Understanding Agency & Resistance Strategies: Children in situations of domestic violence & abuse

UNARS led by the University of Northampton's Jane Callaghan, investigated children's coping mechanisms after living in situations of domestic abuse. The project was funded through the European Commission's Daphne III funding stream. It was a two-year project created in collabration with partners in Spain, Greece, Italy and the UK.

Key findings listed in the 'Executive Summary - Final Report' include:

- highlighting children's resilience and agency in coping with situations of domestic abuse and their right to representation (p. 13). The research critiques the 'implications of policy and professional discourses that position children as "damaged" and as "witnesses" (p. 6).
- an argument for a change in the language of national and regional policy to reflect children's agency (p. 14).
- the need for further training for professionals and services for children to talk about and engage with their experience of domestic abuse (p. 14).