A safe, just and equal world for women

I started drinking a lot, to make the attacks less painful. My family contacted social services and neighbours constantly called the police when they heard or saw Ben attacking me.

I was in my early 20s in love and happy when I fell pregnant. Then he hit me for the first time. And he carried on. The abuse escalated. He threatened me with a knife, a gun and even threw me out of a window.

My domestic abuse situation was family – both of my parents, my sister. I lived with them and they were all abusive. There was all kinds of abuse except for sexual abuse. A lot of psychological torture. There was physical abuse, which was quite severe, quite frequent. Eventually that became…

When Jasmine left her abusive husband, she ended up suicidal, homeless and in debt. Now, with the support of Advance, she’s taking steps to heal and create a new life for herself.

My husband treated me as a second-class citizen. I was not allowed my own bank account, despite holding down an office job. I could not spend time with friends unless granted by my husband. He would and tell them they were not needed.

Five years ago, the abuse escalated, when Hafsa’s mother discovered she was in a relationship with a man her mother did not approve of. Her mother’s objection was partly due to her wish for Hafsa to marry the son of a family friend. Hafsa expressed concern that she could be…

I was completely shattered – psychologically broken. I had no understanding of any support available out there for me but my doctor referred me to Advance. My husband beat me up, threatened me with a knife while I was pregnant – he wanted to leave me and get married to…

Christina*, 50, reported her abuser and took him to court four years ago. She and her two children are safe now, but it was a long journey to get where they are today. She says: “One of the hardest parts was trying to explain, to police, an isolated incident that…

I’ve always turned to my faith to help me through hard times (rosary beads above my bed) but it was at this point I knew I had to reach out for help from Minerva. The fear of the unknown creeped in and I found myself really struggling being thrown out…