Domestic Abuse Bill
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DOMESTIC ABUSE BILL How Hestia’s UK SAYS NO MORE campaign has worked to ensure that the Domestic Abuse Bill recognises and supports children affected by domestic abuse and enshrines the role that employers play in supporting employees experiencing domestic abuse. A TIMELINE 2017 21st June: The Queen’s Speech outlines plans for a new Domestic Abuse Bill. 2018 17th April: UK SAYS NO MORE publishes a ‘Charter on Prevention’, calling on 17th April: Labour MP for Swansea East Parliamentarians to support key components and newly appointed UK SAYS NO MORE in the Bill. This includes greater mental health champion Carolyn Harris is the first MP support for children who have experienced to support the Charter on Prevention. domestic abuse. 17th May: During oral questions, Carolyn Harris asks then Minister for Women and 23rd May: UK SAYS NO MORE hosts the Equalities Penny Mordaunt MP what support Charter on Prevention rally in Parliament the Government will provide to children after weeks spent calling on MPs to affected by domestic abuse. sign the Charter and ensure support for children is enshrined in the Bill. 24th May: More than 100 cross-party MPs and Parliamentarians sign up to be Champions of the 24th May: New data from Hestia and Charter on Prevention, asking the government to Opinium reveals that more than half of Brits ensure children aren’t forgotten in the Bill and that who experience domestic abuse as children employers hold a role in responding to domestic abuse. will go on to experience it as adults. Champion Carolyn Harris MP asks Theresa May to consider our recommendations. 16th June: 125 MPs and Parliamentarians are confirmed as champions of UK SAYS NO MORE’s Charter on Prevention. 1st June: Hestia/UKSNM release response to the Domestic Abuse Bill consultation. 24th July: UK SAYS NO MORE publishes its written submission to the Home Affairs Select Committee 22nd October: Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE Inquiry into Domestic Abuse, providing in-depth recommendation around support for children, evidence on the necessity of our key asks around specifically that children must be given special support for children and employers’ role. waiting list status (protected status) for all NHS services, is included in the Home Affairs Committee Domestic Abuse Report. The report also references children as ‘experiencing’ domestic abuse rather than witnessing it – a key use of language adopted by UK SAYS NO MORE. 2019 21st January: The government publishes the draft Domestic Abuse Bill. Support aimed at children, 5th March: UK SAYS NO MORE and Pro Bono included in the government’s consultation response, Economics launch the On The Sidelines report is notably absent. Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE in Parliament. The report exposes that failing to respond, calling on the government not to fail another support children affected by domestic abuse costs generation of children through lack of support. UK taxpayers up to £1.4bn. Head of Domestic 9th April: UKSNM gives evidence to Pre-legislative Abuse Prevention at Hestia Lyndsey Dearlove joins a committee on the draft DA Bill. survivor on the The Victoria Derbyshire show 30th April: Head of Domestic Abuse Prevention at Hestia Lyndsey Dearlove gives evidence to the Parliament Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic 9th May: The Home Affairs Committee presents their Abuse Bill, and calls for an increased reflection of recommendations and evidence for the Domestic children in the Bill – specifically around recognising Abuse Bill, recognising the vital need for specialist children as victims of domestic abuse and ensuring support for children affected by domestic abuse. they can access the support they need to recover. 22nd May: Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE launch the ‘Impact On Adults Who Have Experienced Domestic Abuse in Childhood’ data report, which 22nd May: UK SAYS NO MORE hold a second reveals that nearly half of millennials were exposed Parliamentary rally, with speeches from Carolyn Harris to domestic abuse in childhood, and almost 60% MP and then Justice Secretary Edward Argar. of those who did went on to experience challenges with their mental health. 17th June: Then Education Secretary Damian Hinds announces a planned change to the schools admissions code, which would make it easier for 16th July: UK SAYS NO MORE heads to Parliament child victims of domestic abuse to access school as the Domestic Abuse Bill is introduced with a first places after having to flee to a new location. reading in the House of Commons. UK SAYS NO MORE release a statement warning not to let the Bill fail at the 17th July: UK SAYS NO MORE champion Carolyn last hurdle by continuing to ignore children’s needs. Harris MP speaks in the Commons, asking then Minister for Women Victoria Atkins MP what plans there are to strengthen the Bill to include services 28th August: Parliament is prorogued. Charities and for child victims of domestic abuse. campaigners fear progress on the Domestic Abuse Bill may be lost. 12th September: Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms the Domestic Abuse Bill will return to Parliament in the next session. 2nd October: The Domestic Abuse Bill returns to Parliament. Champion Carolyn Harris MP opens the 31st October: A general election is called and debate, demanding the protection and provision of Parliament is dissolved. The Domestic Abuse Bill support for children is included consistently in every is halted, just one day before Head of Domestic aspect of the Bill. Abuse Prevention at Hestia Lyndsey Dearlove is due to give evidence. 2020 3rd March: The Domestic Abuse Bill returns to Parliament. Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE release a 3rd March: A Westminster Hall debate on statement, calling for the ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ legislation children and domestic abuse is held. Liz Twist MP to be as effective as possible by ensuring domestic questions the Government’s plans to support abuse response is built into existing laws surrounding children affected by domestic abuse. an employer’s duty of care, and making sure that children are seen as victims of domestic abuse and supported as such. 28th April: The Domestic Abuse Bill gets its second reading in Parliament. One off funding of £3million is 4th June: Head of Domestic Abuse Prevention announced to support children. Hestia and UK SAYS at Hestia Lyndsey Dearlove gives evidence at NO MORE again relay the dire need for long-term the committee stage of the Domestic Abuse Bill, support, the importance of recognising children as asking again for children to be seen as victims in victims and of enshrining their needs in the Bill. One- their own right. off funding is not enough. 30th June: After two years of campaigning, the Government announce that children will be officially be 6th July: The Bill returns to Parliament for a recognised as victims of domestic abuse under the new third and final reading. Support for children is still Domestic Abuse Bill. absent. Tim Loughton MP tables our amendments 6th July: The Domestic Abuse Bill is passed by on ensuring children have priority access to school Parliament to be read by the House of Lords. places and protected status on NHS waiting lists. 7th July: The Domestic Abuse Bill receives its first reading in the House of Lords. 2021 5th January: The Domestic Abuse Bill receives its second reading in the House of Lords. 14th January: Business Minister Paul Scully writes an open letter to UK employers, urging employers to do more to respond to domestic 25th January: The Domestic Abuse Bill enters the abuse. House of Lords Committee phase. Our amendments around children are heard, with Lord Rooker, Baroness 10th February: As the Bill continues its way Finlay, Baroness Brinton , Baroness Meacher, Baroness through Parliament, Baroness Burt, Lord Kennedy, Burt, Baroness Finlay and Lord Rosser speaking to Baroness Newlove, Baroness Bennett, Lord Hunt the amendments. Our amendment about the role of and Baroness Hamwee speak of the importance the employer, extending employers’ duty of care to of employers recognising their role in supporting include domestic abuse, is spoken to by Lord Kennedy, employees at risk of domestic abuse. Baroness Newlove, Lord Hunt, Baroness Bennett and Baroness Hamwee. 8th March: In the House of Lords, Baroness Newlove calls for protected status on NHS waiting lists for 15th March: Baroness Bennett reinforces the children affected by domestic abuse. need for employers to be part of the system of support for victims of domestic abuse. 15th April: The Domestic Abuse Bill returns to Parliament for its final stage..