The countdown to the first NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day has started today on White Ribbon Day.
NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day takes place on Wednesday 10 December. It is being launched by DAUK and the Medical Women’s Federation (MWF).
The day highlights the urgent need to recognise and respond to domestic abuse affecting NHS staff, and to recognise the unique barriers they can face seeking help.
It has been launched on White Ribbon Day, a global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day
White Ribbon Day is held on 25 November each year and marks 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. They finish on 10 December when NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day takes place.
MWF is a White Ribbon supporter organisation. Medical student and MWF White Ribbon champion Divine Mkamwasi launched our 16 days of activism with a video on social media.
NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day calls for all NHS organisations to maintain robust domestic abuse policies to protect staff.
It also calls for domestic abuse education throughout university training and beyond, access to emergency hardship funds for those experiencing abuse, and a positive workplace culture that actively supports staff.
Support for NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day
NHS Domestic Abuse Awareness Day has the support of NHS Practitioner Health, Doctors in Distress, Surviving in Scrubs, BRIGHT (Bristol Research on the Intersection of Gender, Health, and Trauma), IRISi Intervention, Cameron Fund, Cavell, the Healthcare Leadership Academy, the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, and the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.
The day has already been highlighted in a number of media outlets, including the Morning Star and Management in Practice.
NHS staff and patients can get involved on the day by wearing white ribbons, the global symbol of the movement to end men’s violence against women and girls.
#NHSDAAD
They can also post on social media using the hashtag #NHSDAAD.
Read more about NHS Domestic Awareness Day, and access NHS Domestic Abuse Day resources for healthcare professionals and organisations.
DAUK committee members are volunteers and campaign about issues facing doctors in their own time. Please support our work by joining DAUK or donating to our GoFundMe.
