Today, 23 March 2021, marks National Day of Reflection, one year on from the first national lockdown in Britain. Today, we’re thinking of everyone who has experienced domestic abuse over this past year while in lockdown with a perpetrator.
A statement from Sue Harper, Head of UK SAYS NO MORE:
“Today, on National Day of Reflection, our thoughts are with the hundreds of thousands of individuals who have spent this past year living in fear, in lockdown with their abusers. Since 23 March last year, we have been told to stay at home to stay safe, but we know that home is not safe for everyone.
We are pleased to have worked in partnership with pharmacies and businesses across the UK, opening Safe Spaces for people experiencing domestic abuse to seek support when other support networks are shut off. It has been awe-inspiring to see communities come together to respond to domestic abuse in a time of national crisis.
There are still many months of the pandemic to see through. During this time, and beyond, we need to ensure all victims and survivors of domestic abuse are able to find and access the specialist support they need to stay safe and recover.
We need to see a Domestic Abuse Bill that works for all survivors. We need a Bill that ensures children are able to access the mental health support they need after experiencing domestic abuse. We need a Bill that places employers at the heart of responding to domestic abuse.
As we begin to take the first steps back to normality, whatever that may look like, we cannot leave survivors of domestic abuse behind.”