The first Foyle Family Justice Centre has opened last week in Derry. Developed by Foyle Women’s Aid, the centre will provide a range of services to both men and women affected by domestic abuse including crisis intervention, emergency accommodation, case management and self-sufficiency programmes.
Based in Bishop Street, the centre is inspired by a model pioneered in the United States. It aims to reduce re-traumatisation by reducing the number of times survivors must retell their stories, and to help increase offender accountability.
Marie Brown, chief executive of Foyle Women’s Aid and head of the new centre, said the centre would house representatives of more than 20 agencies and will remove barriers in providing help for domestic and sexual abuse situations. “The centre is a place where agencies come together and families come first” she said.
“We have a high rate of domestic and sexual violence in this area and across Northern Ireland," Ms Brown said. "Our vision is to save lives and to create really good interventions early on so we can start breaking the cycle of domestic violence early on."
Chief Human Rights’ Commissioner, Alyson Kilpatrick said the centre would ensure domestic and sexual abuse were dealt with as a “grave human rights’ violation”. “This is good for victims and the authorities charged with protecting them,” Ms Kilpatrick said.
District Judge Barney McElholm praised the new centre as the culmination of years of hard work, particularly by Foyle Women’s Aid. Judge McElholm continued: “The centre will be a shining beacon in the darkness of the lives of so many silently suffering victims of domestic abuse.”
Justice minister Naomi Long stated: “I welcome the launch of this innovative facility today. The Foyle Family Justice Centre will provide benefits to help support victims. We know that victims having support is an important factor in reducing attrition rates in domestic abuse cases going through the criminal justice system.
By working together as partners, agencies and communities we want to achieve real, sustainable progress to prevent domestic abuse and ensure that those affected get support.
I believe that this the centre is a positive step forward for victims of domestic abuse and I would like to thank everyone involved for the hard work and commitment invested in the development of the project.”
To find out more about the Foyle Family Justice Centre or to refer to its services contact 028 7141 6800 or visit their website.
Report from Derry here.