Looking for some summer reading? Try one of the 75 DSGBV books we've donated to libraries across Ireland & NI, including TUS and Women's Aid Fed NI. Read about coercive control - how to recognise the warning signs, how to navigate the legal system or how to reform it. (1/3)

This #PrideMonth, it’s important to acknowledge that LGBT people can also experience coercively controlling behaviour / domestic abuse in their intimate relationships - a thread (1/6) Research indicates high levels of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence in LGBT relationships:

Did you know: Haven Horizons is on seven popular platforms? Join us in learning about how to identify coercive control, eliminate domestic abuse supportive behaviour, and end domestic, sexual, and gender based violence (DSGBV). Links to each platform in our bio. #DSGBVEndgame

Two years after first training one member of SETU staff, Haven Horizons are now actively collaborating with the university and have provided workshops for nearly 100 staff in understanding coercive control and domestic abuse, detecting red flags, and supporting disclosures. (1/2)

This Thursday, our book club is discussing 'Brutally Honest' by former Spice Girl and coercive control survivor Mel B, one of our ‘Five Books That Could Save Your Life.’ (1/3)

Thank you to all who joined us at 'Five Books That Could Save Your Life' at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast, last night. This project was designed to start an all-island conversation on DSGBV and coercive control. (1/3)

Last chance: join us on Wednesday, 6-8pm, at the Seamus Heaney Centre QUB for 'Five Books That Could Save Your Life'. Our panel will examine the destructive impact of coercive control through five key DSGBV books. Book now: bit.ly/3GTP7xT #dsgbvendgame #domesticabuse #coercivecontrol

If you couldn't make it to our event at the Women's Aid Belfast & Lisburn Anniversary Conference last week, join us at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queens University Belfast on 11 June 6-8pm organised by @reclaimtheagenda.bsky.social (1/3)

We’re going to finish the live tweets here, as we move to the Q&A session. If you were unable to join us in the Titanic Museum today, the ‘Five Books That Will Save Your Life’ tour will continue: (1/2)

Noelle: ‘An ex-partner leaving flowers on the doorstep can be dismissed by friends or professionals, even if there is a barring order in place. However, this type of action is often intended to intimidate the victim and to send a message that their abuser can still reach them.’

Madeline: ‘Coercive Control is a pattern of behaviours in a relationship you don’t always recognise at the beginning. It does not always include physical violence.’ This is something echoed by the Hart brothers in their book, ‘Remembered Forever’, a memoir about (1/2)

Danielle: ‘There’s a common trope often used in media reporting that domestic homicide is a crime of passion. This is fundamentally untrue and means many people do not recognise the danger posed to them by patterns of controlling behaviour. (1/2)

Madeline: ‘There is no one model of a victim or a perpetrator. Perpetrators can present as pillars of their community. As Lisa Aronson Fontes explains in ‘Invisible Chains’ victims can be successful, professional, and highly educated; we must look deeper and recognise the warning signs.’

Danielle: ‘Coercive Control is often something we don’t recognise without training. Mel Bs memoir ‘Brutally Honest’ shows the contrast between the public presentation of some victims as powerful, successful people and what goes on behind closed doors.’

Noelle: ‘In refuges in the North, we use Jane Monckton-Smith’s book (In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder) as our bible – she really explains the progressive timeline of coercively controlling behaviour, and why and how it can end in murder’

Madeline: ‘‘What is to be done about Violence Against Women’ addresses what has been done to combat DSGBV in the last 40 years and asks why what we are doing is not working.’ (1/2)

The five books being discussed are ‘Invisible Chains’ by Lisa Aronson Fontes, ‘Remembered Forever’ by Luke & Ryan Hart, ‘Brutally Honest’ by Melanie Brown, ‘In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End In Murder’ by Jane Monckton-Smith, &

Good afternoon! We’re live from the Women’s Aid 50th Anniversary Conference at the Titanic Centre, where our ‘Five Books that Could Save Your Life’ panel discussion is about to start. This all-island project seeks to change the conversation on DSGBV and coercive control.

"Five Books That Could Save Your Life" aims to change the all-island conversation on Domestic Abuse and Coercive Control. Join us in the next phase of the project in Belfast. (1/5)

Yesterday's coercive control training had almost 50 attendees. This indicates the level of interest in finding out more about the tactics and dynamics of coercively controlling behaviour. (1/3)

Last chance to join our free Coercive Control training session, this Wednesday 21 May at 1-2pm. This introductory session will include terminology, legislation, and how to recognise coercive control. Book now: bit.ly/3S2W0PP

It's time for the #DSGBVEndgame Haven Horizons went to the Dáil last week to call on our representatives to recognise DSGBV as a public health emergency above party politics. We believe it is time for proactively preventing domestic abuse, rather than just reacting to it. (1/3)

Thanks to the TDs, Senators & Cllrs who met with us in the Dáil yesterday. DSGBV is a public health crisis that cuts across party politics. We need a radical new approach, comparable to how we tackled tobacco. It's time to focus on prevention - it's time for the #DSGBVEndgame.

If we don’t prevent DSGBV, we permit it: a thread on why Haven Horizons will be presenting to TDs and Senators tomorrow, May 7, at 3pm in Dáil Eireann's AV room (1/4)

In addition to our work raising awareness with the general public, Haven Horizons also connects those working in DSGBA through our virtual community of practice. Among the other resources on this platform, we host a book club. (1/3)

Our Research, Training & Development Director Madeline Mc Aleer spoke to key figures, including Senators Cynthia Ní Mhurchú & Nina Carberry and an Taoiseach Micheál Martin, at the recent Shared Island Forum. (1/3) @micheal-martin.bsky.social @ninacarberrymep.bsky.social

Ireland ratified the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention, in 2019 - which placed legal obligations, for the first time, on governments to address DSGBV (1/8)

Before Ireland could ratify the Istanbul Convention in 2019, the Govt were required to criminalise domestic abuse, and they introduced the offence of #CoerciveControl. This offence has not been introduced worldwide, which has profound impact on victims seeking justice: (1/2)

Did you know: since 2018, Haven Horizons has donated books on DSGBV as part of our prevention & public education remit? We believe that information is key to changing the attitudes & beliefs that drive #DomesticAbuse supportive behaviour. Our collection includes books for: (1/3)

Madeline Mc Aleer attended todays DSGBV Forum. Great to hear Min for Justice Jim O'Callaghan speak about Zero Tolerance & the need for primary prevention. Great work has been done by Cuan in the Co-ordination of frontline services & in providing a central data hub in such a short time.

We had a great response to our first “Five Books That Could Save Your Life” event – and the project continues. We will be at: The Titanic Museum, Belfast, on 30 May The Seamus Heaney Centre, Belfast, on 12 June Dublin, details to follow And on 20 November, our Webinar with the Authors - link in bio

And as the panel discussion comes to a close, and we opened the floor for questions, we at Haven Horizons would like to thank everyone who attended the event or followed the conversation on social media.

Danielle Roberts: There is a tsunami of domestic abuse, North and South. It has a huge impact on the victims, on their families, and also on society. We want this project to facilitate a broader social understanding of coercive control and to initiate real cultural change.

New laws alone won’t prevent domestic abuse and coercive control because they don’t change deep-seated cultural beliefs and social norms. All speakers are advocating for new transformative multi-agency approaches to the funding of DA & CC prevention initiatives.

Madeline Mc Aleer is discussing @jmoncktonsmith.bsky.social’s 8-stage domestic homicide timeline – how a predictable progressive pattern of coercively controlling behaviour can go from #HoneymoonToHomicide. It can happen quickly or take 40 years, and there may or may not be physical violence.

Deeply concerning figures cited at today’s ‘5 Books’ event: In 2024 Gardai responded to 65 000 domestic abuse-related calls, one every 10 minutes and the PSNI received one every 16 minutes. The femicide rate in NI is the second highest per capita in Europe.

Madeline Mc Aleer: We have a stereotypical idea of a perpetrator, but not all perpetrators of #DomesticAbuse & coercive control are the same. Some are invisible, they may be highly-educated, wealthy professionals - who present as pillars of the community but are highly dangerous.

Noelle Collins is discussing the red flags of coercive control, why it is so difficult to recognise: Anyone can get entrapped in a coercively controlling relationship, #CoerciveControl cuts across all social strata. This information could save someone’s life.

We have a packed house for the ‘5 Books that Could Save Your Life’ event at the Ennis Book Club Festival. The 5 books being discussed Are Invisible Chains, Operation Lighthouse, Brutally Honest, Dangerous Relationships And How They End In Murder, & What Is To Be Done About Violence Against Women

There have been many words spoken about Bishop Willie Walsh’s pastoral and sporting achievements, but he was also a supporter of both Clare Haven Services (domestic abuse refuge and intervention services) and Haven Horizons (prevention and education) from day one. (1/7)

Expand your understanding of #CoerciveControl from your own home with @Netflix’s new series: ‘American Murder – Gabby Petito’, about a young woman and ‘vlogger’ murdered by her partner on a road trip. (1/5)

Before we discuss ‘Five Books That Could Save Your Life’ at the Ennis Book Club Festival, we are spotlighting 'Brutally Honest' by Mel B, domestic abuse / coercive control survivor and former Spice Girl, who explains why it can be so difficult and dangerous to leave an abusive relationship.

Our panel of domestic abuse experts will discuss the destructive impact of coercive control and ‘Five Books that could Save Your Life’ on Friday, 7 March, at 12pm at the Temple Gate Hotel. This is a free event - save your seat now. It might just save a life. ebcf.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/...

(1/3) For the first time ever the last Programme for Govt prioritised domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (#DSGBV). Critically, it included a national preventative strategy - which in the new programme is strikingly missing.