THREAD:
Since lockdown, there has been a rise in domestic violence nationwide. We wanted to explore the work of The Duchess of Cornwall with these issues. She has been heavily involved in amplifying the issue for 10 years, starting in 2009 when visiting a Rape Crisis Centre.

After meeting the women from the centre, The Duchess left with a profound impact from these women. Camilla spent three years meeting and hearing rape and domestic violence survivors, campaigners and even The Met's specialist rape unit.

In 2013, Camilla convened rape survivors, support groups, charities, influential supporters & politicians to a reception at Clarence House. Guests included Theresa May & (at the time) Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer.

At this reception, she introduced a pilot scheme that would eventually become nationwide: The Wash Bag Project. This was her own personal initiative inspired by meeting the women and hearing of their experiences from the examinations.

Read a little bit more of The Wash Bag Project here:
The project has recently gone nationwide after starting out as a personal gift to the centre. https://twitter.com/katesrangers/status/1288106308613226497

From then on, Camilla would work and support many centres who support rape and domestic abuse survivors. Such as the opening of Northern Ireland's FIRST centre to focus on providing help & comfort to rape & sexual abuse victims.

Camilla's work on domestic violence didn't stop at the UK. During her tour of Canada with Prince Charles, Camilla privately met with 2 women who had been provided long term shelter after fleeing violent homes.

The Duchess also visited UNICEF in Montenegro & the work they are doing to tackle online child sexual exploitation. Her 2016 visit to Bahrain was a complex one. Given an all-female security detail& adding complexities in a strict Islamic Middle-East nation,it required diplomacy.

Camilla focused on uplifting female voices in Bahrain tackling issues such as rape in a country not renowned for it's equal attitudes for women. Camilla visited places such as the Dal Al Aman Woman's Refuge Centre and the Supreme Council for Women.

The Supreme Council for Women consists of 16 women from various backgrounds who work with the Bahrain government to ensure the status of women. Ministers are required to consult with the council before any decisions. Since it's creation in 2001, women gained the right to vote!

Camilla pressed Bahrain on their actual support for women. She praised the work of the police who encourage & escort women straight to hospital to provide proof and evidence- as their strict Islamic laws prevent women from gaining support & rights in divorce without it.

However, Camilla pressed them on their poor conviction rates and helplines. She added that she hopes the plans to implement family courts happen "quickly."

In Bahrain, Camilla was attended by in total 8 only-female bodyguards. The first for royals. The Duchess sang their praises consistently and nicknamed them her 'angels.'

On each Royal visit, Camilla visits at least one domestic violence organisation (RoyalCentral).
See: New Zealand, Cuba, Greece, St Vincent.

Camilla joined forces with Angelina Jolie & William Hague in 2014 for an informal meeting after the Global Sexual Violence summit in London to discuss ways forward.

Camilla has worked with @safelives_ for a number of years. When a woman was unsure whether to discuss to The Duchess about it, she reassured her it was okay to talk and made the admission her friends have been survivors of domestic violence.

The Duchess also used the opportunity as President of the Women of the World (WOW) at their festival, to highlight the plight that(predominately) affects women. Camilla highlighted not only it's corrosive effects but coercive control which is illegal in UK

The festival also began the #EveryonesProblem panel which Camilla partook in. Including founder Jude Kelly, survivor Gina Miller and Chief Exec SafeLives Suzanne Jacob.

March 23rd the UK went into lockdown. On March 27th, The Duchess of Cornwall warned that lockdown could cause a rise in domestic abuse incidents& encouraged people to seek help,stating the home is not a safe space for everyone. Camilla was one of the first to highlight the issue.

Camilla also penned an op-ed in the @guardian where she highlighted resources, and that there is help out there. And for those to recognise that their neighbours and community may need support: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/03/britain-lockdown-domestic-abuse-help-violence-camilla-duchess-of-cornwall

During a WOW virtual summit, Camilla stated about her work with domestic violence:
'Whatever happens I'm going to keep banging the drum until people listen to me, until there's a hole in it.'

In a letter penned to the first Stand Up to Domestic Abuse conference she stated: "People don't realise that the biggest killer of women aged 16-44 is not cancer, it's domestic abuse."