Family Solicitors

A lack of Local Authority funding means many women’s refuges are in danger of closing down, The Guardian reports.

The Guardian reports that many of the refuges have been operating since the 1970s, but local councils facing budget cuts are now switching funding to refuges for male victims of domestic violence and local housing association projects.

Domestic violence refuges can be a lifesaver for many women fleeing violent partners, who have nowhere else to turn.

Even women’s refuges which support black, Asian, minority ethnic and refugee (BAMER) women and their children are facing budget cuts and may even have to close, leaving many vulnerable women with nowhere to turn if they are without family or other support in the UK.

The refuge Ashiana in Sheffield has already been forced to merge two of its women’s refuges with other refuges in the region because of funding cuts. However, it has managed to retain two refuges for female victims of human trafficking.

Ashiana director Daljit Kaur, told The Guardian that specialist services – such as those for women who are trafficked to the UK – are “more important than ever”.

“When we were first set up, it was mostly Pakistani or Indian women who came to us,” she said.

“But now I can only describe it as global people on the move – Yemeni, Congolese, Albanian, Nigerian – they come from all over.

“It's complicated because you have cultural issues to contend with: you might be married within the family structure – to a cousin; or be married for economic reasons to help your family back home.

“Then there is the issue of “honour” – and community and multi-perpetrator abuse.

“People understand less now about diversity than before – and less about why we need BAMER specialisms – but we have even more diversity,” she said.

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of domestic violence solicitors and can advise all victims of domestic violence on their rights under law, including victims of elder abuse and young adults who are victims of domestic violence.

Duncan Lewis is a leading provider of Legal Aid services in the UK – and can advise on domestic violence under UK law and Islamic law. Duncan Lewis lawyers speak more than 70 languages between them.

For expert and confidential legal help with domestic violence, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Helpline on 07920 077054.