 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
The forum meets on Friday lunchtimes, every 4- It is open to representatives of any local agency Next meeting Friday 25th May 2007 at 1pm in the claredon building,University of Teesside For more information, please contact the This presentation reviews the work of Tees Valley History of Feminist Activism Around Violence Against Women in Tees Valley Locally feminists were active around sexual and domestic violence since the 1970s 4 Women’s Aid Refuges were founded in the 1970s Local Experience of Forum Working Cleveland Domestic Violence Forum, one of the earliest, was formed in 1992 Chaired by Women’s Aid - an active forum, with many achievements including: hosting a 3-yr Zero Tolerance Campaign 1996-7: ‘Cleveland’ abolished 1997-8: Domestic Violence Forums founded in the 4 new Unitary authorities and in 2000 Darlington, Co. Durham (2000) By 2002, Cleveland Rape Crisis Centre was: 21 years old - the largest in UK ~ 25 workers Income generating & supported by grants Providing counselling, advocacy and support ~ sexual violence and drugs+ eating disorders Training voluntary and statutory services Researching the attrition crisis (Home Office) Responding to Setting the Boundaries In negotiation with Cleveland Police and NHS ~ establishing a SARC for the region Broad-based and working in partnership with voluntary and statutory agencies Rape Crisis in Crisis As a consequence of the insecure and inadequate funding regimes which characterises the voluntary sector ... In Nov 2002, Cleveland Rape Crisis (CREATE) was suddenly closed and declared bankrupt The closure of such an established key service became a major issue at the Changing Law, Changing Practice Conference, where in consequence: Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum was founded with the closure of CREATE, in December 2002. There was a crisis re sexual abuse counselling services across Teesside. Subsequently SEARCH extended its services in Hartlepool and expanded to cover Stockton. Redcar Women's Aid, with workers from former CREATE established a sexual violence counselling service covering Redcar and East Cleveland. Women's Support Network stepped in to continue to provide a sexual violence counselling and advocacy service in Middlesbrough. All these organisation are providing an excellent service across Teesside but funding remains a constant issue. International Week of Action Against Violence Against Women MDVF and University of Teesside Speakers Harriet Harman MP, QC, Solicitor General Vera Baird MP, QC, Redcar Alane Aitken: Women’s Support Network Kay Davies: CREATE - freedom from sexual violence Chair: Professor Jill Radford Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum: Aims from these origins a 3-point agenda emerged: Re-establishing rape crisis services for the region Engaging with the draft Sexual Offences Bill, now the Sexual Offences Act 2003 Making a ‘state of the art’ Sexual Assault Referral Centre a reality Meetings at the University, Friday lunch-times, every 6-weeks-ish. Forum Achievements -1 Rape Crisis Services Audit of local counselling services Supported bids for emergency measures Supported bids for new services in S.Tees and development of services in N.Tees Engaged with the SO Bill as it went thru’ Parliament - via MP Monitoring its impact - still seeking funding for a research project Forum Achievements - SARC Slower Progress - Cleveland Police commitment £500k (2002) Health authorities slower ‘rape not a health priority’ - commitment secured 2005 Representation on - SARC planning committee with Cleveland Police and NHS - and sub groups Consultation Survey Public education and awareness raising Lobbying MPs Planning in final stages, Jan 2006, but hit a set back and lost the proposed building Awaiting news re another building - June 2006 Other Forum Activities Opposed licence application from a local lap dancing club – failed Series of complaints re police responses to rape complaints - brought to the forum by young women from across the region - followed -up ~ being pressured to withdraw complaints by officers from outside the investigation team ~ Police - public statement that young women going out drinking ‘provoke’ it Although ‘talking shop’ is a common criticism of forums – Tees Valley Sexual Violence Forum – talks a lot – we find it a necessary and productive activity that facilitates strategic thinking & interventions As a Forum, we have chosen to operate like a ‘think tank’ / policy advisory or pressure group and networking forum As a Forum we don’t aspire to run services ourselves but aim to identify gaps and promote the development of new services Challenges: No money, no bank account, no written constitution, or named officers (other than Chair) These have been discussed occasionally and no doubt will be again – but there’s always been more pressing concerns Including maintaining autonomy- avoiding being co-opted or appropriated by statutory authorities - a danger currently facing domestic violence forums Conclusion As a Forum we have achieved such success as we’ve had because of: Historical idioscyncracies Feminist Activism Prior experience of forum working Commitment and talents of all involved Diversity within the region
| |||
