Thread by @MerchedCymru

Domestic abuse and sexual violence are endemic in our society and the lock-down has exacerbated the problem. The UK saw a rise of 49% in the number of calls to domestic abuse services and the number of deaths trebled in 2020 compared to 2019 figures. 1/10

There was already a serious shortfall in refuge spaces: six families are turned away for every four who are offered a place. The overwhelming majority of victims are female, the perpetrators are overwhelmingly male. 2/10

Unsurprisingly, therefore, single-sex refuges are considered ‘a proportionate means to achieve a legitimate aim’ under the Equality Act. 3/10

This is what victims want and need. Indeed, many victims are so traumatised that they are unable to use services that are staffed by or that admit males – regardless of how they identify. 4/10

Female-only provision is particularly important for women from some ethnic and religious backgrounds, who already face additional barriers in accessing these services. And yet it appears that prioritising women is unacceptable. 5/10

According to a specialist VAWDASV consultant & trainer, ‘Specialist services for women and children affected by male violence are being jeopardised by the misinterpretation of the Equality Act. 6/10

“Funders increasingly insist on trans inclusivity and are forcing much needed refuges and services to accept men who identify as women, regardless of the needs of the women themselves. 7/10

“This is happening in Wales now, and women-only services are too scared to speak out, fearful of losing the scarce funds that they already have to fight for. 8/10

“Organisations like Women's Aid that came out of the women's movement in the 1970s are now stuck between a rock and a hard place because Welsh Government funding insists on trans inclusivity to the detriment of women and children." 9/10

Our sex-based rights are under threat in Wales.
Please help us fight to retain and strengthen them.
#SexNotGender 10/10