NCJ Number
187547
Date Published
1999
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This chapter presents the transcript of an 1996 interview with Charlene Henry, Chair of the British Derby Domestic Violence Action Group (DDVAG) at the time, as well as project manager of Derby's Hadhari Nari project; also interviewed was Ann Webster, Equalities Officer of the Derby City Council and then treasurer of DDVAG; the primary topic of the interview was equalities issues in multi-agency work in responding to domestic violence.
Abstract
At the time of the interview, DDVAG was a local inter-agency domestic violence group based in Derby. It conducted preventive, education, and awareness-raising work and attempted to meet gaps in services. It was engaged in a great deal of domestic-violence training and public education work and operated both a night advice-line for people experiencing domestic violence and a program for male perpetrators of such violence. DDVAG has been instrumental in assisting in setting up other inter-agency groups in Great Britain and was also a catalyst for the establishment of a local-authority strategy domestic violence group and a countywide forum. When asked about "equalities work," Charlene Henry advises that an inter-agency forum as well as any steering committee must have equal representation of black people, disabled women, lesbians, and any other group with a stake in addressing domestic violence. Ann Webster comments that equal representation of all stakeholders must be an integral part of all inter-agency efforts. The interviewees discuss how this has been accomplished in the DDVAG through its organizational structure and membership selection policies. Some of the challenges in achieving equal representation in structure and operations are discussed in the interview.