Advertisement

Domestic Abuse Survivors Told To Put Themselves At Risk By Attending Commons In Person

Coronavirus has changed everything. Make sense of it all with the Waugh Zone, our evening politics briefing. Sign up now.

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg is under pressure to drop “unsafe” demands for domestic abuse survivors to attend parliament in person to give evidence.

Rees-Mogg has scrapped the so-called “hybrid” parliament, meaning proceedings will no longer take place via video link despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Eight domestic abuse and women’s rights organisations said the move puts at risk the safety of survivors due to give evidence on the government’s landmark domestic abuse bill.

They urged Rees-Mogg to drop the “unacceptable”, “discriminatory” and “unsafe” demands, warning they will particularly put at risk witnesses from Black and ethnic minority (BAME) communities who are more likely to die from Covid-19.

In a letter to the Commons leader, the charities said some of the witnesses include women who cannot get anyone to look after their children without breaking social distancing rules.

Another witness has a disability and so would need someone to break social distancing rules to assist them in navigating parliament.

Survivors who will be detailing some of the most traumatic experiences in their lives will need help delivering evidence, which will mean more unnecessary journeys on public transport by support workers, the charity said.

The demand for physical attendance also excludes survivors and organisations from Wales, as the lockdown restrictions there are more stringent.

Nicki Norman, acting co-chief executive of Women’s Aid, said: “We welcome the public bill...

Continue reading on HuffPost