As we continue our journey through this year’s 16 Days of Activism, Nikki Dhillon Keane, Head of Safe in Faith, reflects on the Government’s intention to change family law, and what this means for families and children dealing with Domestic Abuse.
Some readers may have seen the recent news of the government’s commitment to change family law, ending the presumption of parental contact. The change, coming after a decade-long campaign led by a bereaved mother, will mean that disputed child contact in family law will be judged on a case-by-case basis.
Currently, the automatic assumption is that it is in children’s best interests to have contact with both parents. An estimated 90% of cases in family law involve domestic abuse, which means that family law regularly forces child victims into unsupervised visits with their perpetrator parent. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs has highlighted the dangers of the “pro-contact” culture in family law.
Claire Throssell MBE is a domestic abuse survivor whose two sons Jack and Paul were legally obliged to spend time with their father despite his previous domestic abuse and his threats to harm them. Her worst fears were realised in 2014 when he murdered both boys before taking his own life.
Claire’s unimaginable grief fuelled a determination to ensure that no other child would be harmed because the law forced them to stay with a parent who might harm them. Her campaign, supported by domestic abuse organisations and professionals, was informed by the work of Dr Elizabeth Dalgarno of the University of Manchester and SHERA Research Group.
Dr Dalgarno was recently appointed convener of the National Board of Catholic Women’s VAWG Committee. Reflecting on the victory, she told me: ‘This is a monumental change in law that will protect victim-survivor parents and children.’
According to the NSPCC, one in five British children have lived in a home where domestic abuse is perpetrated. The potential impact of this legal change is immense.
Although men can also be victims, domestic abuse is a form of gender-based violence because victims, particularly of very violent or fatal abuse, are disproportionately women. A quarter of all UK women are subjected to domestic abuse during their lifetime. Research has shown that it happens at the same rate in Christian Church communities as in the general population. Domestic abuse occurs across cultures and backgrounds.
Migrant women are particularly vulnerable; those with insecure immigration status and no recourse to public funds cannot access statutory services to seek help. In addition, they are unable to report their abuse without the risk of being deported, fact their abusers frequently use against them.
In every parish there will be families subjected to domestic abuse. As Catholics, we have a duty to respond.
25 November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls and starts a 16-day period of global action. The late Pope Francis called on all Catholics to work to end violence against women ‘with determination, urgency and courage,’ becoming a ‘voice for our voiceless sisters.’
The situation is indeed urgent. By the time we mark 25 November next year, there will be around 80 UK women who will not be able to mark the occasion with us because they will have been murdered by their partner. This will be true each year until we work together for change.
For those who wish to answer the call to action, there are resources available including a 16-day calendar with suggested activities which help Catholics join together in solidarity, action and prayer to help end violence against women and girls.
Safe in Faith, which celebrates the fourth anniversary of its launch on 29 November, provides opportunities for Catholic parishes to respond to the call to protect women and children harmed by gender-based violence. Our resources include a signposting toolkit and training to understand and respond to domestic abuse and trauma in the context of Catholic spirituality. The “Ask for Mary” project equips parish offices to become safe spaces where victims can safely use the internet and telephone to call for help.
Information about how we can all play a part to support Catholic victims and survivors of domestic abuse can also be found on the websites linked below.
Sara Kirkpatrick, the CEO of Welsh Women’s Aid and a member of the National Board of Catholic Women’s VAWG Committee spoke to me about the campaign to protect children in family law: ‘We often talk about listening to the voice of the survivors, and one of the leading voices for this change is a survivor, but the awful truth is she speaks out so loudly, so clearly because of those who did not survive — her sons.’
During this 16-day campaign to end violence against women and girls, let us pray for the courage to take action so that together we can create a safer world for all women.
If you have been affected by the issues in this article or are worried about someone you can find support here:
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Live Fear Free Helpline (Wales): 0808 801 0800
Rape Crisis: 0808 500 2222
If you think you may be harming loved ones, contact the Respect Phoneline: 0808 802 4040
This article was first published in The Tablet.
