5 March 2008
Square Mile marks International Women’s Day
More than 300 women from the fields of law, international
finance, banking, education, accountancy, government and insurance
will come together in the City of London on Friday 7 March to
recognise International Women’s Day.
The breakfast reception, Celebrating the Contribution of
Women Within the Square Mile, will be hosted by the City of
London Corporation in the Guildhall. Chairing the event will be
Fiona Bruce, BBC News anchor and patron of national domestic
violence charity Refuge. Funds raised from the event will be
donated to Refuge.
The event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the progress
made by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the
history of women’s rights; the contribution of women in the
work-force, particularly within the City of London, the world’s
leading international financial and business centre; and also gives
an opportunity to think about the women who are living in the grip
of domestic violence, many in fear of their lives and who are in
urgent need of Refuge’s life-saving services.
Guest speakers include:
- Carole Stone – Freelance journalist, broadcaster and media
consultant.
- Rosalind Wright – Chairman of the Fraud Advisory Panel.
- Tricia Okuwara – Deputy Director of the Learning
Trust.
Also being launched on the day is an innovative toolkit which
provides detailed information on domestic violence and its impact
on the workplace. The CD-ROM, which has been developed by the City
of London Safer City Partnership in collaboration with Refuge, is
aimed at HR professionals and explains how to support staff and
colleagues who may suffer from domestic violence.
Domestic violence affects one woman in four at some time in her
life; 54% of women who experience domestic violence miss at least
three days off work per month.
Attending the reception will be Fiona Bowman, General Manager
for facilities management company ISS Coflex at Lloyds of London. A
former victim of domestic violence, she turned her life around with
her then-employers help. Fiona now campaigns for businesses to
adopt domestic violence policies.
Pauline Halliday, Chief Commoner at the City of London
Corporation, said: “The reception provides a great opportunity to
celebrate the role played by women from all walks of life to the
success of the City of London.
“It also reminds everyone of their responsibilities towards
their staff and we hope that the information on this CD-ROM will
help employers to play their part in ending domestic violence.”
Fiona Bruce, BBC news presenter and patron to Refuge, who is
chairing the “Celebrating Success in the Square Mile” breakfast
said: “Domestic violence impacts on one woman in four at some time
in her life – this means that thousands of women are affected by
domestic violence every day. Many women will be working and
will be suffering in silence. This is a great opportunity to
not only celebrate fantastic success but to also bring workplace
domestic violence into the open. I hope that today’s event
will encourage companies and organisations to take positive action
against domestic violence to bring about much needed change.”
Sandra Horley, OBE, chief executive of Refuge says: “Domestic
violence is everyone’s responsibility. It is the
responsibility of the friend who makes excuses for an abuser’s
behaviour and takes his side. It is the responsibility of the
colleague who sees the bruises but walks away, knowing it might
happen again tonight.
“Only when we all recognise the impacts of domestic violence and
take positive action to address and prevent the problem will we
start to bring about enduring change. Refuge hopes that
through today’s event we can encourage influential organisations
within the square mile to recognise this responsibility. Only
then will we start to make positive inroads to support the
thousands of women who will be at work today and living in fear of
a current or former partner. International Women’s Day is a
great day to start this action. I applaud the City of London Safer
City Partnership for its work in bringing domestic violence from
the shadows and into the workplace.”
Ends
Notes for editors
International Women’s Day takes place on Saturday 8 March
2008.
Domestic violence in the workplace:
- Costs the state, employers and victims around £23 billion a
year - the cost to industry is approximately £2.7 billion (The cost
of domestic violence, Sylvia Walby, September 2004)
- 28% of women will leave early at least five times a month (The
cost of domestic violence, Sylvia Walby, September 2004)
- 56% were late for work at least five times per month (The cost
of domestic violence, Sylvia Walby, September 2004)
- Domestic violence has a detrimental impact on employment –
among employed women who suffer domestic violence in last year
(2001) 21% took time off work and 2% lost jobs (2001/02 British
Crime Survey)
City of London Safer City Partnership
The Safer City Partnership is a partnership of organisations
committed to reducing crime and disorder in the City of London. The
partners are the City of London Corporation, City of London Police,
London Fire Brigade, business representatives, resident
representatives and other key organisations.
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/safercity
Refuge
Refuge opened the world’s first refuge in Chiswick in
1971. Refuge is the country’s largest single provider of
specialist accommodation and support to women and children escaping
domestic violence. It offers individual and group counselling
for abused women and children, and community based outreach
services for women including specialist services for minority
ethnic communities. Refuge provides a national lifeline for
thousands of women and children. On anyone day we support
over 900 women and children. It runs award winning media and
advertising campaigns to raise public awareness nationally and
internationally, whilst campaigning and lobbying for better
provision for women and children experiencing domestic
violence.
www.refuge.org.uk
Don’t Ignore It CD-ROM
Included are statistics on domestic violence, advice on how to
spot the signs of domestic violence, examples of workplaces
policies, news articles, support information and posters which can
be downloaded.
Press enquiries
Fiona Bowman will be available for interviews/briefings. Arrange
through Refuge Press Office.
Lesley Mair, City of London Corporation – 020 7332 1754 or 07785
528 453.
lesley.mair@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Refuge, Janqui Mehta - 07970 894 240.
janqui_mehta@refuge.org.uk