A domestic abuse charity has launched an anonymous voting guide ahead of the UK general election alongside a manifesto outlining changes that the next Government needs to make in order to eradicate domestic abuse.
Refuge, which is the country’s largest domestic abuse organisation, have released their manifesto alongside a voting guide that is designed to enable abuse survivors to exercise their right to vote safely. The charity has called called for the next government to ‘take a whole system approach’ toward violence against women and girls (VWAG) as reports indicate abuse is ‘endemic in the UK’ affecting an ‘average of one in four women during their lifetime’.
Survivors, who have chosen to remain anonymous, have spoken out about their fundamental right to vote in the upcoming election. They explained that their perpetrators ‘took away choices’ including ‘where to go and who to talk to’ – but insist that despite ‘giving up so much’ that this shouldn’t include the right to vote. One survivor revealed that her rights were taken ‘forcibly’ and that voting ‘wasn’t safe’.
Refuge have claimed that: ‘Despite its prevalence, approaches to tackling VAWG has been disjointed and inadequate and the rise in misogyny and reports of police perpetrated abuse means that action and an improved response to domestic abuse and other forms of VAWG is urgently needed.’
The organisation say that survivors are in need of improved access to legal, civil and economic support to rebuild their lives, and that currently many survivors ‘lack that support’ and there needs to be ‘improvements to the justice system, reform to the family courts and improved access to housing and welfare reforms – alongside support for migrants’.
Amara*, a survivor of domestic abuse, told Refuge:
“Through experiencing domestic abuse so many of my choices were taken from me. Where I could go, what I could do and who I could talk to weren’t things I was allowed to decide for myself. I’ve had to give up so much because of abuse but this shouldn’t include my right to vote. Now, more than ever, I need to be able to choose the world I’d like to live in.
The right for victims/survivors of domestic abuse to vote safely honours those that fought for us to have that right in the first place.”
Penelope*, a survivor of domestic abuse, said:
“As a victim of domestic abuse, so many of my rights have been forcibly taken away by my perpetrator. Neither myself, nor the many other survivors who are just like me, should lose the right to vote because it’s not safe to do so. The government has an obligation to protect us. We have a right to choose who will represent us and will deliver change to minimise the risks of domestic abuse for the next generation.”
Domestic abuse services are designed to provide holistic and specialist support on both a short- and long-term basis to survivors of VAWG. However, Refuge suggests that there is ‘insufficient funding has left many support services at breaking point’ due to short term contracts for staff and the ongoing cost-of-living-crisis.Abigail Ampofo, Interim CEO of Refuge, said:
“While Refuge welcomes the fact that all the major political parties have outlined their commitments to eradicating violence against women and girls (VAWG), it is imperative that they also recognise the urgent work that need to be done to ensure that women and girls can live a life free from abuse and fear. Promises and policies need to be translated into meaningful action that supports and empowers all survivors of domestic abuse and wider VAWG.
Domestic abuse remains a widespread issue, affecting one in four women in the UK. As a society we must recognise the gravity of this crime and the devastating harm it causes to individuals, families, communities and even our economy, at large. A collective social response, in which policymakers, the criminal justice system, and government departments working with specialist organisations like Refuge and the wider public is essential to tackling domestic abuse.
More must be done to protect women and girls. Now is the time for change.”
The sector has said they will need £238 million in funding per year for essential community-based services and £189 million per year for refuge services, as outlined by Women’s Aid in their Investing to Save report.
VAWG charities say that there has been a ‘fundamental rise in misogyny both online and in schools’ as well as ‘higher instances of reports of abuse perpetrated by those in the police’ – as evidence came to light following the Sarah Everard case in 2021.
Refuge’s Manifesto offers a guide for abuse survivors to vote safely. They have said: ‘It is crucial that survivors of domestic abuse have a voice in the governance of the country, like the wider public, but we recognise that is there are challenges in registering to vote for survivors who need to maintain their anonymity and protect confidential information.
‘To ensure that survivors of domestic abuse can feel empowered to vote safely, Refuge has developed a guide to voting anonymously, which highlights survivors’ rights and instructions on how to protect your identity while registering to vote.
‘It is important for survivors to feel empowered to vote to ensure that representatives who serve the best interests of those who have experienced abuse are in a position to implement necessary change.’