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As part of our work supporting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November 2012, Broken Rainbow were asked by the Home Office to share our expertise on issues relating to Domestic Violence in the LGBT community.

Broken Rainbow UK celebrates Human Rights Day 2012

The UK’s only national LGBT Domestic Violence Helpline will be celebrating Human Rights Day in Brighton on Monday 10th December 2012. The charity will be joined by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove to plant a tree of solidarity at 4pm in Dorset Gardens.

Domestic Violence is a very serious human rights issue. It denies victims the most fundamental of human rights: life, liberty, bodily integrity, freedom of movement and dignity of the person. It constrains people’s choices, options and behaviour because personal safety features so strongly in routine decision making.

1 in 4 people in 'same-gender' relationships in the UK experience domestic violence1 and 80% of trans people have experienced emotionally, sexually, or physically abusive behaviour by a partner or ex-partner2.

The tree planting also comes at a time when Brighton has seen an increase in reporting of homophobic and transphobic hate crime. Brighton MP for Kemptown and Peacehaven, Simon Kirby, raised concerns about community safety in the House of Commons earlier this month, “Brighton benefits from a vibrant and diverse city centre which drives the cultural and economic life of a much wider community. It is vital to ensure the area is safe for all residents of the city and visitors who come to enjoy all that Brighton has to offer.”

Phélim MacCafferty, Deputy Leader, Brighton & Hove City Council, is very pleased to be able to partner with Broken Rainbow UK to deliver this awareness raising event, “Domestic violence destroys too many lives in our city and among the LGBT community. And this is why the work of Broken Rainbow is of incredible importance, and work that we take very seriously. The planting of the ‘solidarity’ tree will help in whatever small way to raise public awareness of survivors of domestic violence and reduce social tolerance of domestic violence.”
Once planted, individuals are encouraged to tie messages of support to the tree to show their solidarity of support for those in our communities who are victims, survivors and have been impacted by domestic violence and hate crime.

Jo Harvey Barringer, Chair of Broken Rainbow UK believes that the tree planting symbolises the progress that has been made around Domestic Violence for the LGBT communities, “As someone who has lived and worked in Brighton for the best part of 10 years I am aware of the impact of domestic violence, abuse and hate crime has on its residents. Broken Rainbow UK hope that the growth of this tree will mirror the growth in awareness of LGBT domestic violence and how to get support. We also hope that it sends a message out to both local and national politicians and decision makers that specialist services for LGBT victims are vastly lacking and this needs rectifying as a matter of priority”.

 Messages being posted on the Tree of Solidarity