A new strategy to address violence against women and girls was announced with the opening of a women’s center in Mansfield. The new strategy is a joint venture between Nottinghamshire Police and the Crime Commissioner’s office, local authorities and domestic and sexual violence support professionals in the area.
He wants to look for ways they can see a “fundamental change” in thinking, to ensure more perpetrators are brought to justice and no one feels alone or oppressed. A consultation on the plan was launched on Wednesday 8 March at Hickling House, a new Center for Women and Children in Mansfield.
It came as Mandy Green, head of service for Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid, said the new center in Mansfield would provide “much-needed” extra support for people in the Nottinghamshire county area. She said: “There have been many people over the years who have investigated a women’s center and been unsuccessful. We believe that women and children need to have a safe, nurturing and empowering space to explore their own personal experiences.” .
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Mandy said: “There have been many people over the years who have looked into a women’s center and have been unsuccessful. We believe that women and children need to have a safe, nurturing and empowering space to explore their own personal experiences.”
The launch of the new strategy and opening of the center marked International Women’s Day. The launch event was attended by Claire Throssell MBE, who lent her support to the project and shared her experience of domestic violence, which tragically led to the murder of her two young sons, Jack and Paul, by their father in 2014.
Claire said she was proud to support the new Women and Children’s Center. She said: “You have the opportunity to bring life back to every woman who walks through this door.
“Hopefully this, like a vaccine, means that domestic abuse will be eradicated. It starts in places like here, schools, universities, the workplace, it starts everywhere, but without hope we have nothing, and if we have nothing, Then nothing will ever change.” .”
Research conducted before the launch of the strategy found that 86% of rape cases involve women as victims, while that figure is 81% for stalking cases and 91% for incidents of coercive and controlling behaviour. While, on the other hand, the male suspects for these crimes are 92% for stalking and 98% for rape and controlling or coercive behavior.
Nottinghamshire Police Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “On International Women’s Day this year, it’s all about embracing equality, and I don’t think there’s a woman here who can say they’ve always been treated as equals”. for me it is domestic violence against women and girls. Internationally this is such a big problem that it is not specific to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.”
Caroline explained that she wants this new strategy to “make waves” by offering more protection to women and young people. She said: “This strategy is not just a piece of paper, it will have a delivery plan behind it as it’s about getting things done, making those changes and it’s starting here in Nottinghamshire.
“One of the things that I am very proud of is the work that we are doing in the schools because we have to change it from the bottom up, we have to change the attitudes of young people.” She says that many abusive behaviors have become normalized among young people and she wants to see a focus on emotional abuse.
The head of the startup, Nicola Wade, explained that as part of their research, they have conducted a number of surveys and focus groups, including numerous with survivors of domestic abuse. Nicola explained that the main objectives of the plan are to “make it safe” for women and girls, and that the strategy has been developed over several months.
The strategy will have five main parts, including incorporating a zero tolerance approach to violence against women and girls, and reducing the level of harm experienced by improving criminal justice outcomes and increasing referrals to support services. The plan will also consider other methods of offering support, ensuring survivors have helped shape the strategy to ensure it meets needs, and will improve Nottinghamshire by working together to build a support network.
The new strategy is expected to be finalized by summer 2023.
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