Brothers’ vital message
Coercive control campaign
Leading UK campaigner against domestic abuse Luke Hart has helped Stirling and Clackmannanshire Gender Based Violence Partnership to launch its ‘16 Days of Action’ campaign.
Luke and his brother, Ryan, who are from Lincolnshire, travel across the country and internationally to raise awareness of coercive control following a personal family tragedy.
In 2016, their dad murdered their mother Claire and sister Charlotte after years of coercive control, before committing suicide.
Since then, the Hart brothers have committed to challenging male violence against women and children by sharing their harrowing story.
Tackling violence against women and girls is the mission of ‘16 Days of Action’ an international campaign started by the Women’s Global Partnership in 1991.
Luke was the headline speaker at the campaign organised by Stirling and Clackmannanshire councils and a host of third sector organisations. It got underway at a conference at the Albert Halls in Stirling.
He said: “Events like this are crucial for raising awareness and understanding of domestic abuse.
“We never understood the coercive control our father was perpetrating was so dangerous or that it even had a name, until we saw a poster on coercive control in the police station, just days after our father murdered mum and Charlotte.”
At the event, Luke and representatives from both local authorities and other agencies signed the White Ribbon Pledge to never to commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women in all its forms.
Stirling Council’s senior manager for economic development and communities Stuart Oliver said: “We recognise this is a serious issue and work closely together to raise awareness and support people affected by genderbased violence.
“Earlier this year, Stirling Council also approved a new policy on domestic abuse to ensure we have the correct help and support in place for our employees.
The annual 16-day campaign started on Monday and runs through to December 10 which is International Human Rights Day.
It also includes World Aids Day on December 1.
A key theme of the campaign here will be highlighting that domestic abuse is not just physical, and coercive control is now an offence under the new Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018.
Events and activities will also focus on making people aware of the new Forth Valley NHS Meadows facility located a short distance from Forth Valley Royal Hospital in one of the bungalows off Stirling Road.
It is designed to support those who have experienced sexual abuse or rape.
The importance of protecting and supporting women with learning disabilities will be underlined as will the student-centred #isthisokay campaign.
For a full list of events and more information see http:// bit.ly/2qA7aCl