If you're a practitioner in Berkshire and you want to join the campaign to end violence against women and girls, you are invited to attend the online events organised by RBWM & Bracknell Forest Council during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December 2023.

The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign that calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. It starts on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, the Human Rights Day.

RBWM & Bracknell Forest Council have organised a series of free webinars, workshops, and training sessions on various topics related to domestic abuse, such as:

• Intersectionality and cultural competency: how to understand and address the multiple and intersecting forms of oppression and discrimination that women and girls face, especially those from marginalised and minority communities.
• Domestic abuse and suspected victim suicides: how to recognise and respond to the signs of domestic abuse and the links to suspected suicides among victims.
• Cost of living: impact upon domestic abuse: how the economic and social factors affect the ability of victims to leave abusive relationships and access support services.
• Domestic abuse, mental health and alcohol: how these three issues are interrelated and create barriers for victims to seek help and recovery.
• Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS): how this scheme allows people to find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence or abuse, and how to apply for it.
• National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV): how this organisation provides free legal support and advice for victims of domestic abuse who need to obtain protection orders, such as non-molestation orders, occupation orders, and prohibited steps orders.
• Stalking awareness: how to identify and report stalking behaviour, and how it affects the physical and mental health of victims.
• Honour Based Abuse (HBA) and Forced Marriage (FM): how to understand and prevent these harmful practices that violate the human rights of women and girls, and how to support those who are at risk or have experienced them.
• Domestic abuse and older people: how to recognise and address the specific challenges and needs of older victims of domestic abuse, who are often overlooked and underrepresented.
• Spiritual abuse: how to define and identify this form of abuse that involves the manipulation and exploitation of someone's spirituality or religion, and how to support victims who may feel isolated and conflicted.
• The psychology behind the BRAVE (Building Resilience And Valuing Emotions) intervention: how this programme helps victims of domestic abuse to cope with their emotions, build their self-esteem, and regain their confidence and independence.
• MARAC & DASH: how these tools are used to assess the risk of domestic abuse and coordinate a multi-agency response to protect high-risk victims and their children.
• Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA): how to understand and address this complex and underreported form of family violence, and how to support parents and carers who are experiencing it.

To register for these events, please follow the booking links on the attachment below or email the organisers as indicated in the table. Spaces are limited, so book early to avoid disappointment.