Time’s up on non-disclosure agreements – Equality and Human Rights Commission

Corrosive working cultures have silenced the voices of victims and normalised sexual harassment, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said as it published a set of recommendations to better protect people at work.

The gender pay gap deadline - what to know

While a third of UK companies have failed to report gender pay data, the big four accountants and many other companies struggle with their pay gap. So far, 78% of firms have reported that they pay men more than women. Read more at

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43586574

Changes to domestic violence evidence requirements come into effect

This week, the Ministry of Justice announced that as of the 8th January 2018, victims of domestic violence will get more support in taking abusive former partners to court. Changes to evidence requirements in private family law disputes have come into effect. There will no longer be a time limit on abuse evidence, which previously stood at five years. Additionally, the range of documents accepted as evidence of abuse has been widened to include statements from domestic violence support organisations and housing support officers.

Child sexual abuse prevention toolkit

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has published a free online toolkit to help prevent children and young people from being sexually abused. Eradicating child sexual abuse (ECSA) is designed be used in any part of the world, and enables professionals to: understand child sexual abuse; see solutions that others have used around the world; design a local plan that fits their needs.

Child Sexual Abuse and Expolitation: Understanding Risk and Vulnerability

The Early Intervention Foundation has published a rapid evidence assessment on risk indicators for child sexual abuse (CSA) and child sexual exploitation (CSE). This was commissioned by the Home Office and carried out by Coventry University. Key findings include:

Professionals views on risk assessment sought

Mark Treloar, a Masters student at Durham University, is looking for professionals who work with domestic abuse victim/survivors to participate in Skype or telephone interviews. He is interested in your thoughts about the positives and negatives of the current Risk Assessment process. Contributors will be anonymous and interviews are expected to last about 20 minutes. This will lead to a written report which Mark hopes will assist his home state of Victoria, Australia, in their upcoming implementation of a tiered risk assessment model.

Home Affairs Committee recommends decriminalisation of sex work

The Home Affairs Committee has published an interim report on it's enquiry into "prostitution". The Committee recommends that the Home Office should immediately change existing legislation so that soliciting is no longer an offence and brothel-keeping laws allow sex workers to share premises.

North East FGM Partnership Board

At the last NEEVWAG Network meeting Yasmin Khan (Director of the Halo Project) talked about the work of the recently formed North East FGM Partnership Board. The Board brings together professionals working across all aspects of FGM, including health, social care, housing, justice and victims/survivors services. The Board has met twice and has already identified several gaps in provision and is developing concrete plans to address them. If you are interested in getting involved please get in touch.

Safeguarding adult victims of domestic abuse?

Attendees at the NEEVAWG Network meeting in Middlesbrough last week discussed the requirement in the 2014 Care Act which gives adult safeguarding teams the duty to "prevent harm, stop abuse, support adults in making choices and having control about how they want to live etc." Good guidance for teams has been produced and there may be an opportunity to ensure that women receive better support from adult social care.

Domestic abuse victins need help from employers

Keir Starmer uses the example of the domestic abuse champions network in Northumbria to argue that victims and survivors need help from their employer as well as from the police in this article.

North East Women's Network

Policy