I pray my Emily’s story can save other victims of domestic abuse
Mother speaks out after daughter’s tragedy
A teenage girl abused by her boyfriend will become the face of a nationwide campaign to halt domestic violence in universities and colleges.
It is a myth that it affects only older women
Emily Drouet, who took her own life in March 2016 after a vicious campaign of mental and physical abuse by Angus Millig an at Aberdeen University, will feature in posters and help cards launched by the National Union of Students in Scotland.
The posters will also feature text messages Emily sent to friends about the abusive relationship.
emilytest, campaign backing Under the of the some has hashtag NUS the of the universities. country’s biggest
They hope students in a difficult or abusive relationship may recognise some of the signs in the posters and seek help.
The campaign will be launched days after Millig an sparked fury by attending a St Andrew’s Night ball in Aberdeen despite being kicked off his course following his conviction for the horrific assault on 18-year-old Emily.
Her mother, Fiona, 45, is backing the NUS campaign, saying the need to address the issue was now stronger than ever.
attend She said: a ball “If for Angus university Milligan students can months after being convicted of assault then that shows that the message is not getting across.
“Young women and men need to recognise what domestic violence is and seek help. And their friends and and fellow fellow students students need need to to ing understand about this. the signs and start talk
“The parameters of what is a normal relationship in some young people have become so blurred that we need to have these conversations.
“It’s a myth that domestic violence happens to older women, just as it is a myth that it doesn’t happen to men. Young people need to understand that if they see something that is not right, they need to do something.” In July, Milligan, who is a direct descendant of Andrew Carnegie and whose grandfather was one of Scotland’s top judges, was sentenced to just 180 hours’ community service for abusing Emily. The 21-year- old injured the teen, who was in her first year of a law degree, by choking her, pushing her against a desk and slapping her face. The psychology student also sent vicious texts branding her a “slut”, “b****” and “freak”. A berdeen Sheriff Malcolm Ga rden branded Milligan “controlling” with an “ultimately violent approach” but said he was powerless to impose a custodial sentence. After he walked free, Emily’s furious parents, Fiona anand dad Germain, who live in Glasgow, claimed
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Milligan’s violent actions had driven their daughter to suicide.
Fiona, who has launched a petition to improve funding for students affected by gender-based violence, has already had a student going to Women’s Aid after recognising she had endured it at university.
She said: “She had heard me speak about Emily and came forward.
“It’s made me realise how important this is.”
The NUS campaign will be launched on Wednesday and they hope it will spark a national debate.
Women’s officer Shuwanna Aaron said: “We need to end the horror of gender-based violence in our colleges and universities.
“We need to see staff training at every campus, so they’re able to act on gender-based violence. Students too need access to training.
“And we need to ensure counselling services, and other services to support students who’ve experienced these crimes, are clearly signposted and given the funding they need.”