A DETERMINED woman has made it her 'life mission' to campaign against domestic abuse after her sister-in-law was murdered by her ex-partner.

Melony Slack from Bracknell has chosen to support Avon and Refuge's campaign which calls for Oxford and Cambridge English Dictionaries to review and update their definition of domestic violence because it is too 'narrow'.

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It comes after Melony's sister-in-law Rachael Slack was killed in the hands of her ex in 2010 following years of abuse.

Rachael had never suffered physical domestic abuse before she was murdered so her sister wants the definition to be suited to all types of domestic abuse.

Ms Slack said: "Rachael was outgoing, bubbly, fun-loving, confident, hilarious and intelligent… the last person you would have thought to have been subject to what came to light.

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"I want to show victims and their families how they can get support through charities like Refuge - if we can help even one woman I will be delighted."

Bracknell News:

The current definition only limits to one kind of domestic abuse which is physical, however domestic abuse comes in many forms, including coercive control, verbal, emotional and financial.

Avon launched its campaign as part of the UN's 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, with the aim of raising awareness on domestic abuse from November 25 to December 10.

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The current definition of 'domestic violence - violent or aggressive behaviour within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner' is urged to be reviewed and changed to 'domestic abuse'.

National domestic violence charity, Refuge, and women’s empowerment body, Vital Voices, has joined with Avon to call on the dictionaries to make a change.

Natalie Deacon, president of Avon Foundation for Women, writes in the letter: " We urge the Oxford English Dictionary to launch an immediate consultation to review and update the definition of 'domestic violence' to 'domestic abuse'.

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"This is with a view to ensuring the definition is broadened from its current format to encompass the different types of intimate partner gender-based violence and abuse experienced by women and girls across the globe.

"We believe that updating the dictionary of domestic violence to one that is fit for the 21st century, would represent an important step."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please visit Refuge UK, www.refuge.org.uk, or call the Freephone 24 National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247).