Eve’s law – the right to anonymity
The Bolton News 6/12/13
Domestic violence victim in parliament to discuss ‘Eve’s law’
Eve Thomas
DOMESTIC violence victim Eve Thomas will be in parliament today to discuss her Eve’s Law campaign.
She was invited by Shadow Justice Minister Dan Jarvis.
Ms Thomas, aged 45, was asked to go down to Westminster to meet the Labour MP to discuss Eve’s Law, which calls for domestic violence victims to be able to keep their addresses secret in court.
She started her campaign after she was forced to reveal her “safe” address in open court during a civil hearing in August.
She has since put in a complaint to Bolton County Court about the incident.
Ms Thomas will be accompanied by Sarah Day, a member of human rights barrister David Malone’s team, who also supports the cause, and will be presenting the full brief for Eve’s Law.
Ms Thomas, from Astley Bridge, said: “I received a call from the Labour Party who said they are supporting Eve’s Law and invited me down to parliament.”
Ms Thomas suffered 21 years of abuse by her ex-husband Michael Aldred, who was convicted of battery in 2011, and given a suspended sentence. She said: “When I think back to the trauma I have been though — it’s been awful.
“But I’m delighted that Mr Jarvis is supporting my campaign and even more so that he wants to meet me to discuss it.
My case may now be over but the fight has to continue for every other victim out there. Eve’s Law can protect so many victims of not only domestic violence but all kinds of abuse.
“Safe addresses should always be protected and victims should always be protected. It is a human right to feel safe within your own home. It is now time for common sense to prevail.”