The Child First campaign has been launched by Women's Aid to stop avoidable child deaths as a result of unsafe child contact with dangerous perpetrators of domestic violence.
Survivors of domestic abuse frequently tell Women's Aid that they can be re-victimised and traumatised by their abusers, even after separation, through the family court process.
“The family court was an arena for him to continue his abuse on a much more damaging scale. I wasn’t heard or listened too. My children have suffered drastically as a result.” – Survivor
Their campaign report, Nineteen Child Homicides, highlights the tragic stories of 19 children and 2 women in 12 families that were killed by perpetrators of domestic abuse in circumstances related to unsafe child contact within a ten year period. It’s possible that these deaths could have been prevented if the domestic abuse had been considered as an ongoing risk factor.
Important new research published by Women's Aid today
Report evidencing women who experience the most extensive abuse and violence more likely to face other adverse circumstances in their lives