I feel like as a woman I’m not welcome – Asylum Aid’s new research report combines legal and qualitative research in a gender analysis of the UK asylum system

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Equality, London, Publication, Reseach, Trafficking Asylum

“If I am being asked which life I don’t want to live, it is this life” – Rachel 32 year old asylum seeker from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Whereas many women may have ‘conventional’ claims for asylum based on their race, religion, nationality or political opinion, many fear persecution solely because of their gender, including because they refuse to conform to established gender roles within a given society.

Women are also subjected to harm which is gender-specific. These forms of harm include but are not limited to female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, forced sterilisation, forced abortion, domestic violence and rape and sexual violence.

However, the Refugee Convention fails explicitly to refer to asylum seekers who fear gender-related persecution because there was a lack of understanding when the Refugee Convention was drafted that gender may impact on the type of persecution or that gender may be a reason for persecution.

The need therefore to consider the Refugee Convention and the asylum procedure from a gender perspective is essential.

Download full report from http://www.asylumaid.org.uk/data/files/publications/178/Ifeelasawoman_REPORTv2.pdf

See also Unfair, unsafe and undignified: the treatment of women seeking asylum in the UK

New report challenges social sector to smash the glass ceiling once and for all

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Employment Work, England, Equality, Publication, Reseach, Wales

2010 Clore Social Fellow, Rowena Lewis, has unveiled the findings of her research into women leaders in the social sector.

Through her report: Close to Parity: challenging the voluntary sector to smash the glass ceiling, Rowena set out to demonstrate how well the sector is doing. She unearthed some uncomfortable truths along the way.

As the sector awaits the Government’s response to the Lord Davies Review to ensure greater female representation at senior levels, Rowena asks can we afford to celebrate all we have achieved or are there skeletons lurking in our cupboard too?

This report seeks to spark debate and inspire action so that the social sector can, once and for all, lead the way to gender equality.

What the figures tell us:

What women tell us:

The aim of the study is to shine a spotlight on women’s representation in the voluntary sector, to inspire debate and to celebrate the rich diversity of women leaders that drive the sector. A sample analysis of 1,106 charities registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales was performed to identify the proportion of leaders (Chief Executives or equivalent, and where there are no paid staff, the Chair) that are male or female, as well as the level of female representation in organisations of a similar size and sub-sector. Additionally, 22 women leaders (Chief Executives or equivalent) of organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland shared their individual leadership journeys in a series of in-depth interviews.

To download a copy of the report go to http://www.cloresocialleadership.org.uk./rowena-lewis from the 26 January 2012

Leveson must back ban on sexualised images in media say women’s groups

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Government, London, Media, Pornography, Women's Group

Explicit newspaper pictures censored in inquiry evidence but Leveson warned change would require ‘rock-solid legislation’

When Lord Justice Leveson launched his inquiry into the ethics of the press, he may not have expected to be confronted with an enlarged photograph of near-naked bottoms. Or to be presented with evidence deemed so explicit it was censored before being circulated to other witnesses.

But on Tuesday a coalition of women’s groups argued that such highly sexualised images – presented as part of their submission to the inquiry – were ubiquitous in the UK media, and called on the judge to tackle “relentless” sexism in some areas of the press.

Four groups – Eaves, End Violence Against Women, Object and Equality Now – called on Leveson to back a ban on sexualised images in newspapers, arguing they would not be broadcast on television before the 9pm watershed.

The groups also accused some media outlets of perpetuating myths about rape, which they argued could prevent victims reporting the crime, and called for a tougher regulatory body. “The media creates, reflects and enforces attitudes in society,” said Marai Larasi from End Violence Against Women, a coalition of 40 women’s organisations. “Those who work in the media should be conscious of this and should actively seek not to reproduce attitudes which condone violence against women or girls.”

Papers including the Sun, Daily Star and Sunday Sport “persistently” objectified women, portraying them “as a sum of sexualised body parts”, said Anna van Heeswijk, from Object, a lobby group against the objectification of women. “We have to ask ourselves what kind of story does it tell young people when men in newspapers wear suits, or sports gear, are shown as active participants, and women are sexualised objects who are essentially naked or nearly naked,” she said.

The groups are want legislation banning pictures of naked or semi-naked women in newspapers, arguing the images would not be allowed in the workplace because of equality legislation, and should not be sold in an “unrestrained” manner at “children’s eye-level”. Leveson said his powers were limited and such a change would require “rock-solid legislation”.

Van Heeswijk highlighted the inquiry’s decision to censor some of the images in Object’s submission. “They were censored for adults within this inquiry, when in fact they are freely available in mainstream newspapers, which are not age-restricted,” she said. She also accused tabloids carrying photographs of semi-naked women of “creating a culture of fear which silences … anybody speaking out against the portrayal of women as sex objects”. She cited former MP Clare Short, who was branded a “fat” and “jealous” “killjoy” by the Sun when she spoke out against Page 3.

Asked by Leveson what the difference was between expressly pornographic publications such as Penthouse and the tabloids in question, Van Heeswijk said: “I think you’ll find that there isn’t a marked difference between the content […] so the difference is how they are regulated.”

The groups also called on Leveson to recommend the replacement of the Press Complaints Commission with an independent body “with teeth” that women and women’s groups could complain to directly. The reporting of violence against women and girls needs to be more balanced and more context needs to be provided about its frequency, they added. Journalists should also receive training on the “myths and realities” about violence against women and girls, and there should be a code of practice for the way “case studies” are dealt with, the groups said.

Jacqui Hunt, of Equality Now, said the groups did not want to curtail press freedom but wanted the media to behave more responsibly. “The way the media covers women at the moment […] curtails and limits women’s freedom of expression and ability to engage in that public debate,” she said.

The culture minister, Ed Vaizey, has said he will seek a meeting with the BBC after telling the House of Commons that 84% of the guests and presenters on Radio 4′s Today programme are men. A lack of women was a cause for concern, he told the Telegraph.

Article continues at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/jan/24/leveson-inquiry-sexualised-images-ban

See also: Clare Short: I didn’t get rid of Page 3 – can Leveson?

Tabloid vilification helped kill off the debate then. We should begin it again now

It was 1986 when I first put forward to the Commons the idea of legislation to cut the Page 3 phenomenon out of Britain’s press. My father had died at my home that morning so I was in a sad mood when I set off for Westminster. But soon, the adrenalin protected me as MPs giggled and sneered at my suggestion that it degraded women – and our culture generally – to spread such images so widely in the mainstream of society.

There was little publicity for the speech but enough to produce a torrent of moving letters from women saying yes, please do it. And so I went ahead and introduced my tightly-drawn Bill, and the floodgates opened. The Sun went to war with me. “Twenty things you need to know about killjoy Clare”; “Fat, jealous Clare brands Page Three porn”. It went on and on, and the News of the World joined in, even colluding with the West Midlands Serious Crime Squad in an attempt to smear me.

Nearly 20 years later, after I had left government, I was asked by a female journalist whether I still objected to Page 3, and I said I did. The bullying and intimidation started again. Half-naked women calling at my home in Birmingham and startling my elderly mother, and a double decker full of them outside my London home for hours. Again, there were snide comments about me and my body, not noticing that by then I was a grandmother approaching pensionable age.

Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into the ethics of the press heard some impressive, if depressing, evidence this week from women’s groups about the continued use of sexualised imagery in some newspapers and about a culture of relentless sexism in some sections of the press.

Article continues at http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/clare-short-i-didnt-get-rid-of-page-3–can-leveson-6294455.html

Ministers press on with controversial abortion changes

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Abortion Contraception, England, Government, Wales

The Government is pressing ahead with changes which could see women considering abortion given the right to independent counselling – despite publicly backing down last year, amid bitter infighting within the Coalition.

The Department of Health (DoH) has drawn up plans to radically reform the assistance given to thousands of women with crisis pregnancies.

Among them is a proposal to place abortion providers under a legal obligation to offer women access to independent counselling, stripping them from providing any “in-house” service.

Critics of the existing system say the counselling which is offered by the clinics is biased, because their funding from the state depends on the number of terminations they carry out.

The services deny bias – and say that sending women elsewhere could delay the process, meaning that for some a decision to end a pregnancy could come too late.

Last September, attempts to introduce such a change in Parliament failed, amid clashes between pro-choice and pro-life campaigners and within the Coalition.
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The Government had indicated support for the amendment, tabled by Nadine Dorries, a backbench Conservative MP, but days before the vote, Downing Street said David Cameron said he would not back it.

The Liberal Democrats took credit for the apparent change of stance, with party sources saying Nick Clegg, their leader, had “made plain” his opposition.

However, since then, Anne Milton, the health minister, has been working with DoH civil servants behind the scenes on plans to dramatically alter the system.

Draft proposals will set out three options.

The most radical change would see abortion clinics, such as those run by the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) and Marie Stopes International, barred from providing counselling, and under a legal duty to refer women seeking it to an independent service – as had been laid out in Mrs Dorries’ amendment.

An second option is for a system of “voluntary registration”. This would would mean any organisation offering counselling to women with a crisis pregnancy would have to meet minimum standards, and only use appropriately-trained counsellors.

A cross-party group of 10 MPs which has held secret talks over the proposals has become deeply divided about whether organisations running such services should be required to declare any ethical stance – such as holding pro-life beliefs.

If that demand is made, some pro-life campaigners are likely to argue that abortion clinics would have to declare a financial interest in carrying out terminations.

A third option, to retain the current, is also detailed in the DoH policy paper, despite acknowledgement that it would mean a “postcode lottery” remained in the standard of care.

Ministers are braced for fierce debate over the proposals, which are due to form a Department of Health consultation, likely to begin next month.

Article continues at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9030070/Ministers-press-on-with-controversial-abortion-changes.html

See also: Diane Abbott quits MPs’ abortion counselling group

Diane Abbott Diane Abbott said she had joined the cross-party group in “good faith” .. has resigned from the cross-party group on counselling given to pregnant women by abortion providers, dismissing it as a “front” for those who want it outlawed.

Labour MP Diane Abbott said she had “no doubt” the government wanted to bring about such a change.

But Tory MP Nadine Dorries, who is in favour of altering the law, said Ms Abbott’s comments were “nonsense”.

Health Minister Anne Milton said she was “disappointed” at Ms Abbott’s move.

The cross-party group of 10 MPs, including Ms Milton, was set up after the Commons voted last September against proposals by Ms Dorries that would have stopped abortion providers offering counselling to pregnant women.

The government said at the time that it would look at ways of incorporating the “spirit” of the proposals in new regulations – and a consultation is due to be launched.

Articles continues at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16743820

Abolishing social fund will hit women and children hardest

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Children Parenting, Cuts Welfare, England, Equality, Financial, Opinion Comment

Those relying on social fund grant say welfare changes will push most vulnerable sections of society into hardship and poverty

This week, the House of Lords again debated the welfare reform bill. Among other changes, the bill proposes to abolish the discretionary social fund – which provides grants and zero-interest loans to help vulnerable people with essential outlays (such as beds, cots or cookers) or deal with sudden costs incurred in a crisis, such as family breakdown – and transfers some of the funding to local authorities, which will be entitled, but not obliged, to operate their own schemes.

Critics argue that cash-strapped local authorities will not choose to spend these reduced funds on replacement schemes – they have unprecedented pressures on their budgets and no town hall will want to make itself a particularly attractive target to the poor.

Labour peers are expected to call for the cash to be ringfenced so local authorities are required to spend it on a replacement scheme.

In May 2011, Steve Webb, a minister in the Department for Work and Pensions said: “The social fund is not being devolved to local councils. The welfare reform bill includes proposals to abolish the discretionary social fund. It will be replaced with a combination of locally designed and targeted assistance for the most vulnerable people in the community and a modernised and simplified national system of payments on account accessed through the benefit system.”

A spokesperson said: “We’re reforming the social fund because it is too complex and poorly targeted. Local authorities are best placed to deliver this support and will ensure that it goes to those most in need. People will now benefit from local knowledge and wider support services.”

Guardian welfare reform blog asked readers for their experiences of the social fund. Most asked that their names not be used. Here are a selection of their responses. – go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/22/social-fund-welfare-reforms

See also:
* Peers reject ‘unjust ’ £26,000 cap on state benefits
* Government heavily defeated over Child Support Agency
* The welfare reform bill will erode women’s financial independence
* Legal Aid (Women and Families) – Westminster Hall Debate
* Letter from more than 50 former Lib Dem parliamentary candidates urges party leader to respect party policy on benefits
* Government seeks to overturn Lords welfare defeats

Closure of Naomi House – addiction treatment home for mums with babies in Bristol

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Alcohol Drugs, Benefit, Children Parenting, Cuts Welfare, Funding, Health, South West

We are sad to announce the closure of Naomi House, our addiction treatment home for mums with babies. This decision is due to a lack of available funding and is no reflection on the high quality of the service that Naomi House has provided for many families.

One25 launched Naomi House three years ago on 19 January 2009, as the only mother and baby drug treatment service in England for women escaping sex-work and just one of two for mums with addictions. In this time, eighteen vulnerable mothers received the help they desperately needed to transform their lives away from the streets and give their children a better start. These women battled courageously to put their low self-esteem, abusive relationships and trauma behind them for the sake of their family’s future.

A former resident, Carla, sums up Naomi House as: “A wonderful chance to have a life, my son and a future with all my children. No more misery – just the beginning.” (For more of our residents stories see recent Telegraph and Guardian articles)

One25 will continue to support residents until the end of their treatment in February. Then, as with all former residents, we will support each family to access community services such as mums and tots groups, addiction recovery sessions and our own new life skills centre, to ensure that they can continue to build upon their progress.

Despite this blow, our commitment to helping vulnerable women and their families to fulfil their potential is unchanged. We are starting to refocus on our other services and how we can help more women in their journey to recovery and beyond. This month, we are proud to announce our new life skills programme which offers women training in areas of their choice – nutritious cooking, healthy relationships, literacy, CV writing and much more.

One woman on the catering scheme said: “It’s really good to have something that I value. Thanks for taking me seriously.”

So more than ever we need your support to enable women to permanently break free from the streets, reunite with family members and achieve their full potential. A donation to One25 can help us to sustain our support to the families leaving Naomi House and help over 300 more women each year in their steps towards an independent, fulfilled new life.

Those wishing to donate towards One25 can do so here http://one25.org.uk/get_involved/index.php?id=1or by sending a cheque to The Grosvenor Centre, 138a Grosvenor Road, St Pauls, Bristol. BS2 8YA

For further information on Naomi House or One25 please contact Josie Hill at josie@one25.org.uk or Gill Nowland at gill@one25.org.uk. Both can be contacted at 0117 909 8832.

Press Release at http://one25.org.uk/news/index.php?id=62

Opening of specialist rape unit in Cheshire aims to provide more victims with support

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Legal Police, North West, Rape and Sexual Assault

At least 80,000 women suffer rape or attempted rape every year in the UK, according to the British Crime Survey, while reported cases of male rape appear to be on the increase.

In Cheshire the opening of a police rape unit, that consists of a centralised team which works in partnership with specialist groups, is aiming to educate society about the reality of rape and how it affects more people than many may realise.

Detective Inspector Debbie Dodd is heading the unit, which opened three months ago. A police officer with more than 20 years of experience in Cheshire, she has been investigating rape for her entire service. She has seen first hand how issues surrounding the offence have evolved.

In the past sexual assaults in the county were dealt with by the local Criminal Investigation Department, but one of the major aims of the new unit is to make investigations more efficient and provide maximum support for victims. An integral part of its work is its partnership with the Sexual Assault Referral Centre at St Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, for medical treatment and holistic care.

There, victims can receive advice on sexual health and pregnancy and are given the choice of whether or not they want to involve the police, before being taken to the Rape And Sexual Assessment Support Centre (RASASC) in Warrington to speak to specialist advisers.

“This is about giving the victim the best service possible by having as few people involved as possible,” said DI Dodd. “In a lot of rape cases victims don’t necessarily want offenders being brought to justice. Having someone convicted after a process is important, but equally as important is that the victim feels they’re believed, that they’re treated with dignity and fairness and that they’ve got the support to deal with what they’re faced with.”

Central to the unit’s success is enabling victims to have the confidence to report attacks. Whether the allegations have happened recently, or are historical in nature, the unit is equipped to deal with all cases of reported rape and sexual assault. Despite this, under-reporting of attacks continues to be a problem.

“People don’t report attacks for many reasons, such as fear of being disbelieved or proof of consent,” said DI Dodd. “But people should be secure in the knowledge that they’re not alone. Society has this view of rape as being someone jumping out of the bushes but it’s not. Rape needs to be viewed differently than it is now. It can happen to anyone within every walk of life, in relationships, for example.”

Julie Evans, of RASASC, hopes Cheshire’s new rape unit will encourage more people to seek justice.

“It is a very positive thing for the county and I hope it will encourage more people to come forward and contact us,” she said. “RASASC offers access to independent sexual advisers and counselling. We have offices in Chester and Ellesmere Port or we are willing to travel if there are access difficulties. It is no good having a rape unit if there is no support from specially-trained officers so I see this as a very positive development.”

Contact the RASASC is on 01244 907 710.

Shortened version of report at http://www.runcornandwidnesweeklynews.co.uk/runcorn-widnes-news/runcorn-widnes-local-news/2012/01/26/opening-of-specialist-rape-unit-in-cheshire-aims-to-provide-more-victims-with-support-55368-30196805/

** For Rape Crisis Helplines in other areas please see http://www.womeninlondon.org.uk/#rc

Require a Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Every Town With a Population over 120,000 – e-petition

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Campaign, England, Government, Rape and Sexual Assault

We ask the Government to make it policy that in every town with a population over 120,000 there must be a multi-agency service for women, girls, boys and men who are victims of sexual assaults.

These are commonly known as SARCs – Sexual Assault Referral Centres.

You can sign the petition online at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/6794

New trustees required for Devon Rape Crisis Service ~ 24th February 2012

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Rape and Sexual Assault, South West, Vacancies, Women's Group

Devon Rape Crisis Service is looking for a voluntary trustee to join its board. Here’s a quick Q&A about the role, plus contact details

Devon Rape Crisis Service is a specialist support service for women and girls living in Devon who have experienced any form of sexual violence, recently or in the past. For more information on the service, go to the Devon Rape Crisis site.

What you need to know:

Q: What experience is required?
A: We are looking for women who have a commitment to feminism and have skills and experience in:
1 Funding applications/income generation
2 Experience of providing a similar service to DRCS
3 Communications and PR
4 Business Skills and entrepreneurship:

Q: How long will I be a Trustee?
A: Trustees initially serve a three year term

Q: How much will I be paid?
A: This is a voluntary position. Trustees are reimbursed expenses and these can include costs of transport to and from meetings and training.

Q: What time does it take?
A: The Board of Trustees meets monthly but Trustees also participate in away days and training events.

Q: When does it start?
A: New Trustees will take up their position in early 2012 with induction and support given on appointment to the role.

Q: How do I apply?
A: If you are interested in becoming a Trustee for DRCS, contact the chair of the board, Linda Regan by email on linda@devonrapecrisis.org.uk or ring 07740735081 and she can send you the application pack

Completed applications need to be sent via email to info@devonrapecrisis.org.uk and must be received by Friday, February 24, 2012.

Source: http://www.peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk/2012/01/26/new-trustees-required-for-devon-rape-crisis-service/

Recruitment of Chair for Tustees of the Albert Kennedy Trust by ~ 17th February 2012

Posted on January 27, 2012
Filed Under Lesbian Gay, London, Vacancies

The Albert Kennedy Trust supports young LGBT 16-25 year olds who are made homeless or living in a hostile environment. We aim to meet the individual needs of each young person and ensure we get them back on track in life. To do this we really do rely on your support!

We support several hundred young people every year who have experienced domestic violence or have been ejected from home just for being brave enough to come out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans to their parents or care giver.

The Albert Kennedy Trust is looking for a new Chair of Trustees to help provide leadership and strategic direction to the Board of Trustees at this pivotal moment in our history. This exciting opportunity will appeal to someone who is a strategic thinker and who brings with them experience of leading an organisation through a period of change and growth. A good understanding of the financial and governance needs of a small charity are also important as is an affinity and understanding of AKTs aims and values.

Closing date: Noon on 17th February 2012
Interviews: Saturday 25th February 2012

For more details and to apply, please download the following information packs from http://www.akt.org.uk/about-us/vacancies.html

If you would like to speak to someone informally about the role, please contact Tim Sigsworth on 020 7831 6562.

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