Barney McElholm has said he sees far too many cases of domestic abuse and sexual violence and has encountered rising levels of coercive control.
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00:00Hello, I am Judge Barney McElhone. I'm the District Judge sitting in the criminal court in Derry, London, Derry.
00:1016 days of activism is a key global moment.
00:17Unfortunately, I see far, far too many cases of domestic abuse, stalking, sexual assault and rape coming into my courts.
00:29I have encountered rising levels of coercive control over the last number of years.
00:37There has been recent new legislation which has helped enormously, such as the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act,
00:49which now recognises coercive control as a separate crime, the Protection from Stalking Act and the Justice of Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims Act.
01:03These new pieces of legislation have introduced higher penalties, greater sentencing powers.
01:14And that is all, of course, good and they are useful tools.
01:20But what I want to see is far, far fewer crimes.
01:29But this requires early intervention and early education of our children and young people.
01:36And it's not just educating them about healthy relationships, but also training them how to avoid the risks inherent in social media.
01:51As a judge, I will continue to do everything in my power and work with my partner agencies to do what I can to make it a safer place.
02:09Hello, my name is Donna Downey and I am the Service Manager for Early Intervention within Family and Child Care in the Western Health and Social Care Trust.
02:19I want to show my support to the Western Domestic and Sexual Violence Partnership 16 Days of Action.
02:27Domestic abuse is a silent epidemic that affects so many, yet often goes unnoticed until the damage is provided.
02:36Research shows that early intervention and prevention is critical. The evidence is compelling.
02:44Studies indicate that when support is provided at the first signs of trouble, whether through counselling, community programmes or simply a listening ear, survivors are more likely to break free from the cycle of abuse.
02:57The message I want to convey today is that we all have the power to change the narrative.
03:04Early help and support begins best with you.
03:09Every one of us can play a role in breaking the cycle of abuse.
03:13It starts with awareness, educating our children about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
03:19Whether you're a teacher, a youth worker, a coach or a family member, we can all play a part.
03:26Often it takes just one trusted adult who can make the difference, someone who can listen without judgement and offer help and support.
03:36Hope is a vital part of this journey. For those suffering in silence, hope can be that spark that ignites the change.
03:45My ask is let's be proactive about making a difference.
03:50Let's educate ourselves and others and let's foster safe spaces for survivors to share their stories and seek support.
03:58Hello, I'm Dr. Orr and I'm part of the team here in Foilside Family Practice.
04:03As a practice we are extremely proud to be supporting the 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.
04:10Everyone attends their GP practice for different reasons and one of those reasons may include domestic abuse.
04:16As a practice we want all our patients, irrespective of age and gender, to know that this practice is a safe place to talk.
04:22All of our staff have been involved in domestic abuse awareness training to ensure that we are able to support our patients.
04:29This means that right from when you enter through the front door to reception to when you get to see a professional in your appointment
04:36that someone will be able to give you appropriate information and advice depending on your need.
04:41My name is Marcia Hamilton and I'm a Senior Social Work Practitioner here in Foilside Family Practice.
04:46I'm one of the people you might come to see for support around domestic abuse.
04:50Whether you need immediate help or you just want to know what your options might be, I'll do my best to steer you in the right direction.
04:57That might include involving other services and resources in our community or it might be a non-judgmental listening ear.
05:04Any decisions or actions will be at your pace and my priority is ensuring your safety.
05:10Hi, my name is Anne-Marie Bradley and I'm the Social Work Lead for Social Work MDT in Primary Care.
05:16Social Work staff based in practices in the northern sector of the Western Trust are fully trained and have experience in the field of domestic abuse.
05:24We are aware that we are uniquely positioned to offer early intervention and support to all patients.
05:31Social Work is part of the MDT and we are continuously trying to be creative to improve our service.
05:37At present we are supporting all practices to promote themselves as being a safe place to talk.
05:43Domestic abuse can affect your physical and mental wellbeing.
05:47Research shows that first disclosures often happen in medical settings.
05:52Please know that if domestic abuse is affecting you in any way that support is available.