Jersey government accepting violence against women report recommendations

An International Women's Day event heard that "most women" in Jersey had experienced some gender-based violence

Jersey's chief minister has accepted going ahead with 58 recommendations for the government made in a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report.

The report in 2023, by the Independent Taskforce for Violence Against Women and Girls, suggested "most women" experienced some gender-based violence.

Deputy Lyndon Farnham announced he and the home affairs minister would work to implement the accepted recommendations.

They include policy suggestions and updating laws.

Kate Wright criticised anyone who believed gender-based violence did not exist

At an International Women's Day event held last week by a local domestic abuse charity, Mr Farnham said he and the home affairs minister had been considering for some time the recommendations to make the island safer.

Mr Farnham was emotional as he spoke and apologised to the crowd, saying he was "not normally like this but I want people to realise that this touches everybody's lives".

He said a comprehensive response from the minister would be published before the end of March.

The report, produced by an independent taskforce, contained 77 recommendations for organisations across the island, including police, schools and others.

Lyndon Farnham acknowledged at the event how damaging domestic abuse was

At the scene: Gemma Daubeney, BBC Jersey

Before speeches began, the atmosphere in the event room at Jersey's Royal Yacht for the International Women's Day event on 8 March was excitable, though definitely comfortable.

But with each guest speaker, the mood began to shift.

When Dr Karen Kyd - a GP and the lieutenant governor's wife - said she'd seen at least 10 patients on Monday alone experiencing domestic abuse, people began to listen.

And when campaigner Rachel Williams described her ex-partner walking into her place of work with a sawn-off shotgun, people gasped in a room now emotional - shocked, angry and impassioned.

And this emotion wasn't reserved just for those listening, the speakers who followed were visibly affected.

Kate Wright, chairwoman of the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce, went off-script and commanded those who did not believe Jersey had a problem with gender-based violence and domestic abuse to "please listen", asking them "how dare they" dispute that it exists.

And then the chief minister stood up, shaky and vulnerable, saying: "If I sound a little moved, it's because I am," acknowledging how damaging experiences of domestic abuse can be.

But the response from the islanders in that room when Deputy Farnham spoke didn't seem to be scorn for the fragility of his voice, but to applaud the strength of his commitment to act.

The government is accepting all 58 recommendations which apply to it.

Some include legislative changes, such as making stalking and non-fatal strangulation stand-alone offences.

For the report, nearly all who responded to the general public survey had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment in their lifetime and one in four respondents said they had experienced rape or attempted rape.

Its authors said it was a "shocking revelation" of the extent of violence experienced by women and girls and it was is a "wake-up call" for the island.

Mr Farnham told the BBC he planned to prioritise the changes to the law.

• If you are experiencing domestic abuse or harassment, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line here.

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