Date: 11 Mar 2010

Charity welcomes government's violence against women pledge

Fiona Dwyer, spokesperson for Women's Aid, believes further teacher training to help indentify signs of domestic abuse is a "welcome step forward".

The government's pledge to provide teachers with extra training to help them spot pupils subjected to domestic violence has been well received by a national charity.

Women's Aid, which works to eradicate domestic violence against women and children, described the move as a "welcome step" in the effort to help those affected by violence against women.

According to Fiona Dwyer, spokesperson for Women's Aid, providing teachers with more training will help them address with more confidence what is at present a "taboo" subject.

"Hopefully, the commitments by the Department for Children, Schools and Families will help to create a culture where violence against women is not tolerated and where young women feel that they can speak out and receive specialist support," she commented.

The government announced its decision to accept in full the recommendations made by a report conducted by the Violence Against Women and Girls Advisory Group on International Women's Day (March 8th).

As well as providing teachers with additional training, young people will be taught about gender equality and violence against women and girls as part of the national curriculum.