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New campaign tackles teenage domestic violence

A campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence in teenage relationships was launched by the Home Office this week.

The £2 million TV, radio, internet and poster campaign will urge young men not to behave violently towards their partners.

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One in four teenage girls experience domestic violence. Photograph: Sarah Faith

One TV video, directed by award-winning director Shane Meadows, shows a boy trying to pressure his girlfriend into having sex. When she refuses, he hurls her phone across the room, grabs her by the arm and shouts, ‘look at you, you’re pathetic!’

In a statement, Mr Meadows said: “My job as director was to make sure that these adverts are compelling, real and utterly authentic.

“They give you the chance to look back at yourself and your actions. They show you that there is another choice. It’s a very powerful and valuable lesson.”

A common problem

Last year, a study conducted for the NSPCC concluded that one in four girls aged 13-17 had experienced physical violence from a boyfriend, while a third had been pressured into sexual acts they did not want.

The authors concluded that many young women regard domestic violence as normal.

They said: “The research testifies both to the extent of the problem as well as its very harmful consequences to women, especially girls.

“It is clear that the impact of this form of violence on the lives of teenagers can no longer be disregarded.”

Meanwhile, last year’s British Crime Survey revealed the scale of domestic violence in the UK. Between 2008-2009 there were 293,000 reported incidents, and in 77% of cases the victim was a woman.

Case study

One victim, who did not wish to be named, spoke to WNOL about her experiences.

“When I started at university I entered into a relationship with another student on my course. In the second year, because I had no friends to share a house with, I ended up sharing a flat with him for a few months, and that was when the scary stuff started.

“He had sexually assaulted me once before – I had felt tired and ill one evening and had declined sex and gone to sleep, and I woke up a few minutes later to find him forcing his penis into my mouth.

“Once we lived together he became very controlling indeed. He would hide my keys or contraceptive pill to try and stop me going out to meet friends he disapproved of. He punched me after arguments, and would withhold sleep (by keeping the lights on or playing loud music) to force me to perform sex acts.

“One night I refused to give in to the threats and noise and tried to fall asleep without giving him sex. As I drifted off to sleep, I felt him press his hand over my face. I have no doubt in my mind that he was trying to suffocate me.

“I think that the campaign should focus on warning signs. If he’s controlling and doesn’t like you going out with friends, he may be trying to isolate you. And if he ever uses threats or force to get sex, or if he hits you, leave him – even if it only happened once.

“It should also educate people as to what warning signs to look out for in friends’ relationships. If your friend has a new boyfriend and her personality suddenly changes, if she cuts herself off from you or seems depressed and tearful – try to find out why.

“Don’t ever pressure a friend to disclose something she’s not comfortable with, but make it clear you’ll be there for her.”

Wider campaign

The new campaign forms part of a wider effort by the government to decrease domestic violence against women.

In November the government announced that domestic violence would form a part of the national curriculum as a part of personal, social and health education (PSHE).

In a Home Office statement, Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, said: “Tackling violence against women is one of the government’s top priorities.

“We have to work to change attitudes in order to eliminate violence against women and girls and to make it clear beyond doubt that any form of violence against women is unacceptable.”

By Anna Mead-Robson


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