A leading domestic violence charity has launched a petition calling for specialist training to be given to all agencies supporting Black victims.
Sistah Space want Valerie’s Law introduced, to allow compulsory cultural training for police and other government agencies to better support Black women affected by domestic violence. The initiative is named after Valerie Forde, 45, who along with her 22-month-old baby girl, was murdered by her ex-partner, in 2014.
Sistah Space Founder, Ngozi Fulani said: “We need laws that protect Black women. Unfortunately, the media doesn’t seem to care about the safety of Black women and girls”
Ms Fulani said current domestic abuse services do not understand Black culture, which is putting Black women and girls at risk and insists Valarie’s Law will help them become more “culturally competent.”
She said: “Bruises and scars might be difficult to see on some Black skin, but it doesn’t mean they are not there.
“Black women who have been abused, are being told their scars are invisible and that is not good enough.
“Understanding that bruises may appear different on black skin can make a real difference and can be the difference between life or death.”
She also went on to say, the grouping of Black communities into categories like BAME were harmful and have made it difficult to document and keep records of domestic violence cases specifically against African heritage women and girls.
She said: “Grouping us all together is damaging and it keeps the facts and figures of domestic abuse against African heritage women hidden.”
Two of Ms Forde’s daughters have also joined calls for Valerie’s Law on social media, by sharing a touching video encouraging the public to sign the petition.
Ms Fulani also told The Voice, she had heard some Black women are being placed by mainstream services into areas where they have no access to culturally appropriate food products or items for their hair and skin.
A failed system
She described these examples as “failings” and said basic cultural understanding was needed.
According to Ms Fulani, who is also an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, the recent Windrush Scandal has fuelled fear and is preventing Black women from seeking help because they fear detention or deportation.
For Ms Fulani, she says she hopes to meet the 100,000 signature requirement to have Valerie’s Law debated in Parliament, which will be one step closer to getting it rolled out nationwide.
Ms Forde was brutally murdered by Roland McKoy, 54, on 31 March 2014. McKoy attacked Ms Forde and their 22-month-old daughter with a machete, hammer and screwdriver as her eldest daughter listened helplessly via an “open line” telephone call.
Ms Fulani also said the recent disappearance and death of Sarah Everard and the outpouring of support and extensive media coverage was a stark difference to the coverage Black victims receive.
She said: “There is no interest or constant coverage for Black victims and why is that?
“The time has come for us to call inequalities out and not fear what other groups have to say.
“As Black people we have been too subtle talking about our experiences and I am not leaving my grandchildren and Valerie’s grandchildren to go though what she went through.
“We need changes and we need it now!”
Sistah Space is a London-based charity, which serves African and Caribbean heritage women and girls affected by domestic and sexual abuse and are currently the only organisation of its kind in the UK.
The petition currently has over 3,500 signatures and can be signed at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/578416
For more information on Sistah Space go to sistahspace.org
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3 Comments
I have signed this much needed petition as a professional woman of African heritage, who is a survivor of domestic abuse and who has also worked closely with survivors professionally as a local authority housing officer.
Sadly I have recently experienced a trainer in domestic abuse, minimize the issue of racism as a determinant in the service experience for women of colour who are survivors of domestic abuse.
I was very upset at this not least because I was actually experiencing abuse at the time and it impacted my decision to seek help.
As I informed this trainer at the time, if those who train other professionals have conscious or unconscious biases towards women of colour, then that will have a bearing on the services provided.
It is beyond time that the inequalities we experience due to racism are called out in their entirety and held accountable.
I have signed this much needed petition as a professional woman of African heritage, who is a survivor of domestic abuse and who has also worked closely with survivors professionally as a local authority housing officer.
Sadly I have recently experienced a trainer in domestic abuse, minimize the issue of racism as a determinant in the service experience for women of colour who are survivors of domestic abuse.
I was very upset at this not least because I was actually experiencing abuse at the time and it impacted my decision to seek help.
As I informed this trainer at the time, if those who train other professionals have conscious or unconscious biases towards women of colour, then that will have a bearing on the services provided.
It is beyond time that the inequalities we experience due to racism are called out in their entirety and held accountable.
Sistah space cadets?
How are we talking about black domestic violence when so few black women have partners and very few of them have live-in partners. Next time they come round don’t let them in. Simple.
Also how you can correlate Sarah Everarde being snatched off the street while walking home at night with a woman being knocked about after allowing a man into her house is beyond comprehension for most rational people.