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Solicitors For Women

Violence Against Women and Girls

Our Solicitors for Women brand is committed to the elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls. This is in line with the Government’s Ending violence against women and girls strategy: 2016 to 2020 and the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) updated Mayor’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy 2018-2021.

This involves “Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life” 

Sexual violence is any unwanted sexual act or activity. There are many different kinds, including: rape, sexual abuse (including in childhood), or sexual assault. Sexual violence can be perpetrated by a stranger, or by someone known and even trusted, like a friend, colleague, family member, partner or ex-partner. Sexual violence can happen to anyone. No-one ever deserves or asks for it to happen. 100% of the responsibility for sexual violence lies with its perpetrator(s). There is no excuse for sexual violence; it can never be justified or explained away.

Women subjected to prolonged, repeated trauma develop a progressive form of posttraumatic stress disorder that invades and erodes the personality. Domestic abuse can include, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Coercive control (a pattern of intimidation, degradation, isolation and control with the use or threat of physical or sexual violence)
  • Psychological and/or emotional abuse
  • Physical or sexual abuse

Women can transform their struggles and demonstrate tremendous strength and resources to recover from domestic violence. The pain individuals experience from domestic violence should not be minimized. Yet, it does not have to be the centrepiece of one’s identity. Standing alongside the entire range of debilitating effects of trauma, most survivors display a stunning capacity for survival and perseverance.

Violence Against Women and Girls Recovery

We are here to help you.

As part of your recovery process a claim for compensation can be made to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. A payment of compensation can assist financially to help you re-establish independence and control. The CICA will consider awarding compensation for Violence Against Women and Girls for individual injuries (if significant enough) or for a period of abuse.

Incidents preferably need to have been reported to the police as soon as possible (i.e. within 48 hours). However, the CICA accept that this can be difficult in domestic violence scenarios.  As long as there has been at least one report to the Police and evidence to support the version of events such as in their medical notes (GP, counselling, etc.); then we can help. From the help we have given to women so far we have managed to secure awards of compensation in excess of what was initially offered.

Don’t suffer in silence. You are not what happened to you. It does not define you. You can begin your journey to recovery and we are here to support you. Let us help you today.

Call FREE on 0800 470 2009 or email Dr Victoria Handley at vhandley@handleylaw.co.uk

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