COVID-19 | London | Violence Against Women and Girls
The Mayor of London held an emergency conference call with representatives of charities and voluntary organisations in London to find out what additional help and support they will need to continue to provide services to vulnerable people throughout London.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today pledged £1 million to a new emergency support fund to help London’s community and voluntary organisations affected by the impact of the coronavirus.
The Mayor has joined City Bridge Trust, the City of London Corporation’s charitable funder, and London Funders, a network of investors of London’s civil society, to launch the new fund – with an initial £1 million provided by City Hall and £1 million from City Bridge Trust.
Members of the London VAWG Consortium have reported that the numbers of women fleeing sexual and domestic violence tripled during the lockdown in China. A conference call for members, scheduled for 2pm on Thursday 19 March 2020 will look at how the current situation is affecting the numbers of women and girls seeking help, the need for homeworking and digital challenges and the impact on organisational resources.
Prior to COVID-19 measures, the Consortium's recent response to consultation by London Councils, the umbrella body that funds pan-London services for survivors of sexual and deomestic violence, indicated the already high and increasing levels of demand brought about by political and social changes:
"The landscape in which these services are delivered has changed dramatically over the past seven years: local services have been cut as councils retrench to statutory duties in the face of more than 60% cuts to budgets, housing continues to be an issue with increased stock standing empty as investment properties or converted to transient use through AirBnB, young professionals leaving London in order to purchase homes and raise families and the decreasing availability of volunteers because of the Government's hostile environment policy.
"The population of London is changing as immigration and inter-borough migration is affected by global events and central government policy. Brexit has created uncertainties for EU nationals, an increase in racism and homophobia and a paralysis of domestic policy-making. The Women’s Budget Group submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights and the recent Marmot 10 Years On Report set out the context of poverty and decline in life expectancy for women since 2010."
"Societal and cultural changes include the ubiquity of mobile electronic devices and communication. New forms of coercive surveillance and control are emerging through technology facilitated abuse, including stalking applications on mobile phones and manipulation of smart devices (meters, locks, cameras) in homes (UCL: Gender and Internet of Things Report)".
"London VAWG Consortium members report the high demands placed on employees, the difficulties recruiting and retaining staff, the extensive and ongoing staff training required and the need for support up to clinical supervision. They note that there is £10,000pa differential for equivalent posts in the NHS, and experienced counsellors within the sector are now being paid £6,000 a year less than they were seven years ago. Staff trained by the sector are leaving for better paid jobs in London or migrating from London altogether. Members note the increased safeguarding risks of over-burdened staff working safely and the increased room for errors."
"We have seen an explosion in survivors coming forward to report rape and sexual offences and yet there is very little support available particularly for therapeutic support. Survivors of sexual violence pull out of the Criminal Justice Service at a high rate in London, repeated reports have highlighted the significant and increased problems survivors face and there continues to be an alarming drop in conviction rates (Rape Review 2019)"
The Mayor of London's Press Release highlights survivors of domestic violence as a priority. Let's hope so. In particular, we need emergency safe single-sex accommodation for women fleeing violence.
COVID-19 Advice for UK Patients in 21 Languages
From Dr Yusuf Ciftci, Policy and Advocacy Officer
Doctors of the World UK, part of the Médecins du Monde network
Doctors of the World have shared the Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients in 21 languages, which were produced in partnership with the British Red Cross, Migrant Help and Clear Voice in English, Albanian, Dari, French, Pashto, Portuguese, Bengali, Vietnamese, Kurdish Sorani is available at the moment, but more languages coming soon: Mandarin, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Malayalam, Turkish, Farsi, Amharic, Tigrinya, Somali.
The guidance is based on the government’s updated advice and health information. We really hope it will help to ensure this important guidance reaches migrant and asylum-seeking communities in the UK.
We would be happy if you could please share these with your patients, service users and your networks widely so that we reach all communities who would like this crucial information in their own language.
These documents will be replaced once NHS advice is updated.
We are also struggling with the violence against women and children here in South Africa my friend. It seems to have become a world wide problem and all strength to your own efforts to stem the tide.
Thank you. You are right, it is a world-wide problem. The funders are working together and direct communication has been set up, that's a good start. Our meeting this afternoon will help to co-ordinate efforts across London. I wish you well in your efforts, too, friend.
Take care my friend and all of the best to you guys and your efforts.
Blessings!
It's sad but unfortunately having to stay together for too long brings out the worst in people - like christmas and other holidays. Families are too often an emotional minefield, a slumbering volcano where the confinement leads to eruptions of emotions and, unfortunately, violence.
Lyrics came to my mind: "They say that home is where the heart is, but home is only where the hurt is". It's a song written from a child's perspective, but it's the same for all that are in a place where they can't get away.
Yes, everything escalates when circumstances become more challenging. It's a difficult place to be, but there is increasing recognition of the problem, at least.
The world is seemingly more and more off its rockers everyday. So very sad. Stay well over there...
Thank you, you too.