Women's Views on News |
| Domestic abuse: there is no age limit Posted: 17 Aug 2016 02:37 PM PDT
By Monsura Mahmud. In many ways, the impact of living with domestic abuse is the same for all victims – regardless of age. Everyone worries about not being believed, or having to live with the stigma of abuse. They worry about what will happen to them financially, if the abuse will get worse or what might happen to the perpetrator if they do speak out. But for older victims, this fear can be exacerbated by a number of other factors. As professionals, being aware of these barriers allows us to better understand their fears and, as a result, take a more flexible and creative approach to support. Older victims might not recognise what's happening as abuse. It goes without saying that there is no 'typical' victim of abuse. But it's normally younger women or families who are portrayed in leaflets, posters and campaigns. This is matched by a wider lack of services and resources which take into account the unique needs of older victims. They may be reluctant to talk about it. Generational attitudes towards relationships mean some older victims might accept the abuse as "the way it's always been". Older women may be from a time where it was not socially acceptable to talk about problems in their relationships; where women's roles were confined to the home and divorce or separation were taboo. This reluctance to talk about abuse can be exacerbated by victim-blaming among some professionals, which can be even more prevalent when a victim has lived with the abuse for a very long time. Too often, professionals make excuses for the abuser instead ("It can't be that bad if she's stayed with him that long"). They don't know about the help that's available. Services open and close so frequently, and the support that's out there varies from one area to the next. If older people don't have access to the internet or the skills to use modern technology, how will they know where to get help? Or have been let down in the past. If the abuse has been going on for a number of years, it's likely that victims will have attempted to get help in the past. But if at every turn they fail to get the support they need, many may simply give up. They may have health or mobility needs. Older women are statistically more likely than younger women to have health problems, reduced mobility or other disabilities which means their situation makes them more vulnerable to harm. This could also mean a loss of ability to communicate clearly if they've suffered a stroke, heart attack, have hearing loss or have experienced other chronic disorders. It could also mean they're more isolated – both physically and socially. Too often, professionals don't consider domestic violence as an issue for older victims, and therefore don't ask about it. They may assume that injuries, confusion, depression etc are the results of age-related conditions. Another common barrier among those victims with health or mobility needs is that the perpetrator of the abuse is also their carer. This can lead them to become further isolated from friends, family and support. This is especially the case for victims who have depended on the perpetrator for much of their lives. They may also make threats to put the victim into a care home if they tell anyone about the abuse. Family and friends aren't supportive. Some adult children will be supportive of their parent and encourage them to leave or seek help. But others can create barriers by expecting women to stay, continuing to assume the carer role to an elderly father. The responsibility they place on themselves to be the carer of the abusive partner or child can also be too much. They think it's too late. We know that older victims are much more likely to live with abuse for prolonged periods of time. The thought of having to give up the home they've lived in for many years, leaving behind pets and treasured possessions, can be too much. After a lifetime of contributing to the family business, homes or other assets, many fear they will be left with nothing. And, too often, life can get in the way – the death of family or friends, birth of grandchildren, retirement, moving house – and victims can feel the time isn't right to seek help. A version of this article appeared on the SafeLives website on 22 July 2016. Monsura Mahmud is a Domestic Abuse Prevention Adviser for the Silver Project, a specialist service for women aged 55 and over affected by domestic and sexual abuse. The Silver Project is run by Leading Lights-accredited Solace Women's Aid and provides one-to-one support, as well as training professionals who come into contact with older victims. If you need help, support or want to discuss your options call – free and in confidence – 0808 2000 247. In an emergency, or if you are or feel threatened, call 999. |
| How to help achieve the global goals Posted: 17 Aug 2016 04:06 AM PDT
In September 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals are more comprehensive, ambitious, and unlike the Millennium Development Goals, and are applicable to both developed and developing nations. Almost a year on from their adoption, time is already running out to ensure that the goals can deliver on the promise of women's rights for all women across the globe. For women's rights activists, there is much to celebrate about the framework; there is a standalone goal on gender equality (SDG 5) and women's rights are mainstreamed throughout the framework, and the goals are grounded in international human rights law. For a fantastic depiction of the gender equality goal watch this video, using the Spice Girl's track "Wannabe" to promote women and girl's empowerment. Women for Women International has worked with the most vulnerable women for more than twenty years and its staff are constantly inspired by the changes these women realise in their lives with just a bit of support. Women like Caritas who fled the Rwandan genocide and returned home to find her crops, home and community destroyed. Caritas is now the leader of a beehive cooperative which is so successful that the local government is actively investing in their work. And Women for Women International is determined to help more women like Caritas achieve their dreams – and the SDGs are an important opportunity for a step-change in progress on women's rights. But time is already running out and governments urgently need to develop national strategies to really deliver change on the ground for the women we support in conflicted affected communities across the world. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) recently released research on the first 1,000 days of Agenda 2030, which highlighted how important it is for governments to begin making progress towards the goals in the first 3 years. Everyone has an important role to play to make sure the SDGs deliver. Women have a right to have their voices heard and to influence the decisions that affect their lives and we are determined to make sure that women like Caritas are heard in the implementation of the SDGs. Women for Women International will be doing this by supporting women to become Change Agents in their communities and building connections with local women's organisations for advocacy. Governments need to be ensuring genuine consultation with local women's organisations and making funding accessible for them. And we need to work with men as allies. In the most repressive societies male champions can really open up spaces for women's voices to be heard and acted upon at a community level, and support their wives and daughters to get an education and earn an income. We also need to make sure existing women's rights commitments are met. Comprehensive international standards for women's rights exist and the SDGs should be seen as step towards this, not an alternative commitment. Key standards such as the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women have a huge role to play, and must be the foundations for all plans to meet all SDGs (not just SDG 5). And we need greater coherence across the security and development agendas. The World Bank and OECD estimate that by the deadline for the SDGs (2030), the least developed countries will be conflict-affected. For the SDGs to be realised, we need to be thinking about security and development together and linking up people, initiatives and programmes. For more than twenty years Women for Women International has been providing development support in conflict-affected countries – and know it is possible and effective, albeit difficult. A really practical way that governments can do this is to for SDG plans to build on commitments made under the Women, Peace and Security Framework. And if you really really want things like quality education for all girls; an end to violence against women; universal access to sexual health services; equal pay for equal work; no more girls infected with HIV; an end to child marriage; an end to FGM; and an end to maternal mortality, then there are several things you can do. But one you can do now, is start sharing ‘What You Really Really Want For Girls And Women’. Using the #WhatIReallyReallyWant hashtag, share a photo of yourself holding up what YOU really, really want for girls and women and Women for Women International will pass them on to global leaders in September. Join in, do something now, and help get change to happen. |
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