Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Ludlow and Bridgnorth has urged local community groups working to fight violence, and to help the victims of violence, to see if they can apply to an EU fund designed to help such projects work more effectively.
Heather commented after Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP for Ludlow and Bridgnorth, was keynote speaker at a seminar for 45 potential applicants to the European Union’s ‘Daphne III’ programme for projects to combat violence and exploitation and share best practice. The seminar, held at Newman University College in Bartley Green last Friday, was organised by West Midlands in Europe. Liz Lynne is one of the MEPs who had pushed for the DAPHNE programme to be set up and remained a strong supporter.
Liz said: “I attended because I feel passionately about the DAPHNE programme and the victims of violence that it can ultimately benefit. In the current climate, programmes such as DAPHNE are coming under pressure. But to my mind it is vital that DAPHNE continues to be a success, so we must do all we can to let people in the West Midlands region know about this fund.”
The problem of abuse was not always physical, but sometimes was financial, emotional or psychological, she said. It was not just women and children who suffered, but men also were victims.
Liz added: “Recent figures show that 40% of victims of domestic abuse are male. While there are 500 refuges for female victims of domestic violence, still not enough, only 12 exist for men. Many men deny that they are victims of domestic violence because they feel too embarrassed, but we now know it is a huge hidden problem.”
Liz Lynne said the DAPHNE programme could also potentially help projects aimed at tackling the abuse of older people, or the victims of human trafficking gangs. The problem of trafficking has been underlined with a recent conviction of a gang of 8 traffickers who controlled trafficked Chinese women forced to work as prostitutes in Birmingham, Leamington Spa and Worcestershire, and other police action which rescued trafficked women from brothels in Birmingham.
Liz added: “In Sweden, which has a population of 9 million, there are over 90 shelters that can cater for trafficking victims. Here in the West Midlands, we have a population of over 5 million and yet we have no shelters designed specifically for the victims of these evil gangs.”
“Through the DAPHNE programme we could fund work to look at what Sweden is doing right and what we could do better. I believe DAPHNE has a vital role to play in making sure we learn from other countries in helping to prevent violence and when it does happen, to do more to help its victims. Together, we can deliver change and make a difference for the victims of violence who so often lack a voice. The next call for proposals will come out in January, with an April 2010 deadline for applications. So bids from this region need to be prepared now.”
The Commission’s Programme Officer for Daphne III also addressed the meeting via video link from Brussels. heather urged any local groups considering a bid to contact Sophie Lainé at West Midlands in Europe by email at Sophie.Laine@westmidlandsineurope.eu for further information.