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Relationships

Your Bill of Rights

6 replies

LeoTheLateBloomer · 14/10/2011 08:07

I'm currently taking part in a Pattern Changing programme which is designed for people who have suffered domestic abuse.

One of the key messages is the Bill of Rights. At the beginning of the course we were all given a list and asked to tick those that we felt we were entitled to. I ticked just one before changing my mind and even crossing that one out.

I have my copy pinned to the inside of one of my kitchen cupboards and read through it in the mornings as I make my first cup of tea. I am slowly learning to accept and believe that these are my rights and I am trying to apply them to my life. It's not easy having spent 10 years being denied my rights but I'm getting there.

What I have found hard to accept is that I never realised I had these rights. It rarely occurred to me that I was worth that much.

Read through the list and embrace it. If you feel like you are being denied any of these rights, look for support and change it because we all deserve them.

OP posts:

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babyhammock · 14/10/2011 08:27

Thanks Leo x
I'm going to print them off too

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HerScaryness · 14/10/2011 13:29

Love this!

I'll be taking this with me to the FP on Monday!

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LeoTheLateBloomer · 14/10/2011 15:09

Bumping this. I know people from the EA thread are looking but it's good for everyone

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Onemorning · 14/10/2011 17:07

That's fantastic, thank you. I think it would be useful for anyone in an abusive relationship, female or male.

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solidgoldbrass · 14/10/2011 18:58

They forgot 'You have the right to end a relationship at any time and do not need the other person's permission to do so.' I think that's a vital one for people with abusive partners.

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LeoTheLateBloomer · 16/10/2011 09:20

sgb I would say that many of the others on the list combine to give you that right: making your own decisions, saying 'no', putting yourself first, protesting at being treated unfairly. It's when you do all these things that it gives you the power to leave. Scary and incredibly difficult in many cases.

Onemorning I agree. I was careful in my OP not to make it gender specific. I think the men are often forgotten when it comes to abuse.