As you may be aware, a new specific offence of Strangulation and Suffocation was introduced in Section 70 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 which came into force on 07 June 2022. The Institute For Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) was set up by the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine in partnership with SafeLives and Bangor University to increase awareness of risks associated with strangulation & suffocation.
Strangulation is sadly common in domestic abuse and sexual violence. It can have serious medical consequences with victims of strangulation in domestic abuse being seven times more likely to become a victim of domestic homicide.
This event will explore the signs and symptoms of strangulation, the effects of strangulation on the brain, forensic and medical management and the provision of the best evidence for the court process.
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with IFAS, please contact them at contact@ifas.org.uk.
One in six-seven men in Britain will suffer from domestic abuse in their lifetime whilst one in every three domestic abuse victims are male.
There is a growing need to ensure men and their children receive male-victim friendly support and responses from organisations in the statutory, private and third sectors – at a local, regional and national level. This includes ensuring statutory, safeguarding and equality obligations are met. The new Domestic Abuse Act and Statutory Guidance applies to male victims too.
This is the tenth annual national conference on male victims of domestic abuse hosted by the charity. It will focus on:
Latest academic research
Hearing directly from two male survivors about their experiences
The experience and process for setting up male refuges/safe houses and the experiences of the men within them
More topics to come
In 2021, over 450 delegates attended and 99% would recommend the conference to others, 98% said the conference content were very satisfied (75%) and satisfied (23%). 95% said it would positively impact their work.
“Excellent conference, very well put together with a range of fantastic speakers and input”
The conference also meets the NICE Quality Standards on Domestic Abuse.
Who should attend
This is a CPD accredited conference aimed at professionals and practitioners who wish to find out how to support male victims or already work with domestic abuse male victims/survivors.
These roles include those working in community safety, public health, social services, domestic abuse, the legal system (police, solicitors, CPS, probation), adult/children safeguarding, public health, housing associations, health service, victim support, anti-social behaviour, men’s health & welfare, equality & diversity, voluntary/third sector, students, academics & researchers.
Those commissioning domestic abuse or similar services are very welcome too and this conference will help understand this key victim/survivor group.
CPD Accreditation
The conference is CPD accredited (three points)
Speakers and programme
Professor Ben Hine (Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of West London; Leader the Evidence-Based Domestic Abuse Research Network): Summary of the latest research on male victims
Dr Elizabeth Bates (Senior Lecturer in Psychology, University of Cumbria and Chair of the Male Section of the British Psychological Society): Summary of the latest research on male victims
Alex Atkinson (Head of Service at SafeNet): Setting up male refuges/safe houses and the experiences of the men within them
Survivor Voice: Interviews with two fathers about their lived experience.
More speakers to be announced
Costs
There is no cost to joining the conference but we do appreciate a voluntary donation which is completely discretionary. Thank you.
Uncover the hidden world of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control at our “Seeing the Unseen”conference! This vital event is designed for healthcare professionals working in forensic healthcare, such as nurses, paramedics and midwives in police custody and sexual assault referral centres. However, we warmly welcome and encourage the participation of all healthcare professionals interested in this crucial topic.
As a healthcare professional, you play a critical role in identifying and responding to domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. “Seeing the Unseen”aims to enhance your professional curiosity, equipping you with the tools and knowledge to recognise the subtle signs of abuse and coercive control that often go unnoticed.
By attending this conference, you will:
Gain a comprehensive understanding of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control, including the latest research and emerging trends.
Learn to identify the often-overlooked indicators of abuse and coercive control in patients, allowing you to offer timely intervention and support.
Explore best practices for responding to and documenting cases of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control, ensuring appropriate care and referral for affected patients.
Network with like-minded healthcare professionals, sharing experiences and insights to enhance your practice.
Hear from expert speakers, including survivors and professionals in the field.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to become a champion for the unseen victims of domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. Your expertise and dedication can make a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals suffering in silence.
Join us at and be a part of the movement to create a safer, more supportive environment for those affected by domestic abuse, violence, and coercive control. Secure your ticket today and take the first step towards transforming your practice and making a lasting impact on your patients’ lives.
The abuse of older people, often referred to as ‘elder abuse’, is a global public health problem. The following definition, includes elder abuse in both community and institutional settings:
Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person. This type of violence constitutes a violation of human rights and includes physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse; financial and material abuse; abandonment; neglect; and serious loss of dignity and respect.
World Health Organization
The age of an ‘older person’ is not explicitly defined. However, statistics offered by the WHO and the United Nations (UN) typically refer to people aged 60 years and older.
What are the main risk factors?
The World Health Organisation identified risk factors that may increase the potential for abuse of an older person at individual, relationship, community and socio-cultural levels. Examples included:
Individual: poor physical and mental health of the victim; mental disorders and alcohol and substance abuse in the abuser; and gender.
Relationship: shared living situation; spouse; adult children; abuser dependency on the older person; history of poor family relationships; increase in women entering the workforce meaning caring for older relatives becomes a greater burden.
Community: social isolation of caregivers and older persons, due to loss of physical or mental capacity, or loss of friends and family members.
Socio-cultural: ageist stereotypes; erosion of generational bonds in a family; systems of inheritance and land rights; migration of young couples; lack of funds to pay for care.
The WHO highlighted that the consequences of abuse can be especially serious for older people. Abuse can lead to long-term psychological problems; convalescence is likely to take longer; and even minor injuries can cause permanent damage or death.
In 2020 a report by Age UK estimated around 180,000 women and 98,000 men aged 60 to 74 were victim-survivors of domestic abuse in England and Wales in 2018/19, based on CSEW data. It went on to note that these statistics were collected before the Covid-19 pandemic, “which will have exacerbated the problems facing older victims”.
What are the signs?
he most common warning signs of elder abuse are strange and sudden changes to an elderly loved one’s mental, physical, or financial well-being. Specific signs of elder abuse vary depending on what type of elder abuse is affecting the victim.
