A NEW proposed law to be discussed in Parliament next week will be the first of its kind in the safeguarding of black women victims of domestic and sexual violence. 

A petition calling for Valerie’s Law, named after the late Valerie Forde who was murdered by her ex-partner in 2014, amassed more than 100,000 signatures leading to the Commons debate.

The campaign led by Sistah Space, a domestic abuse charity supporting women of African heritage, was backed by celebrities like singer-songwriter FKA Twigs and actress Michaela Coel.

Ngozi Fulani, the Chief Executive of Sistah Space, told The Voice that the legislation now being prepared to be debated in Parliament was “history in the making” after years of campaigning. 

“Valerie’s Law is going to change lives whether it gets passed or not, because it’s out there and people are taking the training even though it’s not mandatory. 

“Just getting people to identify that there is a problem [in the treatment of black abuse victims] that has been massive.”

If introduced Valerie’s Law could see the police and other government bodies undertake mandatory culturally appropriate training to better understand the needs of black victims of gender-based violence. 

Last month, The Voice reported that black women victims of domestic abuse were less likely to see their perpetrators convicted in court than white women.

Freedom of Information requests found that between 2016 and 2020 black victims of domestic abuse were less likely to see perpetrators charged, and black rape victims were 1.5 less likely to see police charge their alleged abuser in comparison to white victims.

According to research by Sistah Space, 86% of women from African and/or Caribbean backgrounds in the UK have either been a victim of domestic abuse or know a family member who has been assaulted. 

However, only 57% of victims said they would report the abuse to the police.

Black victims of abuse have also reported not being believed when reporting to the police, because bruising is not as obvious on dark skin compared to a white woman’s. 

Some have also said they fear reporting abusive partners to the police as they fear what might happen to them.

Ms Fulani said that black people being listed under the term BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) has done the “greatest damage” in the way that organisations and police support black women who have gone through abuse.

“It [The term BAME] denies us our cultural differences and gives the false impression that people in this category get on when in fact some of the most racism comes from within that group.

“With being black, among every demographic, we’re at the bottom of the list. Even within the African and Caribbean community, there are so many cultural differences,” she said.

“One of the other big issues is that data is being done, but can’t draw from that BAME group how many are African or Caribbean black there are.”

“This is why Valerie’s Law is important, because until they [the police and government bodies] change at this very basic level we are going to keep dying.”

Labour MP Abena Oppong-Asare, who has been a longtime supporter of Valerie’s Law, will lead the landmark debate on March 28th.

Speaking to The Voice, she said: “The reason this matters is because women, particularly black women that are victims of domestic violence, don’t always get the support that they need. And when it comes to them reporting it to the police, they’ve been overlooked. 

“And part of the reason they’ve been overlooked is because of racial bias and not being taken seriously, particularly as grazes aren’t always visible on dark skin.

“And so the reason that I’m supporting Sistah Space, with Valerie’s Law campaign, is that it’s something simple that could be implemented within the police force so that women who are victims of domestic violence get the appropriate support they need.”

MPs including Marsha de Cordova, Kim Johnson and Apsana Begum are expected to speak be in the Commons on Monday, with Jess Phillips due to close the debate.

The Government has previously indicated that they would not support the introduction of Valerie’s Law in July last year.

The statement read: “Current training on domestic abuse should include recognising the specific needs of victims due to their ethnicity or cultural background; Government does not feel it is necessary to mandate it.”

Rachel McLean, the Minister for Safeguarding at the Home Office, will respond for the Government following the debate.

Taiwo Owatemi, Labour’s shadow race equality minister, said the Conservatives were failing women and girls as “recorded cases of domestic abuse have doubled in the past five years while prosecutions plummet.”

“No domestic abuse victim should ever feel that they are taken less seriously, or given less support, because of the colour of their skin,” she said.

“Labour has set out a comprehensive plan for ending violence against women and girls, including specific training for police on supporting Black, Asian and minority ethnic victims of violence and abuse. In government we would introduce a Race Equality Act to tackle structural racial inequality at source.”

Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP added: “We know that when it comes to Black victims of domestic abuse, there is a severe, and at times life-threatening, knowledge gap among police officers and relevant agencies. 

“Without a basic understanding of cultural differences, it is impossible for police officers and service providers to ensure Black women are equally protected in the UK.   

“That is why I support the introduction of Valerie’s Law and am pleased to see this matter will be debated in Parliament.”

The final push for Valerie’s Law comes just three days before the anniversary of Valerie Forde’s death.

The mother-of-four was brutally murdered, along with her baby daughter, at the hands of her ex-partner in March 2014.

Ms Fulani, a trained Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, believes the police response to her case was racist after threats made to burn down her home were recorded as a threat not property, and not a threat to life. 

Almost eight-years after her death, the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March 2021 sparked national debate on the safety of women and girls.

In the months that followed were the brutal murders of two black sisters Bibba Henry and Nicole Smallman, who were attacked in June last year and were found submerged in the undergrowth of a London park.

Ms Fulani adds: ‘”With the recent murders, [of young women] one name stands out above every other. She happens to be white and she happens to have blonde hair. What happened to her is terrible.

“I will tell you that for nothing. I also went to the vigil because I felt it, but what I also felt is that there are a lot of black women that it happened to before, during and after and you don’t hear about them and you simply don’t know their names. 

“So, Valerie’s Law training is the same as safeguarding training – it’s simply like saving training.”