Diversity & Inclusion

Domestic Violence & Abuse (DV & A) is a pattern of controlling and aggressive behaviours within the context of an intimate or family relationship. DV & A is a is a global health problem as well as a violation against human rights.

We recognise that anyone can experience DV & A regardless of sex, gender identity, race, ethnic or religious group, sexuality, class, or disability, however women are disproportionately affected by DV & A.

1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives
At any one given time between 1 in 9 women will be experiencing domestic violence
2 women a week are murdered by a current or former partner
Over 45,000 women and children stay in a refuge each year

Some women who experience other forms of oppression and discrimination may face further barriers to disclosing abuse and finding help. For example, women from black and minority ethnic communities, refugees and asylum seekers, those experiencing Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage or Female Genital Mutilation, trans women or non-binary people, pregnant, older or younger women and disabled women.

Inequality cuts across multiple characteristics and there are inherent interrelated inequalities existing for women in relation to race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, age, class and ability. We cannot discuss diversity without addressing these.

Gendered Services

Since Leeds Women’s Aid (LWA) opened the 1^st refuge for women outside of London in 1973 we have offered and operated women only services, recognising the need for gender specific Domestic Violence & Abuse (DV & A) services. Women are more likely than men to experience multiple incidents of abuse, different types of domestic abuse (intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking) and in particular sexual violence.

LWA offers a range of women only services, including emergency accommodation in refuges and dispersed accommodation and community-based services and is committed to continue to do so. However, LWA are also the lead agency in a specialist DV & A consortium delivering all of the local authority commissioned accommodation and community based DV & A services in Leeds. This consortium is Leeds Domestic Violence Service (LDVS). Through LDVS we deliver a menu of different services including women-only refuges, support groups and drop ins; along with emergency accommodation and community support for people of any gender experiencing DV & A.

DV & A is perpetuated in many different ways, and often by multiple abusers, and many women say that race and religion compound their experiences as female survivors of DV & A, often actual and fear of racism silencing them.

Due to multiple levels of discrimination, refugee women for example experience greater levels of isolation.

We recognise that there are differing views regarding sex and gender identity and we are committed to an approach that is responsive and respectful. We manage to deliver women centred services in a truly inclusive way in safe and appropriate environments.

Sexual Violence & Abuse (SV &A)

SV & A, like DV & A, can happen to anyone, and it can also occur from a stranger or from someone the victim-survivor may know, it may be a one-off occurrence or historic or systematic. However, SV & A occurs disproportionately to women and girls, with them being more at risk of intimate partner sexual abuse as the majority of SV & A is perpetrated by someone known. This can happen from a previous or current intimate partner and can be any form of sexual abuse/violence including rape.

Pregnant Women

Research and experience show that DV & A often begins during pregnancy, and then escalates as the pregnancy develops and through the time after childbirth. DV & A during pregnancy puts a pregnant woman and her unborn child in danger. It increases the risk of miscarriage, infection, premature birth, low birth weight, foetal injury and foetal death.

In fact, DV & A has overtaken gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia as the leading cause of foetal death (SafeLives).

LGBT+ People

All of our frontline staff have been trained in working with, and removing barriers for, LGBT+ people and we are currently examining our practices, working towards ensuring that our services are accessible, responsive and appropriate to LGBT+ people in Leeds.

Trans people can experience domestic abuse from a same or opposite sex partner, and can do so regardless of the gender identity of either person. In some cases, abusers will use the process of ‘coming out’ or transition as an additional form of control. This can be particularly difficult where children are involved. Trans people can also experience abuse from family members. If someone experiences abuse from their family, this may occur after they have come out, during transition or when they enter into a relationship where either or both partners are Trans.

Supporting Different Faiths and Cultures

Due to multiple levels of discrimination, women from black and minority ethnic communities, refugees and asylum seekers and those experiencing Honour Based Violence, Forced Marriage or Female Genital Mutilation, experience greater isolation and additional barriers to accessing help and support.

We strive to ensure that women of all, any or no faiths or religions or any ethnic background has equality of access to support from our services, and that they are treated with culturally appropriate respect.

Accessibility

We aim to offer all of our services can be in an accessible way, we:

Offer interpreters for telephone and face to face work, including BSL and up to 200 spoken languages, and translations for written information
Offer technological alternatives in offering support, such as on-line chat and virtual support
Provide transport or transport costs if we can, particularly if a client needs to attend court
Offer help in finding, and funding, childcare where possible
Have accessible places to meet and accessible refuge spaces
Conduct Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for refuge residents
Communicate in a professional but plain-English way, working in flexible ways to make people’s experience of support the best it can be.