THERE has been progress in the fight against domestic abuse on the Island but there is still work to be done, the Chief Minister said at an International Women’s Day event yesterday.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham was among the hundreds of Islanders who attended a breakfast event held by local domestic abuse charity Freeda, formerly the Jersey Women’s Refuge, which featured several guest speakers.
This included Georgia Gabriel-Hooper, who travelled to the Island to courageously tell her testimony of how she witnessed her mum being shot by her abusive stepdad at just 14 years old – and how that experience made her determined to push for change.
At the end of the event, the Chief Minister said: “It’s a pleasure to begin the day in a room full of people who care deeply about the well-being and safety of our community. Your commitment is exactly what drives change in Jersey.”
Tackling violence against women and girls has been a “top government priority” not merely “an aspiration”, he added, before highlighting progress made on the recommendations from the taskforce established to address it.
Of the 77 recommendations made in a 2023 report, 36 are complete, 33 are “actively underway”, two require no further work, and five have yet to be started.
“This has not been simple work,” said Deputy Farnham. “Much of it has been detailed, complex and required strong collaboration between government, specialist services, the police, our schools and the wider community.”
He highlighted a package of five new laws proposed by Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat which are “all designed to better protect victims and survivors and ensure our justice system is fit for purpose”.
The proposed legislation, due to be debated in the States Assembly next week, includes a new harassment and stalking law, new intimate image abuse offences, the introduction of emergency barring orders that do not require a conviction, a standalone non-fatal strangulation offence, and strengthened laws covering threats of sexual harm.
The Chief Minister also pointed to a government-commissioned review of how the criminal justice system handles domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences, which was published last month.
“I’m encouraged that every part of the criminal justice system accepted its recommendations, and that work to implement them is already beginning,” he said.
There has also been work to reduce financial barriers for victims seeking safety, Deputy Farnham added, with monetary support now available to victim-survivors who previously would not have been eligible for income support.
“This policy change will make a meaningful difference in enabling people to leave abusive situations,” he said.
“We have established the multi-agency Domestic Abuse and Sexual Harms Partnership. This group now leads, coordinates, and oversees our Island-wide response – bringing together professionals who are closest to this work and ensuring whole-system accountability.
“We have strengthened the way our schools teach about healthy relationships, respect, and safeguarding, together with resources to support teachers in delivering this crucial education.
“Training is underway to tackle newer forms of abuse, economic abuse and technology-facilitated abuse.”
He added that staff across government, community services, specialist agencies, the police, and schools are being upskilled to recognise and respond to these “growing forms of harm”.
The Chief Minister added that an independent reviewer visited Jersey last week to begin a review of how the Family Courts handle cases involving domestic abuse allegations.
“Before the pre-election period, we will be publishing an annual progress report setting out the fuller picture of the work underway and the work still to come,” he added.
At the end of his speech, Deputy Farnham said: “I want to close by saying this – progress is real, but so is the scale of what remains. We cannot and will not take our foot off the pedal.
“Every action we take brings us closer to an Island where women and girls are safe, supported and empowered.”
