To support the nationwide Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Legal 500 recommended Law Firm Duncan Lewis Solicitors are pleased to announce the launch of their ‘Charlie’s Weekend Video’ on Monday 3rd October in support of their campaign ‘Give Children a Voice’. This campaign, running for the whole month of October, is aimed to raise awareness of the crime of domestic violence, inform survivors that legal aid is available to them and identify child victims as the ‘silent sufferers’ in many domestic abuse cases.
The video can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/embed/TgxkLUXMycc. This video depicts a narrative of young Charlie, in a classroom answering the question posed by his teacher: “What’s Everyone’s Weekend News?”. His character’s experiences of domestic abuse in this home contrast to those of his classmates, demonstrating the emotional and alienating effects upon the child.
The video is sharable on all social media platforms since Monday 3rd October. The main social media outlets to be used will be the firm’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube page by adopting the hashtags #GiveChildrenAVoice #CharliesWeekend #StopDV. The ‘Give Children a Voice’ campaign page has been created to share information and support the Charlie’s Weekend video.
The video highlights two key issues:
The impact on children living with domestic violence: Children of all ages can be affected in many ways by living in this situation. Residing in an unsafe household is a form of child abuse even if the child is not directly harmed by the perpetrator. The cross Government definition of domestic violence and abuse is:
Any incident of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to: psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional.
Further, the definition of domestic violence in England and Wales was expanded in March 2013 to include victims aged 16 and 17 years old. It also now includes controlling behaviour and coercive behaviour.
In most cases legal aid is available for domestic violence: Recent case law sparked the change in permitting domestic violence evidence to be provided within 5 years as opposed to 2 years, which meansmore survivors of domestic violence will have access to advice and representation in the Family Courts. However, this still creates an unreasonable assumption that the effects of domestic abuse are time limited.Consequently, victims of domestic abuse who cannot provide the specified evidence required within 5 years do not qualify for Legal Aid and are therefore, often left without legal representation, directly facing their perpetrator in court over important and emotional issues.
Being a leading provider of Legal Aid, Duncan Lewis Solicitors can advise victims on how to apply for Legal Aid for domestic abuse/child abuse cases. Duncan Lewis Solicitors advise on valid evidence to show that domestic violence has occurred, or parents have received a Pre-proceedings Letter from Social Services following a Section 47 enquiry.
Kathy Walker, Director at Duncan Lewis Family & Childcare law department, states: “The ‘little people’ that experience domestic abuse in their family home are often the forgotten victims. Children exposed to Domestic abuse suffer in silence and experience fear for the abused parent/carer. Children who are exposed to domestic abuse are victims of Child Abuse themselves – more awareness and recognition is needed urgently.”
Members of the public and the media are encouraged to share the video and adopt the hashtags to create a nationwide awareness of the campaign and to help tackle the silence surrounding domestic abuse and to give those who suffer a voice to speak out.
Confidential and expert legal advice can be obtained by calling our National Domestic Violence Number on 0800 689 3275.
