Domestic violence conference in Lye

Ever since the chief of police in Halesowen told me that the biggest source of violent crime in Stourbridge and Halesowen was domestic abuse I have been finding out more.

Last week saw Asian women come together at the Lye Community Centre to discuss the impact of domestic violence in their community. There were excellent presentations from Ashram Housing; a Birmingham based residential support centre and winner of several national awards. Following Ashram the meeting heard from Sandwell Women's Aid and the Humdard service for Asian women.

Some domestic violence is linked to trafficking. Well, to the forced marriage of young girls who are brought in to this country for the purpose of marriage and end up as little more than domestic servants. The women at the meeting agreed that one of the principal problems in such arrangements was the collusion of the husband's family, normally in the form of the mother in law.

These girls are brought in to the country under sponsorship arrangements which give them very few in any rights for at least two years. During this time they are largely beyond the reach of the law.

What is needed is training and a pro-active approach by police working with the community to try and identify women whose human rights are being abused in a particularly cruel manner.

The conference turned to a lighter note with the arrival of a spectacular belly dancer to give a demonstration. Suddenly the whole event took a turn for the worse as she beckoned me to join her on the stage. Now I'm no dancer even in the comfort of western style music and rhythm. So it was with very little talent that I approached my first lesson in belly dancing. It might have helped if there weren't an audience of seventy looking on.

Photo: Margot receives her first lesson in belly dancing at the domestic violence conference in Lye.