Cllr Mann’s speech at the Libdem Conference on 19th Sept. 2011 on Violence against women

Conference,

Violence against women in a family environment has an adverse impact in all aspects on Children. Children are our future citizens and mothers play a very important role in their children lives. Therefore, mothers need to be protected from domestic violence.

It is a shame to know that genital mutilation is taking place in the United Kingdom amongst some Refugee Communities and we must eradicate this violent practice against the girls. It is also a shame to know Labour controlled Southwark, my borough, has cut grants to voluntary organisations and voluntary groups that work to eradicate this violence and also, the Council has cut the grant to Mediation service which acts independently with these communities.

We welcome our Minister MP Lynne Featherstone taking this work internationally and her speech is very encouraging but she must include Sri Lanka. Those Tamil Women whose husbands are in jail after the war, to visit them the wives have to spend about two hours with the Sri Lankan  Army to quench their sexual pleasures. These practices are taking place right now as I speak.

She must do some work to free these women from the army. There is much more violence taking place towards school girls who are getting pregnant from the age of 12 by the Army.

There is absolutely no one to protect these defenceless women and girls. Even though UN agencies and other countries representatives are present in Sri Lanka and know about these atrocities, no real protection is offered.

We in the civilised world can not sit back and watch these appalling atrocities taking place to our fellow human beings. Therefore, we urge our Minister MP Lynne Featherstone to take up Sri Lanka and champion these Tamil women and girls rights as well as for them to live free from such violence.

Conference please support the motion.

Thank you.