The centre runs a Domestic Violence helpline, and 5 years ago it had 700 referrals annually; now the number of referrals has reached 2000 per year! The centre has only 8 members of staff; half of them are volunteers. Staff concentrate on building partnerships with similar organisations in Russia and abroad, in a joint effort to tackle the problem of Domestic Violence and effect political and social changes.

In 2001- 2003, the Crisis Centre “Ekaterina” took part in a joint project with The Haven Wolverhampton and Women’s Aid, financed by the Department of International Development, UK. The main aim of the project was to develop and deliver an educational programme on Domestic Violence to the Russian police. One of the achievements of our project was the signing of the agreement between the Ekaterinburg’s Police and the Crisis Centre “Ekaterina”. This is a unique example of this practice in Russia. The status of the organisation increased significantly as it became an equal partner with the Police in the fight for prevention of Domestic Violence. The Russian colleagues commented that they have ”observed the revolution in understanding the problem.”

Influential people from Ekaterinburg’s Local Authority were involved in the project and visited The Haven’s hostels. The Haven Wolverhampton, with its 30 years of experience in the field of Domestic Violence, was a valuable partner to learn from and, as the result, the first two hostels for women and children were open in Ekaterinburg. This was a huge step forward for the crisis centre as the homeless women can be given a refuge, shelter and support in a safe environment.

However there have been some changes in the Russian legal structure and cases of domestic violence are now going through a different part of the system, Justice of Peace. Those involved with the legal process now were not included in the initial project and have little awareness of domestic violence. The crisis centre “Ekaterina” put forward a proposal for the new project to develop and deliver an educational programme for the Justice of Peace workers.

Ludmila Ermakova, director of the Crisis Centre “Ekaterina” stated at the 30th Anniversary of The Haven Wolverhampton: “that the problem of Domestic Violence is universal, common to all mankind, this problem crosses the state and language boundaries. The people who work in Crisis Centres all over the world understand better than many politics that the violence causes more violence. This is a chain reaction that once started and is very difficult to stop. This is why people who devoted their lives to dealing with this problem and generously share their experience with the colleagues from other countries are working for the future benefit of all mankind.”

The Haven Wolverhampton continues to support the valuable work of our overseas colleagues in their struggle for justice for vulnerable women and children.

Kath Rees and Elvira Richardson
(The Haven Wolverhampton)

Under the Two Year Immigration rule, numerous women who have come from abroad for the purposes of marriage are being forced to remain in violent relationships. These women are subject to a ‘probationary period’ and if the marriage breaks down within this time, women are faced with the threat of deportation. In April 2003, this probationary period was extended from 12 months to two years.

The imbalance of power within a violent relationship is reinforced by the probationary period where the threat of deportation and its reprisals are used as a weapon and women are often subjected to additional abuse, violence and torture as a result. Women that have come from some countries such as the Indian sub-continent, the Middle East and some African countries, fear grave retribution and persecution if they were to return to their country of origin

Women that fall into the Two-year Immigration rule criteria are unable to claim any welfare benefits as they have no recourse to public funds. Without access to these benefits, many women’s refuges are unable to provide temporary emergency accommodation and support at a time when women are most in need. Refuges like The Haven play an extremely important role in not only practically supporting women but also emotionally to overcome their trauma. We also assist in securing a woman’s immigration status but we can only do this if she comes to the refuge. The Haven has always supported women in need wherever possible. In one particular case, we accommodated a woman and her child for just over a year, as it took this long to secure her immigration status, at a substantial cost to the organisation.

Recent changes in government funding go some way to alleviate this financial burden however there are still some elements of cost that women’s refuges have to cover. The Haven is working closely with the local authority to see how women and their children subject to immigration control can receive improved support mechanisms and I am pleased to say that we have made tremendous progress.

The Haven Wolverhampton wholeheartedly supports today’s demonstration at the Home Office and we would urge those in positions of authority and political influence to reconsider this retrograde step which could be viewed as racist and sexist. We also urge that the 2-year probationary rule is abolished in cases of domestic violence.

Jasvinder Devgon
Assistant Chief Executive
The Haven Wolverhampton