships and the government's insistence on a single household payment is a serious retrograde step."
The parliamentary report, published ahead of the government’s pending domestic abuse bill, also warns the rollout of universal credit is allowing perpetrators to take control of household budgets, making it more difficult for victims to leave abusers.
The report also called on the government to introduce a national register for serial stalkers and for a new commissioner to help stand up for victims' rights.
MPs also said the government must develop a clear strategy to ensure children experiencing domestic abuse are protected and given the support necessary to help them recover, including being granted “protected status” on NHS mental health waiting lists.
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said the report made it clear children are “too often the forgotten victims of domestic abuse."
In response to the report, a government spokesman said: "Domestic abuse is a devastating crime that shatters the lives of victims and families. We are determined to transform our response, so we welcome the committee's support for the government's planned Domestic Abuse Bill."
The National Police Chiefs' Council lead for domestic abuse, Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe, said inspections on the police response to domestic abuse have acknowledged "substantial improvements in leadership, training, initial response, safeguarding of victims and investigations," adding that "crime is rising and so is the demand on our service but our commitment to safeguarding victims of domestic abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice is evident."
The UK opposition Labour Party has already promised to provide up to ten days paid leave for victims of domestic violence.
Sarah Champion, Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, unveiled the new party policy at the Labour's Women's Conference in Liverpool, September 2018.
Source: presstv
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