Domestic Violence and black and minority ethnic communities
London 29 May
Programme: 9.30-4.15
9.30 Chair’s welcome and introduction
9.35 Domestic Violence and Political Correctness
Commander Steve Allen, head of Metropolitan Police Violent Crime Directorate
10.15 Understanding and Combating Forced Marriage
What is forced marriage? What are the differences between forced and arranged marriage? What are the best ways to combat forced marriage?
Dr Geetanjali Gangoli is a lecturer at the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol; and a member of the Violence Against Women Research Group.
11.00 break
11.20 Advocacy and support for survivors of domestic violence from black and other minority ethnic communities
Alice Sampson is head of the urban regeneration research team, and Alpa Parmar, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. Both are co-authors of Tackling Domestic Violence: Providing Advocacy and Support to Survivors from Black and other Minority Ethnic Communities
12.10 Out of the shadows: writing about domestic violence
Rahila Gupta is a freelance writer and activist. She co-wrote Circle of Light the story of a battered Asian woman, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who killed her violent husband; and also co-scripted the screenplay of last year’s film Provoked, based on the book.
12.45 lunch
1.30 Workshops 1
Abolish No Recourse to Public Funds campaign: The impact of immigration rules on black women facing domestic violence
Every year, hundreds of black and migrant women with insecure immigration status face domestic violence from their husbands and families in the UK. This renders them extremely vulnerable to abusive partners who exploit their position by subjecting them to often extreme forms of violence, imprisonment and domestic servitude, usually with impunity. Women who manage to leave a violent relationship end up facing destitution because they have no access to refuges or benefits and may even be deported if they are unable to prove domestic violence.
Rahila Gupta, Southall Black Sisters
Or
Domestic Violence and Black and Minority Ethnic Women - Appropriate Responses
A workshop discussion focusing on domestic violence Issues for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women, includes an overview of some of the particular barriers facing women from abroad.
Jude Woods is a consultant trainer, LIAP (Women and Violence) Trust
2.40 break
3.00 Workshops 2
Supporting BME women and children fleeing domestic abuse
Lorraine Johnson, BAWSO, Women's Aid
Or
Men’s DV Project: South London African Women’s Organisation (SLAWO)
To introduce a new model of intervention and prevention of domestic violence by training African men to become Advocates, counsellors and peer educators to work toward stopping violence. The programme uses Film to address the effects of domestic violence in a family unit. And it has produced a film called “Against Violence”.
4.10 Chair’s closing remarks
4.15 Ends