- Conference
- 2004 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 9 October 2003
- Decision
- Carried
On 1 July 2003, David Blunkett presented Safety & Justice, the Government’s consultation exercise and proposals on tackling domestic violence.
Whilst Conference broadly welcomes many of the proposals, we condemn the proposed changes to the legal aid process.
Conference believes money should not be a factor when considering the protection of women and children from violence.
Many women at risk from violent partners are denied access to money as a further way of controlling them.
The changes in the Community Legal Service Funding (Legal Aid) may exacerbate their situation and may leave women with no choice but to stay in a violent relationship.
The Government’s proposals include:
‘ensuring that victims are not deterred by the way they will be treated at any stage of the justice process’.
Conference instructs the National Women’s Committee to:
1)raise this issue with the National Executive Council and Labour Link with a view of writing to the appropriate minister raising UNISON’s concerns;
2)as a large proportion of women applying for and being refused legal aid are working women raise this issue with the TUC Equal Rights Department;
3)provide every branch with guidance as to other avenues women can use to access the legal system;
4)bring the injustices of this system to the attention of our members.