WEBVTT

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Domestic and sexual

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violence, it's a workplace issue
because it's an everywhere issue.

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In the past, we've tended to think of it
as something that's private.

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It's behind closed doors, whereas
in recent years we've begun to recognize

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if we're going to actually tackle domestic
violence, and sexual violence,

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it needs to be a whole community approach
and that includes workplaces.

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For many men and women
where they work, is a really vital way

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for them to start sending out signals
that they need support.

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Also, it's a safe environment for them,
they actually feel protected.

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So employers
and also the workplace can act

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as a really safe space for all victims.

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We know that it costs, for example,
in the UK,

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billions of pounds every year in terms of
healthcare, in terms of criminal justice,

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but also in terms of productivity
and impact on workplaces.

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Many victim survivors
want to remain in employment,

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but actually their experiences mean
that it becomes impossible.

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Domestic and sexual violence

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is when someone's partner or ex partner,
their family member or someone that maybe

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they've had children with uses
a range of abusive behaviors against them.

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So this can include physical violence,
sexual violence,

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emotional abuse or economic abuse.

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For sexual violence that involves

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any unwanted sexualized behavior

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and that can include, sexual harassment,
it can use

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inappropriate language,
inappropriate sexualized jokes.

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But also on the most serious end,
we get into sexual assault and rape.

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So domestic and sexual violence is a
pervasive public health problem worldwide.

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It's in every country.

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It's in every context of the world.

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It may look slightly different
in different contexts

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in different cultures, but at its heart

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it's always about power and control.

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That's the same everywhere.

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What we find is that, abusers tend to use,

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a range of behaviors
alongside one another.

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So using physical, sexual,
emotional and economic abuse together,

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to make a victim survivor feel fearful,

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isolated, intimidated
and economically dependent on the abuser.

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In some domestic violence situations
an abusive partner may prevent them

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from going into work

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deliberately, to impact on their careers
or to impact on their livelihood.

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The impact of abuse which targets
an intrinsic part of who you are,

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the impact of that can last

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for lifetimes,
but that can impact your mental health.

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It can impact your ability
to do your job, to show up for work,

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to engage with your colleagues
the way that you would like to.

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We know from research that the main things
victims

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survivors want are an empathetic response
and practical support.

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Those two are the key factors
that will help them.

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If it hasn't been made

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so incredibly obvious that this is a safe
environment for you to say this,

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this is an environment that respects you
for who you are, then coming forward

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with one of the most

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vulnerable experiences in your life
is going to be incredibly difficult.

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It's really helpful
if there are named individuals

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that people know
that they can go to to disclose.

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And we're not expecting those people
to be in any way specialist.

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They don't replace the specialist services
in any way.

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They’re people
who are just a bit more equipped, who know

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a bit more information, who can respond
with empathy and signpost people

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to outside support or to things
like an employee assistance program.

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It has to come from the very,
very top of the organization

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that will then trickle down.

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So when a man or a woman discloses
any of those issues around domestic

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violence or sexual violence, they feel
that they will be taken seriously.

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A culture in which you're survivor led,
which means that you are responsive

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to what victims survivors are telling you
that they need.

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They might just need emotional support
because they've just left

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someone who is abusive
and they're experiencing

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anxiety, depression,
post-traumatic stress disorder.

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They might not be at a point
where they're ready to leave that abuser.

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And they just need to know, work
as a safe place for them to go to.

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So it's just about instilling that culture
and making it clear

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that you will meet survivors
where they're at.

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What's really important
is the employer helping them

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through the difficulties
that they're suffering from at home.