This briefing brings together the key points from the AVA Staying Mum launch event. Informed by the insights and key themes discussed at the webinar, this briefing makes recommendations, providing a resource to domestic abuse services, the family courts, and child protection services looking to improve their support and outcomes for mothers surviving domestic abuse and child removal.

The recommendations fall into two main categories: changes needed within the family courts, and changes needed to better support mothers facing domestic abuse.

• Family court professionals must challenge the ways court mechanisms are used to silence and control mothers.
• Family court professionals must challenge the pro-contact culture in the courts.
• Family court professionals must challenge the stigma and unfair standards mothers face in the family courts.
• Family court professionals must challenge the additional discrimination mothers who are structurally disadvantaged face.
• Professionals involved in child removal processes must understand the dynamics of domestic abuse.
• Service providers must ensure that support for mothers facing domestic abuse is culturally competent.
• Service providers must ensure that support for mothers and children is trauma-informed, long term, and received at the earliest possible intervention.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

This briefing is created by AVA (Against Violence and Abuse)

It is produced by funding from London Councils for the Ascent Support Services to Organisations project. 

About Ascent

Ascent is a partnership project undertaken by the London Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Consortium, delivering a range of services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, under six themes, funded by London Councils. The second tier support project aims to address the long term sustainability needs of organisations providing services to those affected by sexual and domestic violence. The project seeks to improve the quality of such services across London by providing a range of training and support. 

Women’s Resource Centre is the lead partner in the Support Services Strand where we work together with 5 partner organisations:

Rights of Women

Respect

Women and Girls Network

Against Violence and Abuse (AVA)

Imkaan

Find out more about the Ascent project here.