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I know it's sounds wired that women feel not safe all the time. But it's bitter truth. Sometimes it's because of current crime rates or internal relationship issues.

Let me explain in briefly,

A lot of women are afraid for their lives' Local Women 's meets the Women 's Aid workers in Belfast and Lisburn who provide a safe refugefor women and children fleeing domestic abuse here were seven murders with c domestic violence motivation recorded bg the PSNI in 2013/14.

This accounted for 41.2% of all murders in Northern Ireland in that period. Unfortunately for one in four women who will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime there is no simple solution, but help is available.

Women's Aid is a domestic violence charity group. Theg work with women who have been in, or currentlg are in, domestic abuse relationships.

The main point Of contact for Women's Aid Belfast and Lisburn is at their Belfast business address on Adelaide Park where theu run a variety of services and outreach programmes.

However a massive part of Women's Aid's work is done by providing emergency accommodation for women and their children,

The charity operates three refuges between Belfast and Lisburn, with a capacity between them to provide crisis accommodation for over 100 women ond their children,

One Of their Belfast based refuges which has 20 bedrooms, all which are currentlg full Here I was given the chance to speak to two. Women's Aid workers who has worked for the charity for 34 gears and other one who has worked within the refuge for several gears:

"Domestic V101ence spans physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. affects women of all ages."

Most of the women who come to the 44 1 News Feature refuge are referred there via the 24 hour domestic and sexual violence helpline, which is managed bu Women's Aid and funded bg the Deportment of Justice'

"Some women mog stag with us one night. some stag a week, or a month, A few Stag for a gear, the women who stay that long don't vnnt to return home. They are usually on the Housing Executive list waiting to be allocated social housing."

Experts points out Other contributing factors for women staging in the shelter for over a year: "Theg mag not have recourse to public funds. Theu mau need our help getting their immigration status sorted out. We work alongside social services to help sort these issues The refuge is a communal living space.

Each will have her conn room with en-suite facilities but the social areas ore oll communal. In addition too living room there are several rooms were therapy takes place and a play room for the children to enjoy, The kitchen is one massive room. divided into six smaller. fully fitted kitchens, each with sitting areas:

"We would really like women to treat the refuge as their home. It isn't important theg have their own routine. and carry on with their lives as normal os possible.

"Every woman is here because they need all suffered abuse bg a partner. There is a sense of communitg inside these walls.

For the safety Of the women inside the refuge there is a strict no male policu."We are an all organisation. Apart from male children lup to the age of 14) there are no men living or working here.

In conclusion,

We need to do something for this types of issues. Because we have family and I'm sure our family members won't feel the same thing if we become conscious about protecting them somehow. So they can live with peaceful mind.

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