Women's Experience of Violence
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“Women’s Experience of Violence: Mapping Experiences and Responses” A Pilot Study Report compiled and written by Anne McMurray On behalf of the Women’s Centres Regional Partnership Women’s Experience of Violence: Mapping Experiences and Responses A Pilot Study Report compiled and written by: Anne McMurray Development Ltd M 0044 7740 509 200 E [email protected] W www.annemcmurray.com December 2009 71464-JMCG-BOOK.indd 1 15/02/2010 11:30:57 ContentsContents Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their support and participation in this AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements 3 3 research: ExecutiveExecutive Summary Summary 4 4 o Research partner, Dr Julie Harrison IntroductionIntroduction 7 7 o Steering Group – Dr Margaret Ward, Director, the Women’s Resource and TermsTerms of Reference of Reference 10 10 Development Agency; Ms Gillian Clifford, Regional Policy and Information Worker, Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland; Ms Andrea Patterson, Ms Donna OvervOverviewiew of Methodology of Methodology 11 11 Darlington and Mr Russell McCaughey, the Department for Social Development. PolicyPolicy Framework Framework 13 13 o Ms Marian McIlhone, Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and Ms Sharon NarrativeNarrative Research Research 16 16 Harley, Northern Ireland Office, Community Safety Unit. SnapshotSnapshot Survey Survey 19 19 o Managers and staff from Chrysalis Women’s Centre Craigavon, Women’s Centre FindingsFindings 20 20 Derry, First Steps Dungannon, Ballybeen Women’s Centre, Windsor Women’s Centre and Falls Women’s Centre Belfast. AnalysisAnalysis of the of the Findings: Findings: Main Main Issues Issues Emerging Emerging 36 36 o Managers and staff from the Women’s Aid Refuges at Foyle, Causeway, RecommendationsRecommendations 41 41 Cookstown, Lisburn, Belfast and the Belfast outreach team. Mr Tom Cassidy, Assistant Director for Women and Children’s Services; Ms o Deirdre Mahon Assistant Director for Governance and Quality; Ms Karen O’Brien AppendixAppendix One: One: 45 45 Service Manager and staff of the Omagh Family Intervention Service in the NarrativeNarrative Template Template Western Health and Social Care Trust. InterviewInterview Template Template Ms Kate Thompson, Director of Social Work; Ms Sheila Simons, Sector Manager o for Safeguarding, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Safeguarding Chair); AppendixAppendix Two: Two: 49 49 the Ballynahinch Community Services team (South Eastern Health and Social Care TacklingTackling Violence Violence at Home; at Home; Main Main Actions Actions Proposed Proposed for for2009 2009-2010-2010 by themeby theme Trust). o PSNI – T/Superintendent Karen Baxter, Community Safety Manager, PSNI 'C' AppendixAppendix Three: Three: 50 50 District and Barbara Gray, Community Safety Superintendent, E District (South SnapshotSnapshot Survey Survey East). o All the Stakeholders who attended the Policy Workshop in October 2009. AppendixAppendix Four: Four: 59 59 StoryStory Themes Themes Anne McMurray December 2009 PagePage 2 2 © Anne© Anne McMurray McMurray Development Development Ltd Ltd © Anne McMurray Development Ltd Page 3 71464-JMCG-BOOK.indd 2 15/02/2010 11:30:58 Contents Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their support and participation in this Acknowledgements 3 research: Executive Summary 4 o Research partner, Dr Julie Harrison Introduction 7 o Steering Group – Dr Margaret Ward, Director, the Women’s Resource and Terms of Reference 10 Development Agency; Ms Gillian Clifford, Regional Policy and Information Worker, Women’s Aid Federation Northern Ireland; Ms Andrea Patterson, Ms Donna Overview of Methodology 11 Darlington and Mr Russell McCaughey, the Department for Social Development. Policy Framework 13 o Ms Marian McIlhone, Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland and Ms Sharon Narrative Research 16 Harley, Northern Ireland Office, Community Safety Unit. Snapshot Survey 19 o Managers and staff from Chrysalis Women’s Centre Craigavon, Women’s Centre Findings 20 Derry, First Steps Dungannon, Ballybeen Women’s Centre, Windsor Women’s Centre and Falls Women’s Centre Belfast. Analysis of the Findings: Main Issues Emerging 36 o Managers and staff from the Women’s Aid Refuges at Foyle, Causeway, Recommendations 41 Cookstown, Lisburn, Belfast and the Belfast outreach team. Mr Tom Cassidy, Assistant Director for Women and Children’s Services; Ms o Deirdre Mahon Assistant Director for Governance and Quality; Ms Karen O’Brien Appendix One: 45 Service Manager and staff of the Omagh Family Intervention Service in the Narrative Template Western Health and Social Care Trust. Interview Template Ms Kate Thompson, Director of Social Work; Ms Sheila Simons, Sector Manager o for Safeguarding, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Safeguarding Chair); Appendix Two: 49 the Ballynahinch Community Services team (South Eastern Health and Social Care Tackling Violence at Home; Main Actions Proposed for 2009-2010 by theme Trust). o PSNI – T/Superintendent Karen Baxter, Community Safety Manager, PSNI 'C' Appendix Three: 50 District and Barbara Gray, Community Safety Superintendent, E District (South Snapshot Survey East). o All the Stakeholders who attended the Policy Workshop in October 2009. Appendix Four: 59 Story Themes Anne McMurray December 2009 Page 2 © Anne McMurray Development Ltd © Anne McMurray Development Ltd Page 3 71464-JMCG-BOOK.indd 3 15/02/2010 11:30:58 Executive Summary The regional action plan was used as a ‘mirror’ in which to reflect the findings from this research and make recommendations to endorse and further develop the scope of its Purpose implementation. The Women’s Centre Regional Partnership (WCRP) commissioned Anne McMurray to 115 women were profiled by frontline staff using the snapshot survey in 15 sites during the st th undertake qualitative research into women’s experience of violence in Northern Ireland in working week of 21 to 25 September, 2009. This is a small study which maps out issues 2009. This was resourced by the Department for Social Development which funds many requiring further investigation and research. It cannot be used to estimate prevalence. frontline women’s organisations. Findings The Steering Group for the project consisted of the Women’s Resource and Development Agency (WRDA) (representing the WCRP), the Women’s Aid Federation NI, the Department The findings highlight some significant patterns and issues for policy makers and service for Social Development and also involved the Department of Health, Social Services and providers: Public Safety. o Violence against women reduces self-esteem and self-confidence which increases The purpose was to map the individual experiences and responses of women who have vulnerability and mental health issues. experienced violence to highlight issues for policy and strategy and increase the knowledge o Women experience cultural and social pressure to stay in violent relationships. base in Northern Ireland. o Women who experience violence are often isolated. o Coping through the use of alcohol or drugs is sometimes a response to Ending violence against women in Northern Ireland is a priority if women are able to achieve experiencing violence. equality in all areas of their citizenship. o Over 60% of the women profiled have been prescribed anti-depressants by GPs. o 70% of perpetrators have a sense of entitlement to be violent to a woman. Method o In 50% of situations, professionals and the legal system are unable to compel the perpetrator to co-operate with them. The research project involved a sample of 15 frontline organisations across Northern Ireland o The nature of violence includes emotional, physical, financial, sexual and including women’s centres, Women’s Aid refuges, social services and the PSNI. The psychological methods; in one week over 30% of the sample had their life put at methodology used qualitative narrative methods with staff to elicit women’s experience of risk. violence. o Mothers who have experienced violence lose their parenting ability; 41% of children in the sample exhibit behaviour problems. The narrative research phase of the research generated 38 stories of women’s experience of o 47% of women experienced professionals and support services as non- violence. The respondents indexed what they saw as the significant themes. These were judgemental. used to design the snapshot survey. o Legal sanctions, e.g. breach of non-molestation orders are not taken seriously. Women experience practical difficulties in participating in the legal system. The main themes were used to design an online survey which was administered during the Procedures are not ‘women’ friendly. st th 21 – 25 September 2009 across 15 pilot sites. The findings were presented at a policy o The % of non-national women in the sample was ten times higher than their interpretation workshop in October 2009 attended by a range of stakeholder organisations. representation in the general population. Northern Ireland Policy Context Themes Emerging for Recommendations Local policy and strategy is derived from the United Nations Convention on the elimination o A medicated response on its own is not enough to help women recover from the of all discrimination against women (2006), which highlighted that violence against women trauma and ongoing effect on mental health of violence. has its root cause in the structurally unequal relationship