'The safest time for many women to call is in the quiet hours of the early morning'

At the launch of their Impact Report for 2016, Women’s Aid is highlighting the strong links between child abuse and domestic violence.

The charity is now calling for greater recognition of the risk to children, especially during access arrangements with domestic violence perpetrators. 

"In 2016, women told our confidential services that they had been isolated from family and friends, called derogatory names, had their lives and their safety threatened. Women disclosed that they were hit, beaten with weapons, stabbed and cut with knives and strangled," Margaret Martin, Director of Women's Aid, said at the launch.

"For some women, they were beaten and strangled while they were pregnant. We heard from women that their partners had raped them, coerced them into sex, had prevented access to family planning and some had explicit videos and images made and shared online without their consent. 

"Many women said that because of financial abuse they were being forced to choose between staying in an abusive relationship and facing poverty."

Sadly, as Margaret goes on to explain, many women supported by Women’s Aid in 2016 were worried about protecting their children. 

"It is heartbreaking to listen to women who are living in a constant state of fear for their children and themselves. As much as they can, women work hard to protect their children and to keep their children’s lives as safe, stable and normal as possible despite the domestic violence," she added. 

"This fear is heightened when women have to facilitate access to the children for the man who has been perpetrating domestic violence. A father’s right to access should not outweigh a child’s right to safety. 

"Child protection and safety should be prioritised in all custody and access proceedings. To do anything less is to fail women and children."

Last year, the Women’s Aid National Freephone Helpline became a 24/7 service, and during its additional opening hours (10pm-10am) it responded to an extra 4,910 calls which, in previous years, would have gone unanswered. 

Margaret continued: "We know the safest time for many women to call is in the quiet hours of the early morning when everyone else is safe in bed. For them, there is obvious relief in finding someone at the end of the phone to talk to. 

"We are committed to being here for every woman who needs us, at any hour of the day or night. So far we have been able to provide the extended service due to the generosity of the public and corporate donations. 

"But this arrangement is not sustainable. We need the Government to fully resource the 24hr National Helpline to ensure our essential and trusted service survives."

The Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 is available 7 days a week. www.womensaid.ie