New plan to ensure voices of young NI domestic abuse victims are heard

Nearly 500 children were forced to flee their home last year because of domestic violence.

However, according to Women's Aid their experiences often go unheard - something the charity says is not acceptable.

Now, it has launched a new strategy - to make sure their voices are heard.

The 10-year-strategy, See, Hear, Act is the result of in depth consultation with 60 children and young people in Women’s Aid.

Speaking at the launch, Clare Allen, Non-executive Director of Women’s Aid Federation NI said:

“The launch of this strategy is an opportunity to celebrate our regional work with children and young people. It forms part of our on-going efforts to create a movement of change for children and young people affected by domestic violence. For too long, children have been regarded as merely witnesses in domestic abuse situations.

"We know that is not the case. All domestic violence is underpinned by coercive, controlling behaviour and children repeatedly tell us about the on-going fear and toxic stress they have lived with in the home”.

Luke and Ryan Hart, from Lincolnshire, whose mother and sister were shot dead by their father in the summer of 2016, just five days after they had decided to leave him, were also speaking at the launch today. They highlighted the controlling and abusive behaviour they had grown up with, stating:

“We warmly welcome the See, Hear, Act children’s strategy. Domestic abuse isn’t just violence, it is the suffocating environment of abusive households. As children, we lived and suffered in the environment that our father created. Since a life of abuse was all we had ever experienced, it became our normal.

Unless given the specialist support, children must live with the trauma from domestic abuse for the rest of their lives. We desperately need to provide services to support children in abusive homes. Children are not ignorant of abuse; we both acutely suffered seeing our Mum and sister suffering. Children are not merely witnesses to abuse, they are victims too and tailored support services are desperately needed to recognise and act on this.”

NI Commissioner for Children and Young People, Koulla Yiasouma congratulated Women’s Aid on the strategy and also highlighted the need for us all to See, Hear and Act on behalf of children and young people affected by domestic violence:

“I congratulate Women’s Aid Federation NI and all nine Women’s Aid groups for the magnificent way they respond to the needs and experiences of the children and young people they serve. It is right that children and young people have a place where they can be safe as they heal and come to terms with what has happened to them and their family. But it is also right that we all work to make sure that these services are never needed in the first place.”

At the event, sponsored by Clare Bailey, MLA which was held in the Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Interim Women’s Aid Federation NI, CEO Sarah Mason had a strong message for political representatives:

“Women’s Aid wants to be the best we can be for children and young people but for this to happen we need to see a significant funding investment across all our children’s services," she said.

"There has never been core regional funding to support children affected by domestic violence. This has to change. Every government department has a responsibility to children and young people and we want them all to get on board and work with us to better support children affected by domestic violence."

• domestic violence