On average, 16 women in the Bath area are victims of domestic violence every day, and the Council is teaming up with local agencies to tackle this problem and highlight preventative work.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is teaming up with other agencies to highlight how they are working to stem this tide of abuse which affects 5,936 women every year. From drop-in sessions at the library to a candlelit vigil at Bath Abbey there will be a series of events shining a spotlight on the issue and how women can access help.
Cllr Simon Allen (Lib Dem, Radstock), Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, said: “Domestic violence is a hidden blight upon too many people in our communities. It cuts across social, geographic and cultural groups. But it is also one which Bath & North East Somerset Council is determined to tackle.
“We are linking up with different organisations to ensure a co-ordinated effort to help the victims and punish the perpetrators. If you are, or know someone who may be, a victim of domestic abuse or of a sexual assault there is no need to stay silent.”
As part of International End Violence Against Women Week events will be taking place from the 25th to 29th November.
Information on domestic abuse services will be available at Bath Central Library from 11am-1pm from Monday to Saturday. According to official figures 1,979 women and girls were victims of a sexual assault last year. The annual health care costs for women victims of domestic and sexual violence in Bath and North East Somerset is £3,702,439.
Peter Brandt, Assistant Chief Probation Officer and Chair of the Bath and North East Somerset Domestic Abuse Partnership, said: “Society seems to think it’s as simple as an abused woman just packing up her bags and leaving. Well we recognise it isn’t as simple as that. Any woman who is in an abusive relationship knows that a suggestion or hint that she might leave could result in even more violence from her partner.
“Our aim is to raise awareness about domestic abuse, to challenge society’s tolerant attitude towards this form of violence, we want to make it clear that the abuser is responsible for their actions and to make sure that victims of domestic abuse know that they should not have to tolerate violence.”
Meanwhile Next Link, which supports victims of domestic violence locally, is inviting people to join its candlelit vigil to highlight the number of women and children affected.
The march is to mark the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Tuesday 26th November. It will start outside Bath Abbey at 4.30pm.
Carol Metters, Director of Next Link, said: “Two women die and one child loses its mother every week, in the UK as a result of domestic abuse. What is also deeply disturbing is that the 5,936 recorded incidents in Bath and North East Somerset are just the tip of the iceberg. Two-thirds of incidents go unreported and many women and children suffer in silence. It is important that women know that if they are experiencing domestic abuse that it is not their fault and there is help available to make them safe. If you need help, or know someone who does just call.”
Bath & North East Somerset Council has a strong partnership of statutory and voluntary sector organisations who are working hard to eliminate domestic violence, abuse and rape.
One of those is the housing association Curo. Andrew Snee, Curo’s Head of Tenancy Solutions, said: “At Curo we believe that everyone has a duty to act when they have genuine concerns that domestic abuse may be happening. During Domestic Abuse Awareness Week we will be launching a new theatre-style training programme, designed in partnership with Southside Family Project to help front-line colleagues spot the warning signs of domestic abuse and know where to go for help.”
For more information on the range of services and agencies people can look to for help and information please visit this link.