1. MAPPING THE GAPS/CHALLENGES OF ENDING VAW IN BMER COMMUNITIES AND THE 3 P’s (POLITICS, POLICY AND PREVENTION): ANYBODY Really LISTENING? POONAM JOSHI & Dr Aisha Gill ©

2. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/082 Structure of Discussion Government Rhetoric and Reality Government Rhetoric and Reality Community Cohesion Policies Community Cohesion Policies Theorising VAW in BMER communities: What does the research say? Theorising VAW in BMER communities: What does the research say? Funding Crisis and Challenges Ahead… Funding Crisis and Challenges Ahead… Questions for discussion To what extent has the mainstreaming/community cohesion agenda undermined specialist VAW services in the UK? To what degree will the cohesion & immigration agenda impede efforts to hold BMER perpetrators accountable?

3. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/083 Government Rhetoric & Reality…[Poonam] The Rhetoric Championing of culturally specific forms of violence against BMER women: legislative and policy responses Championing of culturally specific forms of violence against BMER women: legislative and policy responses Equalities, Cohesion and Integration: listening to and empowering BMER women Equalities, Cohesion and Integration: listening to and empowering BMER women The Reality Which BMER women are we really talking about? Who is Government talking to and why? Which BMER women are we really talking about? Who is Government talking to and why? Conflicting agendas : Conflicting agendas : A) immigration, asylum, migration B) Cohesion and Integration: the focus on race and faith as part of the War on Terror C) Mainstreaming v exoticisation D) Funding and Service Provision: Southall Black Sisters – a case study

4. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/084 Women with No Recourse to Public Funds [Poonam] The position of women of uncertain immigration status ‘without recourse to public funds’ who are suffering domestic violence remains desperate. The government appears to be in breach of Article 2 of the Human Rights Convention in providing these women with no access to funding should they need to leave a violent relationship. The position of women of uncertain immigration status ‘without recourse to public funds’ who are suffering domestic violence remains desperate. The government appears to be in breach of Article 2 of the Human Rights Convention in providing these women with no access to funding should they need to leave a violent relationship. (Womankind shadow report to CEDAW, 2008:11)

5. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/085 Community Cohesion Agenda [Poonam] Harriet Harman, the Deputy Prime Minister in her speech at the House of Commons on 18 July 2007 stated: Harriet Harman, the Deputy Prime Minister in her speech at the House of Commons on 18 July 2007 stated: …we will work on the issue of empowering women in Black and South Asian communities. Women play a crucial role working together in their communities, whether they are working to reduce crime in their area, like Mothers Against Guns…, or whether they are Asian women, like Southall Black Sisters, working to support other South Asian women. We want to do more to support and empower those women as they tackle problems within, and build bridges between, communities.

6. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/086 Discourse of violence against women [Aisha] Recent Studies (Imkaan, 2008; Southall Black Sisters, 2007; Siddiqui et al, 2007; Sundari et al, 2008; Thiara, 2006). Recent Studies (Imkaan, 2008; Southall Black Sisters, 2007; Siddiqui et al, 2007; Sundari et al, 2008; Thiara, 2006). Geetanjali et al (2006); Parmar et al(2006) Geetanjali et al (2006); Parmar et al(2006) Wilson (2006); Gill (2004; 2006; 2008) Wilson (2006); Gill (2004; 2006; 2008) Razack (2004); (Kelly, 2008); Erturk (2007) Razack (2004); (Kelly, 2008); Erturk (2007)

7. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/087 What does the research say….[Aisha] Intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, 1994) Intersectionality theory (Crenshaw, 1994) Exclusionary practices; quadruple whammy” of marginalisation resulting from immigration status, gender, ethnicity, and abuse (Gill & Sharma, 2005) Exclusionary practices; quadruple whammy” of marginalisation resulting from immigration status, gender, ethnicity, and abuse (Gill & Sharma, 2005) Recognising the forms of VAW and experiences of BMER communities Recognising the forms of VAW and experiences of BMER communities Issues of definition and prevention/intervention work Issues of definition and prevention/intervention work Cultural relativism, multiculturalism, human rights and social justice Cultural relativism, multiculturalism, human rights and social justice

8. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/088 What does the research say….[Aisha] General factors that prevent or impeded South Asian women from resisting, mediating, or leaving violent and abusive relationships and partners relate to economic dependence on their families and spouses, gender role socialisation, pressure to keep problems in the family (Gill, 2004), fear of losing custody of children (Thiara, 2006), and social isolation. General factors that prevent or impeded South Asian women from resisting, mediating, or leaving violent and abusive relationships and partners relate to economic dependence on their families and spouses, gender role socialisation, pressure to keep problems in the family (Gill, 2004), fear of losing custody of children (Thiara, 2006), and social isolation. Many BMER women facing abuse by their partners balance triple identities: being new (im)migrants, victims of domestic violence and minority women. These multiple identities converge and heighten the massive social barriers that they must overcome to end the violence in their lives. Many BMER women facing abuse by their partners balance triple identities: being new (im)migrants, victims of domestic violence and minority women. These multiple identities converge and heighten the massive social barriers that they must overcome to end the violence in their lives.

9. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/089 Funding Crisis…[Aisha] The bulldozing of specialist services in favour of mainstreaming services. The bulldozing of specialist services in favour of mainstreaming services. The problem with MRACS and a narrowly focused criminal justice response (Gill & Banga, 2008). The problem with MRACS and a narrowly focused criminal justice response (Gill & Banga, 2008). In London alone there have been recent reports to Imkaan that 50% of services have been cut or merged into the generic sphere over the last 4 years. Further undermining the need to exist thesis (Imkaan, 2008) In London alone there have been recent reports to Imkaan that 50% of services have been cut or merged into the generic sphere over the last 4 years. Further undermining the need to exist thesis (Imkaan, 2008) Performance monitoring and value for money indicators are being used to monitor BMER specialist who are seen as “not performing or delivering on their core business”. Performance monitoring and value for money indicators are being used to monitor BMER specialist who are seen as “not performing or delivering on their core business”.

10. Mapping the Gaps/Challenges...Poonam Joshi & Aisha Gill /23/06/0810 In Search of Solutions…[Aisha] The challenge…is to recognise that eradication of violence against women is complicated, difficult, and entails tackling some of the most deeply-entrenched beliefs in human society; that is a long-term project and will need sustained allocation of resources over a long period; it requires commitment and dedication to continue when results seem elusive and hard to demonstrate; and that we must keep faith…. The challenge…is to recognise that eradication of violence against women is complicated, difficult, and entails tackling some of the most deeply-entrenched beliefs in human society; that is a long-term project and will need sustained allocation of resources over a long period; it requires commitment and dedication to continue when results seem elusive and hard to demonstrate; and that we must keep faith…. (Pickup, 2001: 306)