News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

National survey on the sharing of media without consent (or “revenge porn) – Scottish Women’s Aid

As many of you will know, we’ve been working for over a year on issues around the non-consensual sharing of intimate media, or, as it’s more commonly known “revenge porn”.

We’ve run campaigns, trained practitioners, supported the development of guidance and responses, and worked closely with politicians, civil servants and the Police.

We’re now asking people to tell us more.

We’d like to hear from women and girls who have been victimised in this way so we can understand their experiences and see what needs to be done to prevent and respond to it.

Do we need new legislation?

Have responses been good?

Or do we have some way to go?

Are people who share these files being held responsible?

If you have been threatened with this, or someone has shared media files (images, films, sound clips) without your consent, and you’d like to fill in the questionnaire please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/intimateimages

Answers will be treated confidentially and you can opt out of any question at any point.

If you would like to speak to someone about your experiences, support is available at your local women’s aid group http://www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk/advice-information, or through Rape Crisis Scotland helpline on 08088 01 03 02

Source http://www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk/blog/national-survey-sharing-media-without-consent-or-revenge-porn

January 6, 2015

Why it’s time to put care at the heart of economic recovery – Women’s Budget Group

The recent autumn statement demonstrates that once again the government has failed to spot the real problems; the care deficit, the deficit in affordable housing and the deficit in high quality paid work, all of which impact particularly on women.

The Women’s Budget Group latest report is a comprehensive analysis on the impact of the 2014 Autumn Financial Statement on women and looks in detail at the care deficit and what can be done about it. The report concludes:

    • Women have lost and will continue to lose more than men from the direct tax and welfare changes already carried out or planned between2010 and 2015;
    • Failing to address the gender imbalance in science, technology, engineering and maths will leave the UK with a shortfall of graduates in these areas and result in new science jobs going mainly to men;
    • The extra £10m to free schools could lead to a downgrading in employment rights for women working academies;
    • Though the AFS provides some help to new businesses women-owned businesses and self-employed women will lose out under the new regime;
    • New spending on NHS will do nothing to cover the growing social care funding gap.

Commenting on their new report, Professor Diane Elson, Chair of the Women’s Budget Group, said:

“The money the government has “saved” from cutting vital public services has not gone to reducing the deficit but instead has been given away to income tax payers in the form of higher allowances which has clear gender effects.

“Eliminating the budget deficit is the wrong policy target. To achieve a sustainable and equitable recovery in living standards, something different is required.”

The Women’s Budget Group makes a bold call for a national care infrastructure plan consisting of a massive programme of public investment on social infrastructure, including child and elderly care, health, and education as well as funding for physical infrastructure such as housing, public transport and affordable renewable energy.

We need labour market policies to ensure that real wages and productivity grow in line with each other enabling upwards convergence in men’s and women’s wages, so that the UK does not become a low wage, low productivity economy.

A national care infrastructure plan forms the heart of our Plan F – using feminist economic policy to put care and quality at the heart of the regeneration of this battered UK economy.

Comments/questions: 07792126390 / admin@wbg.org.uk

Press Release at http://wbg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/pressrelease.pdf
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January 6, 2015

8 January 2015 ~ Writing Myself – Creative Writing Workshop for Irish Women in Camden – West Hampstead Women’s Centre

This weekly session re-starts on Thursday 8th January 2015 at West Hampstead Women’s Centre. You are asked to commit to six sessions. Please call group facilitator, Sophie Waterhouse on 07877 453 477 with any queries.

LISTEN here to recordings by group members of some of their work. http://canstream.co.uk/camden/index.php?id=637

Irish Women’s Social Group at West Hampstead Women’s Centre http://www.whwc.org.uk/support-groups/irish-womens-group/

Our mailing address is:
London Irish Feminist Network
https://www.facebook.com/groups/londonirishfeministnetwork/

January 6, 2015

Can you help? Have you experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse? – AVA

AVA is looking for survivors who would like to share their story in order to help others better understand domestic violence and abuse.

Anonymous Audio Interview Opportunity for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse

AVA has received Public Health England funding to improve its elearning course, Domestic Violence Awareness, Levels 1 and 2. The course will be freely accessible as of April 2015, and health professionals in particular will be encouraged to access it. By participating in the course learners will gain a better understanding of domestic violence, the impact it has and how professionals can respond effectively to those experiencing it. The elearning course materials will also be used in face to face training events to educate those coming into contact with survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

AVA wants to ensure the voices of survivors are present throughout the course; that survivors speak for themselves about domestic violence and abuse, their response to it and also the response they received from professionals. We believe letting survivors speak about their own experiences will help participants gain a greater understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse and how they can respond in a helpful way.

Requirements

In order to do this, AVA is looking to conduct 5 anonymous* audio interviews with survivors.

  • The interviews will take place face to face with an experienced interviewer who worked on the BBC ‘Hitting Home’ campaign and who has a good understanding of working with survivors.
  • There is no requirement to be media trained or have done interviews in the past.
  • In return for participating AVA will provide each participant with a £30 voucher for lovetoshop which is accepted at numerous outlets.
  • You will need to be available for a phone conversation prior to the interview to assess if the opportunity is appropriate for you.
  • Contact Jude Long (contact details below) by 23rd January 2015
  • Be available for the interview in person week commencing 9th February

AVA would like to include the voices of a variety of survivors:

  • A young person (aged up to 25)
  • A mother
  • A gay man
  • A woman from a minority community
  • A child or young person up to 16 who has lived with parental domestic abuse

All of the interviews will take place in London (they can be organised in the evening) week commencing 9th of February.

Further information email jude.long@avaproject.org.uk or call 0207 5490 274

*Names will be changed, there will be no reference to location. It will be the survivors voice used.

January 6, 2015