GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

have created a pool of people between NAPO and the AEP who will help

members in difficulty with their employment. It has worked extraordinarily well.

I commend that arrangement most certainly and would be happy outside of

conference to talk to anyone about it, as will our brothers and sisters from the

AEP as well.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Ian. Thank you for that, James. Any other points

about the report? Any other matters of clarification or questions on the report?

The Activities Report was formally moved, seconded and ACCEPTED

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Doug will be quite relieved that that one is

put to bed! Let us move on with some of the motions now and take us up to the

coffee break. I will call now Motion 8, NAPO. MOTION 8 – INITIATIVES AGAINST

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

BRO IAN LAWRENCE (NAPO) moved the following motion:

This BGCM welcomes the publication of the Government Bill on initiatives

against domestic violence including the possibility of legislation to make

‘stalking’ a criminal offence.

Conference notes the worrying increase in crimes reported as being related to

domestic violence, and the failure of this Government to ensure adequate

funding to local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide facilities to assist

victims of such incidents such as refuges, access to counselling and an

effective interface with other agencies including those involved with child

safeguarding.

The Executive Committee are instructed to support unions and campaigners in

their efforts to see the Bill enacted into legislation.

He said: Brothers, sisters, chair. It is a fact that domestic violence is still a

major issue in society. In moving Motion 8 let me just give you a couple of

depressing statistics, shall I? There are still an average of two women per

week murdered by their partner or former partner. It is a fact that often it takes

in excess of 30 instances of domestic abuse which is generally targeted

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