The Dumfries and Galloway Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women Partnership (DAVAWP) has received the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) Bronze Award in recognition of their LGBT inclusive work on domestic abuse and other forms of gender based violence.
The DAVAWP recognises that women and men can experience gender based violence and up to 1 in 4 LGBT people in Scotland experience domestic abuse, with devastating consequences for the victims and a high cost to the economy. No one is immune to experiencing domestic abuse; therefore the DAVAWP aims to target and taylor its campaigns and cater for various groups like: Men, Women, LGBT, and Young People.
The LGBT Charter Journey was a natural step forward for the DAVAWP that had been collaborating with the local LGBT Organisations for several years. The Journey involved further public awareness of LGBT issues, discrimination and links with domestic abuse and other forms of gender based violence as well as looking at the DAVAWP Policies and assigning Champions roles to key DAVAWP Members.
Julie-Ann Karayilan, Youth and Community Development Officer from LGBT Youth Scotland presented the award to Daniel McKeever (Interim DAVAWP Chair) during a meeting of the DAVAWP. (Please see attached photo)
Julie-Ann gave the following feedback:
• The DAVAWP portfolio was of an extremely high standard, reflecting a thoughtful and thorough LGBT Charter Mark journey
• The DAVAWP demonstrated lots of good practice including:
o A strong and varied champions group that reflects the partnership
o An excellent engagement of all stakeholders in their charter journey
o The DAVAWP’s campaign event, which raised awareness and challenged prejudice and discrimination, was particularly noted by the Charter Review Panel – it was very well planned, advertised, and evaluated.
o LGBT Youth valued the DAVAWP’s engagement with the local LGBT Youth Group to get feedback on awareness resources.
Daniel McKeever, Interim DAVAWP Chairman said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the LGBT Bronze Award. Taking the LGBT Charter Journey was a natural and logical development for us. Issues of equality and fairness are key to our work to address gender based violence. It is part of our normal practice to consider the LGBT community in Dumfries and Galloway when developing our strategy and our awareness and prevention work. We will continue working in partnership with LGBT Youth as we have been doing it for many years now”
