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All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

12 March 2024 23:59 ~ Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children – DoE Consultation – Closing Date

We’re seeking your views on our draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges about children questioning their gender.

The proposed draft provides guidance and practical support for schools and colleges, including:

  • supporting children who are questioning their gender
  • protecting children from bullying or abuse
  • maintaining child safety and wellbeing

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gender-questioning-children-draft-schools-and-colleges-guidance

The Department of Education is seeking views on the following:

The consultation is seeking views on the content of the guidance and whether it will help to support schools and colleges, teachers and leaders to make considered and lawful decisions in relation to children who are questioning their gender and the wider school and college community.

To download the Consultation documents and how to respond go to https://consult.education.gov.uk/equalities-political-impartiality-anti-bullying-team/gender-questioning-children-proposed-guidance/

 

December 20, 2023

12 March 2024 23:59 ~ Guidance for Schools and Colleges: Gender Questioning Children – DoE Consultation – Closing Date

We’re seeking your views on our draft non-statutory guidance for schools and colleges about children questioning their gender.

The proposed draft provides guidance and practical support for schools and colleges, including:

  • supporting children who are questioning their gender
  • protecting children from bullying or abuse
  • maintaining child safety and wellbeing

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gender-questioning-children-draft-schools-and-colleges-guidance

The Department of Education is seeking views on the following:

The consultation is seeking views on the content of the guidance and whether it will help to support schools and colleges, teachers and leaders to make considered and lawful decisions in relation to children who are questioning their gender and the wider school and college community.

To download the Consultation documents and how to respond go to https://consult.education.gov.uk/equalities-political-impartiality-anti-bullying-team/gender-questioning-children-proposed-guidance/

 

December 20, 2023

4 March 2024 ~ MOJ Consultation on tougher sentences for murder preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour against the murder victim – Closing date

Murder is the most serious crime a person can commit, and we must ensure that in every case the sentence is commensurate with the severity of the crime. Everyone should feel safe in their own home and our sentencing framework must reflect the seriousness of violence and abuse which is committed by those closest to them.

The Government has already introduced legislation to give domestic murders specialist consideration in the sentencing framework. These measures were announced earlier this year, in the Governments response to the independent Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review undertaken by Clare Wade KC. These changes mark a step change in the way in which our sentencing framework responds to cases of domestic murder.

However, we recognise that there are issues which would benefit from further consideration, beyond the recommendations made in the review. That is why we also committed to launch this public consultation, in order to ensure that all options for reform in this area have been fully explored.

This consultation is therefore seeking views on a minimum term starting point for

  • cases of murder preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour against the murder victim, and
  • all murders committed with a knife or other weapon.

The consultation is aimed at all those with an interest in or views on the subject covered by this paper in England and Wales. The consultation will be open for 14 weeks and will close on 4 March 2024.

For consultation documents and how to respond go to https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/murder-sentencing-consultation/

 

December 20, 2023

4 March 2024 ~ MOJ Consultation on tougher sentences for murder preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour against the murder victim – Closing date

Murder is the most serious crime a person can commit, and we must ensure that in every case the sentence is commensurate with the severity of the crime. Everyone should feel safe in their own home and our sentencing framework must reflect the seriousness of violence and abuse which is committed by those closest to them.

The Government has already introduced legislation to give domestic murders specialist consideration in the sentencing framework. These measures were announced earlier this year, in the Governments response to the independent Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review undertaken by Clare Wade KC. These changes mark a step change in the way in which our sentencing framework responds to cases of domestic murder.

However, we recognise that there are issues which would benefit from further consideration, beyond the recommendations made in the review. That is why we also committed to launch this public consultation, in order to ensure that all options for reform in this area have been fully explored.

This consultation is therefore seeking views on a minimum term starting point for

  • cases of murder preceded by controlling or coercive behaviour against the murder victim, and
  • all murders committed with a knife or other weapon.

The consultation is aimed at all those with an interest in or views on the subject covered by this paper in England and Wales. The consultation will be open for 14 weeks and will close on 4 March 2024.

For consultation documents and how to respond go to https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/murder-sentencing-consultation/

 

December 20, 2023

7 February 2024 23:55 ~ Consultation: Defining child to parent abuse – Home Office – Closing date

Summary

  • We are seeking views on the definition of child to parent abuse (CPA).
  • This consultation closes at 11:55pm on 7 February 2024

Consultation description

Although we know that children can be vulnerable to harm by adults, there is also growing research into children displaying harmful behaviours towards parents/caregivers. There is no agreed definition for this type of harm or abuse, making it difficult to identify and talk about. In the absence of an agreed definition, various terms and descriptions are used.

The Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan committed to developing a sector agreed definition and updating the guidance for frontline professionals in line with it. For the purposes of this consultation document, the Home Office is using the term child to parent abuse (CPA) until terminology has been agreed.

The statutory definition of domestic abuse, as defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, concerns abuse between those who are personally connected and over the age of 16, with children being recognised as victims in their own right where they see, hear, or experience the effects of the abuse and they are related to either the abuser or the abused. For this reason, the definition of CPA will apply to those under 16, so as not to duplicate the definition of domestic abuse. Working Together to Safeguard Children is clear that all children (0-18) should receive a safeguarding response, including where they are causing harm to others and steps should be taken to understand the child’s behaviour.

The key aims of an agreed definition are:

  • to establish a common language around CPA
  • to support identification by frontline professionals and parents and caregivers of this type of abuse, in order to make it easier to seek and offer support

This consultation seeks views on both the headline terminology for, and descriptors of, CPA which will together make up the definition. The definition will be agreed first then used as the basis for the guidance for frontline professionals which will follow. The guidance will provide an opportunity to provide further detail on the definition and consider some of the complex issues surrounding this type of abuse, for example the challenges faced by a child or their special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

This consultation will be open for 10 weeks, closing on 7 February 2024 at 23:55. You can reply via the online form(*) or by emailing CPAConsultation@homeoffice.gov.uk

The consultation is aimed at:

  • support services working in the field of CPA
  • academics with a research interest in CPA
  • specialist domestic abuse services
  • frontline professionals working in health, social care, education, policing, and youth offending
  • specialist services/ working with children with SEND
  • parents/family members/caregivers with experience of CPA
  • any other interested stakeholders, including those with experience of CPA and users of support and prevention services

British Sign Language users

If you want to enquire about submitting a British Sign Language video consultation response, email CPAConsultation@homeoffice.gov.uk

(*) For documents in other languages and how to respond go to https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/defining-child-to-parent-abuse

 

December 20, 2023