Owners
What it's all about
I have spent some time working at a women's shelter when I lived in Malta and have listened to women speaking about their fears. Apart from their fear of being physicaly, mentally and emotionally abused again, alot of women are afraid of speaking about it to others, let alone actively pursuing legal action against their abusers. Therefore I feel that a project that incorporates both a support system and the option of legal aid to women affected can really help make a change. Women, who have lived in fear need to be reassured that they are speaking to someone that cares about their issue, they need to feel that they can trust the person they are speaking to and know that they are there to listen, only then I beleive can more women be willing to report their cases. The project is meant to work both ways we can just be there for moral support but at the same time when asked we can give legal advice. I believe that women are then more likely to come forward. They can rely on the same people who they have established a relationship of trust with to give them legal advice. I feel that this project can really change the distrubing statistics that show that only 1 in 9 women who have been rapped is willing to report the offence to the police, and this does not include other women who are beaten up or harassed in the work place. As, a result I am suggesting that a project based at Nottingham law school should be set up to incorporate both a volunteer service at the women's shelter and the option of giving probono legal advice to the women in the shelter when the women are ready.
What's needed to make it a reality
I will need authorisation from the university to set up a new pro bono project and obviously to be able to get the word out, to get as many law students involved as possible. I will also need support from the pro bono advisor at the law school.
Comments
This sounds like a really worthwhile project tackling a pretty weighty and wide reaching problem. From conversations I've had with other people in the past, the issue of the low rate of convictions for women who do report rape further reduces the number willing to go through the ordeal of reporting things to the police...
Refuge is a national charity for women and children against domestic violence, and their site has lots of information that you might find useful when setting up your project, for example here.
Also...because you are a student at Nottingham Trent University you can access up to £750 to turn your idea into a reality. Nottingham Trent University is one of 15 Universities who are taking part in the scheme where you can access funding, training and support from your Junction49 staff member (Catie Smith) to help you get your project up and running. She'll be in touch with you soon to take this further.
The issue of violence being glorified has been noted by Burffy in the children and young people cave here - let her know what your opinion about this is by commenting on her article, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts too!
Good luck with the project,
Zoë
I look forward to seeing you soon.
Would you like to pop in some time to see me and we can have a chat and I can help you put your budget together and put you in contact with women support groups that you could work with?
I'm in on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 Jan (I'm in meetings from 1.30 - 2.30 on Thursday and in meetings all Friday afternoon) But it would be great to see you if you want to come along to the Soap station in the Student Union.
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