Domestic Abuse Funding Threat
Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie believes that current budget proposals
could have very serious implications for women and children affected by
domestic abuse.
Speaking in parliament, she said that "there are major obstacles
to securing domestic abuse services for women. Existing support for that
work via supporting people funding is seriously at risk, because the spending
review removes ring fencing from such funding. Local authorities will
decide their spending priorities and they will have many competing pressures.
There is concern that this will put at risk housing support services with
a more preventive focus, such as those provided by Women's Aid. At present,
there is no indication in the single outcome agreement that this is a
priority area. That means that refuge and support services could be vastly
reduced, which will undo much of the work that has been done."
Cathy was also concerned that new initiatives would not be introduced,
or extended to areas such as Falkirk.
"We could reduce the number of women and children made homeless by
improving the use of protective and exclusion orders. Women experiencing
domestic abuse need better access to legal aid. Conviction rates for domestic
abuse and rape are abysmally low and those who are convicted often receive
derisory sentences. Domestic abuse courts should be introduced throughout
Scotland. I recently dealt with a case in which the evidence of violence
and other abuse was overwhelming but, astonishingly, the perpetrator was
admonished. I doubt that that would have happened if there had been a
domestic abuse court in Falkirk.
"I have seen at first hand the perpetrator work that is being done
by organisations such as SACRO in Falkirk and the CHANGE programme, which
is based in Grangemouth. Such work with perpetrators is being undermined
by inadequate funding for partner work. If the Scottish Executive is to
show a commitment to consolidating the work that has already been done
and moving forward and addressing the challenges that still have to be
met, it desperately needs to demonstrate that there is a funding resource.
Ring fencing is vital; otherwise, we will stand in Parliament next year
lamenting the important work that was done but has now been lost."
The development of policies and programmes to tackle domestic abuse and
violence against women and children had been a priority during the first
eight years of devolved power in Scotland, said Cathy.
"We were one of the first countries to produce a national domestic
abuse strategy. Scotland is highly regarded throughout the UK and internationally
not only for our commitment to addressing domestic abuse but for our strategy,
which is based on recognition of the relationship between domestic abuse
and gender inequalities. It is significant that those involved at the
front line were at the forefront of the policy process; Scottish Women's
Aid and others helped to frame the national strategy. That is best practice
in my opinion.
"The strategy led to a growth, nationally and locally, of multi-agency
partnerships, which developed refuge provision, services and training
for those whose work involves contact with or impacts on the lives of
women and children who have suffered sexual, physical and emotional abuse.
Initiatives such as the domestic abuse court have been piloted successfully
and the advice, support, safety and information services together—ASSIST—project
has brought together all those involved in supporting victims through
the court.
"Changing attitudes was never going to be easy, but attitudes are
changing. The struggle to end the scourge of gender violence now receives
support right across the political spectrum, albeit that some people are
more active than others. Things are changing.
"We must ensure that the skills and capacity that we have developed
are not lost and that training is further developed. That means that we
must protect the funding that currently goes to a wide variety of projects
and services. We must adopt long-term, sustainable funding to secure services
for women and children. Funding for children and young people is welcome,
but they cannot be safe and secure unless their mothers are protected
and supported, too."
(November 2007)
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