Agenda item

RESOLVED:

That the Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Hackney Strategy 2022-2025 is approved / endorsed. 

Reason for decision

Sections 5-7 of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 created Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) which have a duty to - 

-  reduce crime and disorder;

-  prevent  people from becoming involved in serious violence

-  reduce instances of serious violence

In pursuance of these duties as they pertain to gender-based violence, the Council has been guided by the national Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and the London MOPAC VAWG Strategy  in having its own Hackney Strategy and Action Plan. 

Approval of the Eliminating VAWG Strategy is in accordance with the principles of decision making in Article 13 of the Constitution:

Proportionality:  Given the scale of the issue, it is proportionate for 

the Council to have an Eliminating  VAWG Strategy 

Due consultation:  While the Council has not been required to 

conduct a public consultation it has consulted with members of the public, statutory and community agencies, Council staff and VAWG providers 

   Officer advice:It is the advice of the Lead Officer for Violence Against Women and Girls that the Council endorse the Strategy  

    Human rights:Prevention of domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls is in accordance with the Council’s commitment to human rights and there is no contradiction between the exercise of the Strategy and the Human Rights act 1996

    Openness:  The Council plans to publish and publicise its Eliminating VAWG Strategy 2022-2025. Its ongoing review and implementation involves groups from across the statutory and voluntary sectors in Hackney. 

   Clarity of aims:  The Strategy sets out clearly the 4 key areas of work and accompanying priorities 

   Efficiency:  The Strategy identifies and take forward areas of work already underway; their formal endorsement will not hinder the delivery of services and will assist a partnership approach  

Councillor Fajana-Thomas introduced the report.

The Mayor invited Councillor Garbett to speak on the item, and the following questions were raised: 

1.  1.3 on page 13 should speak more strongly to challenging negative attitudes and talk about universal up skilling to create a culture of non-tolerance, and I just wondered if that was happening? 

2.  On page 15, there was a need to really stress the importance of cultural competence services in the ‘by and for’ sector.

3.  Councillor Garbett was concerned that although the equalities impact assessment in the cover sheet mentions marginalised groups, there was nothing actually specific in the strategy for sex workers or people seeking asylum who find it really difficult due to stigma and fear of deportation, to access services.  It was questioned is this being considered?

Councillor Fajana-Thomas responded to the questions, as set out below:

1. Thanks for your contribution. I remember you were one of the colleagues that engaged with this consultation, and a few of your suggestions were incorporated into the strategy.  But to answer your question in terms of wanting to be reassured that the work around challenging behavior is happening; yes, it is happening.  Next week Hackney is having a foster, bystander, men ally training, and that is part of what we are doing to ensure that we are challenging.  The purpose of that is to raise awareness amongst men, who are mostly the perpetrators of violence against women and girls, so they understand and know what to do in terms of changing culture.  Young Hackney is working in our schools and I am proud of the work that Hackney Education is doing working with schools from young ages around boys’ behavior around gender stereotypes. 
2. We are talking about cultural sensitivity, and the way we support people is on the website, which tells you what we do in Hackney to support people, including refugees and asylum seekers.  Everyone is supported, and just to reassure you, whilst they are not mentioned specifically if you look at the strategy it does mention that we will support everyone.  Everyone who needs support, around either domestic abuse or violence against women and girls, we are supporting them and as part of that we are working with quite a lot of organisations that support black and global majority people, including with Latin American women and refugee centers.  We do have robust organisations that are supporting and making sure that people who are coming to us are getting the support they need from us as a Council, and our partner organisations in the community. 

RESOLVED:

That the Eliminating Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Hackney Strategy 2022-2025 was approved / endorsed. 

Reason for decision

Sections 5-7 of the Crime & Disorder Act 1998 created Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) which have a duty to - 

-  reduce crime and disorder;

-  prevent  people from becoming involved in serious violence

-  reduce instances of serious violence

In pursuance of these duties as they pertain to gender-based violence, the Council has been guided by the national Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and the London MOPAC VAWG Strategy  in having its own Hackney Strategy and Action Plan. 

Approval of the Eliminating VAWG Strategy is in accordance with the principles of decision making in Article 13 of the Constitution:

Proportionality:  Given the scale of the issue, it is proportionate for 

the Council to have an Eliminating  VAWG Strategy 

Due consultation:  While the Council has not been required to 

conduct a public consultation it has consulted with members of the public, statutory and community agencies, Council staff and VAWG providers 

  Officer advice: It is the advice of the Lead Officer for Violence Against Women and Girls that the Council endorse the Strategy  

  Human rights: Prevention of domestic abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls is in accordance with the Council’s commitment to human rights and there is no contradiction between the exercise of the Strategy and the Human Rights act 1996

  Openness:  The Council plans to publish and publicise its Eliminating VAWG Strategy 2022-2025. Its ongoing review and implementation involves groups from across the statutory and voluntary sectors in Hackney. 

  Clarity of aims:  The Strategy sets out clearly the 4 key areas of work and accompanying priorities 

  Efficiency:  The Strategy identifies and take forward areas of work already underway; their formal endorsement will not hinder the delivery of services and will assist a partnership approach