Knowledge Is Power – Ivy Barrow

SGUK Episode 172

Knowledge is Power: Survivors as Strategists

Podcast Talking Points

AREA 1: Survivors’ Role in Legal Reform, Media Ethics & Policy

Key Talking Points:

The Community-First Reality :-

The community-first reality highlights how local communities often provide the initial and crucial support to survivors before they access formal legal assistance. These grassroots advocates understand the barriers that formal legal systems might miss, offering a lifeline that keeps survivors safe and supported.

Survivors typically receive help from local communities BEFORE accessing legal assistance
Small community groups often provide the crucial first response that keeps survivors alive
These grassroots advocates understand barriers that formal legal systems miss

Recent Legal Victories Driven by Survivors:

Recent legal victories driven by survivors showcase the power of survivor advocacy in shaping laws. For instance, in California, survivors’ testimonies led to the inclusion of coercive control in domestic violence restraining orders. Similarly, Massachusetts saw the passage of Bill H.4744, addressing technology-assisted sexual abuse, thanks to survivor advocacy.

California (2021): Survivors’ testimony led to coercive control being added to domestic violence restraining order grounds
Massachusetts (2024): Survivor advocacy resulted in Bill H.4744 – the first comprehensive law addressing technology-assisted sexual abuse
New York: Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act addresses the criminalization of survivors who fight back

Media Ethics Evolution:

The evolution of media ethics has been significantly influenced by survivor advocates. Traditional reporting often focused on physical violence, but survivors have educated the media about the nuances of invisible abuse. This has led to more responsible reporting that avoids re-traumatizing survivors and recognizes coercive control patterns.

Traditional reporting focused on physical violence – survivors educated media about invisible abuse
Survivor advocates pushed for responsible reporting that doesn’t re-traumatize
Community groups trained journalists to recognize coercive control patterns

Policy Impact Through Lived Experience:

Survivors’ lived experiences have been instrumental in identifying gaps in legal protections. They have documented how abusers manipulate court processes and demonstrated the need for non-legal support services within legal frameworks. This grassroots documentation has driven policy changes to better protect survivors.

Survivors identified gaps in protection orders that didn’t cover psychological abuse
Local advocates documented how abusers manipulate court processes to continue control
Community groups demonstrated need for non-legal support services within legal frameworks

AREA 2: Survivor-Led Initiatives That Changed Systems

Proven Models Your Global Network Can Study:

Proven models like Clare’s Law in the UK, which allows people to check partners’ violent histories, demonstrate the power of personal stories in driving national policy changes. Similarly, the Centre for Women’s Justice’s “Stop Criminalising Survivors” campaign highlights how survivor expertise can lead to policy solutions that protect rather than prosecute survivors.

Clare’s Law (UK) – From Personal Tragedy to National Policy

Started with one woman’s story: Clare Wood, killed by partner with violent history
Family’s advocacy created Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
Now allows people to check partners’ violent histories
Demonstrates: Personal story → Community support → National policy change

Centre for Women’s Justice “Stop Criminalising Survivors” Campaign

Survivor-led organization identifying how legal system punishes victims
Documents cases where survivors are arrested for defending themselves
Created policy framework for protecting rather than prosecuting survivors
Model: Survivor expertise → Legal analysis → Policy solutions

Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiatives

Technology-enabled coercive control initiatives have seen survivors educating law enforcement about digital abuse tactics. Community groups have documented how abusers use technology for control, leading to new training programs for police and court personnel. This ground-level documentation has driven professional education and system change.

Survivors educated law enforcement about digital abuse tactics
Community groups documented how abusers use technology for control
Led to new training programs for police and court personnel
Shows: Ground-level documentation → Professional education → System change

International Community-Advocate Models:

International community-advocate models show how small organizations worldwide provide culturally appropriate support. Local advocates understand regional legal and social barriers, developing innovative safety planning methods and sharing successful intervention strategies through grassroots networks.

Small organizations worldwide providing culturally appropriate support
Local advocates who understand regional legal and social barriers
Community groups developing innovative safety planning methods
Grassroots networks sharing successful intervention strategies

The Strategic Power of Community Networks

The strategic power of community networks lies in their ability to innovate from the ground up. Local groups often pioneer solutions that larger institutions later adopt. These networks amplify local voices to influence international policy, demonstrating the importance of trust, access, and shared learning.

Why Local Matters for Global Change:

Trust and Access:

Survivors trust community advocates who share their experiences
Local groups understand cultural, economic, and social barriers
Community advocates speak the language of survival, not just policy

Innovation from the Ground Up:

Small organizations often pioneer solutions later adopted by larger institutions
Local groups experiment with approaches big systems can’t risk
Community advocates identify emerging abuse tactics before academics study them

Scaling Through Networks:

Successful local models can be adapted across different communities
Shared learning between grassroots groups accelerates effective practices
Global networks amplify local voices to influence international policy

The Meghan and Harry Strategic Example

The Meghan and Harry strategic example underscores the visibility paradox. Despite their global platform and resources, they experienced coercive control, highlighting how institutions can enable harm. Their high-profile case has created public awareness, making invisible abuse visible and opening the door for legislative change.

Key Message: If It Happens to Them, Imagine Everyone Else

The Visibility Paradox:

Despite global platform, resources, and legal teams, coercive control still devastated them
Media participation in the abuse demonstrated how institutions enable harm
Their experience proves coercive control isn’t about individual weakness

Systemic Implications:

If someone with maximum resources struggles to escape, what about ordinary survivors?
Demonstrates how media can become weapon in coercive control
Shows need for institutional accountability, not just individual protection

Policy Catalyst:

High-profile cases create public awareness that enables legislative change
Celebrity experiences make invisible abuse visible to general public
Opens door for discussing ordinary survivors’ even more desperate situations

Research Directions for Global Task Force

Research directions for the global task force should explore what works locally, identify legal system gaps, and address technology and financial abuse. By understanding successful community intervention models and legal frameworks, the task force can support local advocates and share advocacy strategies across borders.

Questions Your Network Should Explore:

What Works Locally?
- Which community intervention models have highest survivor safety rates?
- How do successful local programs adapt to different cultural contexts?
- What resources do community advocates need most?
Legal System Gaps:
- Where do survivors fall through cracks between community support and legal protection?
- How can community advocates better interface with legal processes?
- What training do legal professionals need from community experts?
Technology and Financial Abuse:
- How are platforms profiting from engagement driven by harassment?
- What policy changes would disrupt financial incentives for online abuse?
- How can community groups help survivors document digital coercive control?
International Coordination:
- Which legal frameworks show most promise for coercive control recognition?
- How can successful advocacy strategies be shared across borders?
- What role should international bodies play in supporting local advocates?

Framework

The framework emphasizes sustainable change driven by community networks. With over 40 global organizations ready to collaborate, academic partnerships for research credibility, and survivor networks for authentic voices, this framework ensures generational change and global awareness of coercive control.

From Research to Sustainable Change:

The Infrastructure Built:

40+ global organizations ready to collaborate
Academic partnerships for research credibility
Legal expertise for policy development
Survivor networks for authentic voice

Sustainable Impact Model:

Community-driven rather than researcher-dependent
Multi-national learning and support system
Evidence-based advocacy rooted in lived experience
Financial sustainability through diverse organizational participation

Generational Change:

Children’s books educating next generation about healthy relationships
Legal reforms protecting current and future survivors
Community networks that will outlast any individual advocate
Global awareness that makes coercive control undeniable

“Knowledge is Power” – but only when it reaches the people who need it most, through the communities they trust.

Ivy Barrow

31^st August 2025