'I will always be Kiena’s voice' Domestic abuse petition launched in name of Lancashire mum reaches milestone
“I will always be Kiena’s voice, and I will also be a voice for the many other girls we have lost”
A petition calling for stronger legal recognition of domestic abuse-related suicide has attracted almost 35,000 signatures.
The campaign for #KienasLaw, backed by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner and the charity Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA), was launched during the Domestic Abuse-Related Suicide Conference, held in memory of Kiena Dawes.
Kiena died in Lancashire in 2022, and her death prompted national discussion about the impact of domestic abuse and whether existing legislation adequately reflects the effects that coercive and controlling behaviour can have on victims and their families.
The campaign is calling for improved legal recognition of domestic abuse-related suicide, greater access to justice for bereaved families and a stronger response to the impact of coercive and controlling behaviour within the criminal justice system.
Kiena’s mum Angela Dawes is urging people to continue to sign the petition.
In a plea through the petition at Change.org she said: “I will always be Kiena’s voice, and I will also be a voice for the many other girls we have lost. Girls should not have to die to be heard. That is why I believe so strongly in Kiena’s Law. A standalone charge for the abuse Kiena suffered could help save lives and prevent other families experiencing the heartbreak we have endured.”
The conference brought together campaigners, bereaved families, frontline professionals and experts to discuss how domestic abuse-related suicides are recognised and addressed. A Blue Shoes installation was also displayed as a tribute to those who have died and the lasting impact on their families and communities.
Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: "The response following the conference has been overwhelming. It is clear that families, professionals, and members of the public recognise that too many victims are being failed by a system that does not fully acknowledge the devastating impact domestic abuse can have.
"Too often, victims and their loved ones are left without the answers or accountability they deserve. This campaign seeks to change that by ensuring the role domestic abuse can play in these tragic deaths is properly acknowledged, victims are recognised, and perpetrators are held to account where appropriate.