We work to secure a fair hearing for the victims of domestic abuse
Our unique approach
Our stakeholders have commissioned us to identify the most promising initiatives in supporting domestic abuse victims’ journey through the Family Courts. These may include prevention and perpetrator programmes as well as delivery of post trial support.
We have built strong and trusting relationships with the judiciary and the police. By engaging them, we aim to improve the court experience for domestic abuse victims and their children.
Trusting Relationships
We ensure the voices of victims – including, significantly, children – are heard, informing our work with experts, voluntary organisations and policy-makers. Drawing on these crucial relationships, we can affect real and long-lasting change.
A feature about our Director Julia Margo in the Daily Mail, 16/03/2025
Read here our Director Julia Margo’s feature in The Daily Mail on her harrowing but inspiring story of how one woman transformed her experience of family courts into the platform for improving the system through Fair Hearing.
How courts punish the victims of domestic abuse
Even after leaving their tormentors, those who have suffered at the hands of their partners face a brutal legal battle.
By Cristina Odone
Our first event at Portcullis House
Our first event at Portcullis House, on 7 May 2025 focused on the data gaps in domestic abuse cases going through family courts. Jess Asato MP chaired a meeting that included the brilliant DA team from the MOJ, MPs, our stakeholders and sector reps. Thank you all!
Outcomes To Date
- Worked with heads of training at the Judicial College to develop a victim led, trauma-informed training module to improve understanding of DA for criminal and family court judges
- Edited Equal Treatment Bench Book to improve advice on DA
- Our Director Julia Margo appointed as official trainer at the Judicial College
- Successfully called for reintroduction of 1994 protocol to link criminal and family court cases impacting same family so that there can be joint directions and better planning to protect victims
- Ben Douglas-Jones KC and Josh Babarinde MP have agreed to collaborate with us on introducing a new statutory defence of domestic abuse, copying elements of Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act of 2015
- Contributed to wholesale Review of Judicial training on DA being undertaken by the Judicial College, and Judicial College introducing new standards to monitor treatment of DA