Boys in Focus’ Post

*Punishing Poverty Instead of Solving Problems* In Norfolk, 19 parents were prosecuted for their children’s unauthorised school absences, facing financial penalties many could ill afford. These cases highlight the deeper systemic issues affecting families, particularly the barriers girls face in accessing education. Two parents explained their daughters missed school because of policies restricting toilet access during lessons, making it impossible to manage their periods. Tina Leslie MBE (FRSA) spoke about how this is unfair and harmful, noting that stigma, embarrassment, and restrictive rules drive girls out of classrooms. Instead of solving the root issues—such as inadequate period support or poverty—parents are hit with fines, adding another layer of punishment to already challenging situations. While schools often try to intervene with letters or meetings, these measures don’t address the structural barriers families face. This case raises urgent questions: Why are girls being denied basic dignity at school? And why are families punished financially instead of being offered meaningful support to overcome the barriers to education? It’s time to rethink policies and priorities, ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn without unnecessary obstacles or stigma. We need more menstrual education to normalise periods to break the taboo that still surrounds periods as a whole. Read the article here - https://lnkd.in/etVNYebA https://lnkd.in/eQ5ufaPy

Some interesting findings from this report indicating the impact of Sure Start programmes: ‘Access to a nearby Sure Start centre between ages 0 and 4 significantly reduced youth crime that resulted in convictions or custodial sentences. Living within 2.5 kilometres of a Sure Start centre reduced the share of 16-year-olds who had ever received a criminal conviction by 13%. Meanwhile, custodial sentences – the most severe sanction – fell by a fifth due to access to Sure Start. Reductions in youth offending were concentrated on convictions for theft, the most common category of offence (20% reduction), and for drug offences (20% reduction)’. Original report can be accessed here: https://lnkd.in/dVSZ33VX.

Undisciplined children become increasingly undisciplined youths who are acting in youth crime. Society has lost its ways of raising a child due to the innovation in the system. The system has significantly increased enabling children's behaviour and disempowering the parents to discipline their children based on the child's rights. But society is losing the moral of child upbringing. Despite what the government does, youth will continue to escalate because the parents have no power to correct their child's behaviour at a young age. Today society will deeply discipline as physical abuse. Encouragingly, society needs to reflect and see what has changed and why youth crimes are significantly increasing. Once this initiative is taken, the solution can be found.

Our system change work is breaking down barriers! Justice 4 Housing’s Policy Recommendation #1, is to allow people on parole or probation access to subsidized housing. Last year, Justice 4 Housing successfully reunited three second-degree lifers with their families and children by securing public housing for them. By providing access to housing, we help break the cycle of recidivism and support the successful reintegration of individuals into the community. We ask that you leave a public comment on the new proposed HUD Rules, which mirror our Far From Home Policy Recommendations. To do so, follow the instructions below: 1. Go to the following address to view the Proposed Rule: https://lnkd.in/e5RkYasc 2. After reading the Proposed Rule changes, click the green “SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT” button at the top of the page. Stay tuned for more policy recommendations from our Far From Home Report! #DeCriminalizeHousing #Justice4Housing

A Walk for Water, a Walk into Danger The distance to safe water sources forces girls onto isolated paths, making them easy targets for harassment, assault, and exploitation. Cultural norms, in some cases, create a breeding ground for this violence. The silence surrounding GBV discourages girls from reporting these crimes, leaving them vulnerable and perpetuating a cycle of fear. The trauma countless girls face isn't just physical. It scars their minds, impacting their self-esteem, education, and future. GBV forces them to choose between their safety and their families' well-being. The emotional toll can hinder their education, trapping them in poverty and limiting their dreams. Our daughters deserve better. We can't turn a blind eye to this silent crisis. Together, we can ensure that girl’s walk for water becomes a walk towards a brighter future, free from violence and brimming with opportunity. Let's #BreakTheBucket and #ProtectOurGirls #Ethiopia #GenderEquality #GBVPrevention #Education

25 November, tomorrow, is the start of a global campaign against 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence. Our president will deliver a speech, and the Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons Living with Disabilities, the Department of Justice, and South African Police Services will lament the scourge and how committed they are to holding perpetrators accountable. Our timeliness will be flooded with various campaigns denouncing violence and calling for an end to GBV. What they don't tell you is that they won't protect you ‼️despite the legislative provisions to do so. They blame a lack of resources and lack of capacity; if there was a real desire, they would start with training judicial officials on ALL FORMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, monitoring applications,s, and granting of protection orders. They would have sustainable models to assist victims in leaving abusive relationships, protect them, and help them recover. They would have sustainable implementable interventions for perpetrators. They would speedily enforce protection orders. They would not subcontract their judicial responsibility to private alternative dispute resolution practitioners, commonly referred to as mediators. Abuse is NOT a dispute‼️ Post-relationship abuse in family matters is ignored, diminished, and called 'high conflict.' Financial abuse is normalized and perpetuated by the Maintenance Courts; they don't care if you are being evicted, have no food, can't pay school fees, are blacklisted, and drowning in debt. There is no balance of Rights; controllers and perpetrators have more rights than victims. Until ALL perpetrators of ALL forms of violence are held accountable, we are on our own‼️ This morning I burnt my 10-year-old protection order because it is not worth the paper it is written on‼️ #16daysofactivisim #stopGBVF #protectvictims #allformsofabuse #NoExcuseForelEconomicAbuse

54% of all children cautioned or sentenced for a serious violence offence are known to social care and have the "Child in Need" designation. It is not difficult to identify children and young people who are most likely to commit serious violent offences using this information and local intelligence. It is not difficult to share this data between education, health and justice sectors. It is not difficult to divert these life trajectories with effective early interventions to prevent critical first offences. It is not difficult to make significant short term financial savings to fully fund this activity. However, it is proving very difficult to make this happen quickly enough. In the 12 months to March 2023, 78 young people aged under 25 were murdered with a knife or sharp object. Ten of these victims were aged under 16. https://lnkd.in/efaf7WWH https://lnkd.in/eG3J2Wnx

Rita's story deserves to be heard, but unfortunately, her story is similar to others who have been impacted by the Justice System. The collateral damage caused by the criminal justice system extends far beyond the individuals directly incarcerated. 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 1. 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 The sudden loss of a partner's income can plunge families into financial crisis, the instability can lead to: ↳ Difficulty meeting basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare ↳Increased risk of poverty and homelessness ↳Long-term financial setbacks, even for previously stable families ↳Challenges in maintaining employment due to increased caregiving responsibilities 2. 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 The incarceration of a parent significantly impacts family dynamics: ↳Children experience trauma and emotional distress from parental separation ↳Increased likelihood of children entering the foster care system ↳Strain on extended family members who may need to provide support ↳Higher rates of divorce and relationship breakdown. 3. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 The effects of parental incarceration can extend to the next generation: ↳Children of incarcerated parents face higher risks of behavioral issues and academic struggles ↳Increased likelihood of children's involvement in the criminal justice system later in life ↳Perpetuation of cycles of poverty and disadvantage 4. 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 Upon release, formerly incarcerated individuals face numerous obstacles: ↳Difficulty finding employment due to criminal records ↳Challenges securing housing and accessing public benefits ↳Restrictions on education and professional licensing opportunities ↳Strained family relationships and reintegration difficulties 5. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 The stress of managing a household alone while dealing with a partner's incarceration can lead to: ↳Increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues for partners and children ↳Higher risk of substance abuse as a coping mechanism ↳Chronic stress and related health problems 6. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 Women, like yourself, often bear a disproportionate burden: ↳Increased likelihood of becoming single parents and sole providers ↳Greater risk of losing custody of children due to financial instability ↳Higher rates of poverty among female-headed households affected by incarceration Rita's story & My own story, underscores the urgent need for criminal justice reform and support systems for families impacted by incarceration. The collateral damage extends far beyond the individual sentenced, creating ripple effects that can destabilize families and communities for generations. Be informed about the impact of the justice-system, then, advocate for change.

This particular aspect of child maintenance is not given enough recognition and needs to be addressed. An important blog by Nancy Loucks for OPFS: