Women are secret victims of spending cuts

Public spending cuts are undermining steps to improve rights and conditions for women.

A new study claims will increase the inequality between men and women and may impact on their human rights.

The allegation is part of research looking at how spending cuts affect women in a report called Unravelling Equality: a human rights and equality impact assessment on the spending cuts on women in Coventry, published jointly by the Centre for Human Rights in Practice at the University of Warwick and Coventry Women’s Voices.

The report writers are concerned that public spending cuts will hamper prosecuting rape and domestic violence offenders and lead to more women unable to leave violent relationships and suffering worse physical and mental health problems as a result.

Report co-author, Dr James Harrison of the University of Warwick’s Centre for Human Rights in Practice said: “Public authorities both nationally and locally have legal obligations under the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act to promote.equality and protect human rights. They need to take these obligations very seriously when making decisions about budget cuts.”

Researchers found the cuts are threatening the work of voluntary groups that are already underfunded, and may reach even further as services like police, crown prosecutors and social workers struggle to find money in their budgets to maintain aid for victims.

Other cuts, like changes in health service priorities and spending, reduced legal aid and benefit changes will also take their toll on helping women escape abusive relationships.

Mary-Ann Stephenson report co-author and Chair of Coventry Women’s Voices said: “Many of these cuts will make life harder for women. Taken together the affect will be devastating, particularly on the most vulnerable.

“Women who have been raped or abused may find it harder to get justice or the support they need. Some women and their children, particularly lone parents, may be pushed into poverty. The pay gap is likely to get worse. Women did not cause this situation, but are paying the price.”

A full copy of the report is available from http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/chrp/projectss/humanrightsimpactassessments/cwv/report/127948_cwv-chrp_report.pdf

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