A short seminar took place on 9 May, 2017 in Enniskillen, bringing together practitioners from across many agencies and organisations in the Western Outcomes Area to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the challenges of domestic, sexual abuse and internet based abuse.

The seminar began with an overview of the Regional ‘Stopping Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse in Northern Ireland Strategy’ (DH, 2016). The event wished to embed the strategies vision across the western area through raising awareness that domestic or sexual violence in any form should not be tolerated. Effective tailored preventative and responsive services should be provided were all victims are supported, and perpetrators held to account.

Ms Cecilia Whitehorn who supports the Western Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership shared an update from the partnership on their role across the western area to address sexual and domestic violence through a number of working groups. Ms Whitehorn facilitated a discussion on the concerns experienced from practitioners and worked with them to agree the role of the  Western Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable whether through prevention, support, training and development or protection and justice interventions.

Sonia Montgomery, Assistant Manager in the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s Health Improvement Team and Chair of the Western Esafety Steering Group gave an overview of the work of the group and how digital technology is increasingly becoming integral to domestic and sexual abuse.  Ms Montgomery outlined many of the ways that victims can be targeted including monitoring of social media profiles or emails, abuse, stalking and trolling on social media platforms, ‘revenge porn’ (the sharing without consent of intimate photos or videos) and using spyware.

Simple measures were shared with practitioners during the conference which offer greater levels of privacy and protection for the victim, including signposting to local agencies able to give help, advice and support.  

Ms Montgomery concluded the event by recommending that key to all of this is that we need to teach our children and young people about respect, healthy relationships and empathy for each other. There is often a huge disconnect between generations because children are so digitally literate, however effective communication can ensure that problems are addressed before it is too late.

For further information please get in touch with one of the team:

Helen Donnelly – helen@cmworks.co.uk

Priscilla Magee – priscilla.magee@westerntrust.hscni.net

Sonia Montgomery – sonia.montgomery@westerntrust.hscni.net

Carol Follis – carol.follis@fermanaghomagh.com