Domestic abuse is a widespread problem. The Office of National Statistics reported that in England and Wales last year, an estimated 2 million adults said they had been a victim of domestic abuse, and domestic abuse cases accounted for 1 in 10 of all crimes reported.
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Similarly, last year in Scotland, over 58 thousand incidents of domestic abuse were recorded by the police.
In addition to the trauma and life-altering outcomes experienced by victims of domestic abuse, their relationships in and outside of the workplace can also be impacted by this serious issue. Often an employer may be one of the few people who can offer support to victims when they need it most.
The signs of domestic violence can hide in plain sight – 58% of female abuse victims miss at least three days of work per month, and 56% arrive late for work at least five times. As well as the devastating human cost, it is estimated businesses in the UK lose £2bn each year as a result of the domestic abuse of its employees.
Why 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence is crucial for women
“One in three women may suffer from abuse and violence in her lifetime. This is an appalling human rights violation, yet it remains one of the invisible and under-recognized pandemics of our time” – Nicole Kidman
The 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence initiative runs between 25 November (The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).
Over 16 days each year, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the impact of domestic abuse on both women and the workplace and girls in education. The campaign spreads the word with blogging, events, community projects and exhibitions set around the world.
The initiative was born out of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. Since its inception, the initiative has been recognised in 187 countries across the world, and backed by internationally-renowned organisations, including Amnesty International and the World Health Organisation.
In support of the campaign, we are proud to give you free access to our CPD Accredited Domestic Abuse course. The course focuses on helping the local community and businesses in the UK to take action against domestic abuse, to recognise the signs in employees, and to offer support and guidance where necessary. There are additional resources and useful links to support the main content too.
The course is a toolkit to help offer aid to women experiencing domestic abuse, help staff understand what to do if they witness abuse, train staff on how to stay safe, and mitigate any financial loss to the business.
It’s a clear, concise and informative course comprising three modules, which offers information about the law regarding domestic abuse and can help you feel more confident addressing issues of domestic violence.
Make it your business
For the next 16 days, you will have free access to the following safeguarding courses:
Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery
Honour Based Violence and Forced Marriage
Cultural Awareness in Safeguarding
Hidden Harm, Parental Substance Misuse and Domestic Abuse
Simply add the courses to your basket, enter the code: 16Days and checkout normally. The courses are available to everyone. Please feel free to share it with your employers and your friends and family.
