🧵Today the APPG on Domestic Abuse & Violence launched our report:
“Road to Recovery:Meeting the mental health needs of domestic abuse survivors”.
We’ve taken evidence from experts by experience, policymakers & specialists.
[A gentle alert on sensitive content]
Mental-ill health is frequently weaponised against survivors or misunderstood by healthcare professionals.
Survivors too often experience re-traumatisation by the very system that’s meant to support them.
The consequences of this are serious & tragic including death & suicide.
Today we heard from Tom Guha, an expert by experience, whose mother died by suicide.
Tom explained how public authorities will have survivors with mental ill-health come forward for support,
but SO many are failed by long waiting lists, especially when they have to move home🏡.
🔍Our 4 main recommendations are:
⏰ Domestic abuse and mental health to be treated as an *urgent public health* priority.
🌍 A whole-system approach with localised mental health DV strategies and specialist GP training, to embedding ‘routine enquiry’ duty like that in Wales.
The report also recommends:
💶Ring-fenced funding for specialist services to address issues such as mental health support only being available in 15.1% of UK refuges😱.
📊Statutory bodies to be required to collect and report on data in every area including on death & suicide.
The APPG are looking into the govt’s #HealthAndCareBill & the Women’s Health strategy published in December.
We are seeking support & engagement from Ministers including @GillianKeegan.
We also recognise that the #VictimsBill presents options to take forward recommendations.
We thank everyone who contributed to this inquiry.
A few weeks ago I attended a #SaveUEL event & listened to concerns about staff redundancies at The University of London during the pandemic. I wrote to the university about their plans following the event.
I’m disappointed to learn @UEL_News is proceeding with plans.
The financial pressures being faced by universities is an expected side effect of the pandemic.
In July, EDM743 called on the Govt to provide essential support for institutions like these.
Institutions in this position have managed a financial plan to retain staff. So can UEL.
UEL students often obtain qualifications against the odds. Many are women, working class & from ethnic minority backgrounds.
The same background of many staff members being made redundant today without time to serve notice.
This doesn’t instil confidence in my constituents.
The Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill is being debated tomorrow.
It has alarming consequences for human rights standards - it could potentially be issuing a “license to kill” for covert ops & risks decriminalising torture in certain situations.
"It is deeply alarming that the proposed law does not explicitly prohibit MI5 and other agencies from authorising crimes like torture & killing. It must be amended to do so...”
Today in Parliament the Government are trying to legislate to prevents acts of torture and other serious crimes by the UK army from being prosecuted, if they took place more than five years ago.
The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill.
Earlier in the year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor determined that there is basis to allegations that UK armed forces committed war crimes against detainees in Iraq.
In addition, thousands of allegations of torture & mistreatment from Iraqis and Afghans have been lodged against British soldiers serving in the US-UK led invasion in Iraq & Afghanistan.
We know we must never again embark on imperialist wars. All people have a right to justice.
This is a victory for all the young people who have been marching, demonstrating & lobbying MPs backed up by so many parents, teachers & headteachers.
Thanks to all who’ve shown solidarity & support. #ALevelsResults bbc.co.uk/news/uk-538106…
Following two major u-turns, there must now be full assurances from the Gov’t that decisions impacting young people will not be made retrospectively and provide much more advance notice of whether this system will continue for next year’s results.
Clarity is also needed for the thousands of BTEC students whom are not included in this latest apology and announcement. The Gov’t must ensure their decision is the same all over and does not further stigma experienced by BTEC students and leave them behind.
Tomorrow I will be joining @DavePrentis and @UNISON_TwrHmlts standing in solidarity with striking Tower Hamlets Council workers being sacked and asked to sign new contracts with detrimental terms and conditions (1/4)
Given previous representations I have made, such as on the impact of nursery closures, I have no doubt that these new contracts will disproportionately impact upon BAME and women workers on lower scale jobs, many of whom work on the frontline risking dying from COVID19. (2/4)
It will also pave the way for redundancies and job losses in the future.
If we wish to save Black lives, especially in light of the growing BLM movement, no further decisions or policy would be made without clear consideration on how they will impact on BAME lives. (3/4)