Richmond Council received three separate questions on its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2024-27 during yesterday's (Thursday, 8 July) Council meeting. 

Two public questions regarding the recently approved VAWG Strategy was put forward to Leader of the council, Councillor Gareth Roberts and one to the Council's White Ribbon Champion, Cllr Katie Mansfield. 

As there were several questions on the subject, Cllr Roberts ceded his right of reply to Cllr Mansfield. 

Ms Katelyn Severn asked: "In relation to the Council's recently approved Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy 2024-27, how have you implemented the action, due to be completed by Q2 2024/25, to work with all education providers, from primary schools through to higher education, to deliver training on healthy relationships and VAWG?" 

Cllr Mansfield replied: "Yes, we are delivering a lot against all of those, We've been working, we've been training, including young people affected by intimate partner violence, the rise of incel ideology and misogyny and how to be an active bystander.

"But we haven't stopped there, we've also been working very closely with St Mary's University to work with people from tertiary education and make sure that they're protected from violence against women and girls.

"We've also been working with the Youth Council and another survey has just been generated by the Youth Council with regard to what the issues are and we'll be hearing more from them next week as to what they want us to do.

"And finally, we have done some work with primary schools because I know that specifically we have worked with Loudmouth to get into primary schools and do some education with primary schools." 

Ms Andrea Wilson asked: "It is commendable that LBRUT has achieved White Ribbon accreditation to show its commitment to preventing harassment, abuse and violence against women and girls.

"White Ribbon organisations should assess their practices and identify areas where they can improve their approach to preventing violence against women and girls within their supply chains. Will the Council commit to giving weight to White Ribbon accreditation in their supplier selection process?"  

Richmond and Kingston Councils will host a joint White Ribbon Walk to raise awareness against VAWG this weekend (credit: @KatieMansfield/X).

Cllr Mansfield replied: "There are legislative provisions in procurement practices that we need to follow.

"I do understand what you're saying with regard to White Ribbon and how we need to consider it with the contracts we're providing.

"We are going through developing a contracts charter at the moment and certainly as White Ribbon Champion I would advocate for something to do with violence against women and girls being there as part of the mix.

"However, I have to say it wouldn't necessarily be that they are White Ribbon accredited as there are many different ways to show that you're standing up for violence against women and girls.

"It's not just White Ribbon and I think we need to be a little bit more flexible than pushing people down one direction." 

Ms Jude Tavanyar asked: "In relation to the Council's recently approved Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2024-27, as no additional money has been allocated to implementing the Strategy, and noting the statement in the Strategy that demand for VAWG support services is often higher than services can meet, what provision has been made within existing approved Council budgets, or will be made in the years covered by the plan, to ensure effective implementation of the Strategy's action plan?" 

The White Ribbon Champion replied: "So you make reference to the strategy and the paper that's just gone through the finance committee, which is a very ambitious strategy going forward and I think the kind of comment that you're making is that we are not putting money behind it necessarily from what you saw in that paper, but I think it's because they are separated.

"The strategy went through the finance committee in June, however in November, there was additional funding provided to IDVA (Independent domestic violence advisors) because that is somewhere we need to provide additional support to.

"So £73,000 was put from the finance committee to IDVA and also in terms of the cost of living allocation we have put £50,000 as well towards violence against women and girls.

"So what we're doing is reviewing the situation. We're ongoing looking at the demand, but of course, it's prevention that we really need to address and some of the actions that we're taking in terms of prevention hopefully will stop that increased demand." 

VAWG is a form of discrimination and a violation of human rights.

Richmond Council has adopted the United Nations declaration on elimination of violence against women to support its advocacy of VAWG.

On Saturday, 12 July at midday, Richmond and Kingston councils will come together for the first time in a joint White Ribbon Walk to raise awareness and take a stand against VAWG

To find out more about what the Council is doing to advocate against VAWG click here.

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