Sunderland Council discuss 10 year plan to end domestic abuse
Sunderland Council's Cabinet to discuss 10 year mission to end domestic abuse and violence against women and girls
Sunderland City Council's Cabinet will discuss a 10-year mission aimed at eradicating domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, when it meets this week.
The proposed strategy, developed in collaboration with partners and survivors, emphasises prevention, support for those impacted by domestic abuse, and holding perpetrators accountable.
All local authorities are required to create and publish strategies detailing how they will provide accommodation and support for individuals affected by domestic abuse.
Sunderland's new 10 year strategy, 'No More: Our Strategy to end Domestic Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls' builds on a previous interim three-year Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy.
This new approach aims to address domestic abuse and violence against women and girls through an holistic, system-wide approach.
Councillor Kelly Chequer, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing, and Safer Communities, highlighted the importance of this initiative: "This is about setting out a bold long-term mission to end domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. Sadly, domestic abuse is very common. One in four women will experience domestic abuse in their adult lifetime. Statistically, we all know someone who is affected, and it can happen to anyone."
While not all domestic abuse is reported, nor does it relate only to women and girls, last year Northumbria Police reported 5,107 victims affected by domestic abuse in Sunderland alone - with a further 9.3% increase in overall domestic abuse incidents reported.
The proposed strategy emphasises a survivor-led approach, with the voices of those with lived experience of abuse central to local actions against abuse and gender-based violence.
It aims to create lasting change by addressing both the immediate needs of those impacted and the root causes of domestic abuse and violence against women and girls.
The report to Cabinet outlines how the new framework, developed by the Sunderland Domestic Abuse and VAWG Executive Partnership, will align Sunderland’s efforts with national and regional goals.
This is designed to achieve maximum impact by creating more opportunities for partners to work together and take action city-wide, at the same time as attracting new opportunities and investments, leading to a coordinated, sustainable, and comprehensive response to abuse.
Laura Seebohm, Chief Executive of Wearside Women in Need (WWIN), said: "We're so excited to see how ambitious Sunderland City Council are, even just in the title when it says no more to end domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. It just says it all.
"I think it clearly states the message that in our communities we are no longer going to tolerate domestic abuse. I think what the Sunderland City Council strategy does is make the point that we all have a part to play in ending domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, and no matter who you are, you can make a difference.
"We see so much domestic abuse obviously on a daily basis and every year our referrals go up. Now that might be a good thing in that people now recognise it more and they really understand the signs and the symptoms, so are more likely to seek support. So, it's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's so serious.
"The strategy is really preventative, so it's not just responding and reacting to incidents of domestic abuse, it's going further upstream and looking at what can we do to stop domestic abuse happening in the first place, what are the real causes of this. We really welcome that strategy. We're so excited to be partners with Sunderland City Council on this."