A Day in life: UNISON NEC, Pension meeting on Housing investment, & Chartered Institute of Housing Dinner

A full on Labour Movement Day. A long UNISON NEC meeting (and the rest); then met up with LGPS pension fund officers and fund advisers on possible investments in Housing (see why housing is an investment opportunity as well as social need) & infrastructure followed by Presidential dinner of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Fantastic and inspirational speech by President, Jim Strang, on Housing need and domestic violence. 

"Never Commit, Excuse or Remain Silent About Male Violence"

"Newham residents are being urged to wear orange and make a pledge to stand up to violence against women and girls as part of the UN’S 16 Days of Activism, an international campaign against domestic violence.​

Newham Council is supporting the campaign to raise awareness of the issue, which began on the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and ends on Human Rights Day on 10 December.

To support the campaign, Newham Council is hosting free events in partnership with local community groups to promote the support available, as well as share experiences and send a clear message of zero tolerance towards domestic and sexual violence (DSV) in Newham. Events include a poetry reading and a workshop around healthy relationships.

Councillor Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “Domestic violence can take many different forms including psychological, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. It is essential that the council and members of the public are vigilant to the signs so anyone who may be experiencing it gets the help they need.

“Survivors of domestic and sexual violence need to feel supported and empowered so they can seek the help they need to escape from an abusive relationship. We have a range of services which can help but we need to also raise awareness of the problem. Newham Council has a zero tolerance to any form of gender based violence. We want to send out a message that domestic violence will not be accepted in Newham.”

During the 16 campaign, Newham residents will share photos of themselves on social media using the hashtag #Hearmetoo and pledge never to condone, commit, excuse or stay silent about violence against women and urging others to make the same pledge. At Full Council on Monday, councillors made the pledge.

Anyone experiencing domestic or sexual violence should contact the Newham One Stop Shop 24 hour line on 0845 451 2547 or visit www.newham.gov.uk/dsv​ for information on the range of support services available".

Newham Councillors standing in solidarity before full Council Meeting on Monday 

Hat tip Newham website 

Candlelight vigil for victims of Domestic Violence on Human Rights Day

This picture is from last Thursday's (10 December) vigil held outside East Ham town hall.

The vigil was held to coincide with Human Rights Day and the end of the United Nation’s 16 Days of Action which aimed to raise awareness of violence against women.

The Newham Council lead on domestic and family violence, Executive member Councillor Lakmini Shah, gave a very moving speech about how she had come across a man punching and kicking a women holding a baby in the street and she had to call upon some male bystanders to stop him. She was then able to call the Police and make sure that the women had medical aid and legal advice. The "man" was already in breach of an injunction not to approach the women and is now thankfully in prison (where he belongs).

Over a 100 Newham residents, women, men and children had gathered for a quiet, dignified and peaceful protest at these hideous crimes.

Newham has the 2nd highest rates of reported domestic violence in London and since 2011 there has been at least 6 murders, the highest in London. This last figure makes it clear that Newham DV "problem" is not just down to better reporting and is something that we need to be ashamed of, prioritise and tackle.

Check out here the excellent Scrunity Report on Domestic Violence in Newham.