The mother of Lancashire woman Kiena Dawes has renewed her call for legal reform to tackle coercive and controlling behaviour, saying: "My daughter had to die to be heard."
Ahead of the fourth anniversary of Kiena's death on July 22, Angela Dawes is urging the public to back the campaign for "Kiena's Law," which aims to strengthen protections for victims of domestic abuse and coercive control.
Kiena, a 23-year-old mother from Lancashire, died in July 2022 after experiencing prolonged domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Speaking ahead of the anniversary, Angela paid an emotional tribute to her daughter and said more must be done to ensure victims are protected before it is too late.
She said: "I'm going to speak from my heart.
"My girl didn't want to die.
"My girl wanted to live. But she lived in fear.
"We've lost a beautiful, very special, kind young girl who's missed so much, not just by me but by so many other people.
"Every day I look into that little girl's eyes, her baby, and I just wish that her mummy was here for her, and she's not.
"Kiena had a right to live.
"She wasn't protected by the people that she should have been protected by."
Angela said her daughter repeatedly sought help but remained frightened.
She added: "She did reach out over and over again, and I was proud of her for that.
"But she was scared."
Since her daughter's death, Angela has campaigned to keep Kiena's story in the public eye and push for changes to the law.
"I'll always be Kiena's voice," she said.
"I'll also be a voice not just for Kiena but for the girls that have been lost as well.
"My heart goes out to those families.
"Changes need to be made.
"Girls shouldn't have to die to be heard, and my daughter had to die to be heard.
"There was so much victim blaming."
Campaigners are calling for the introduction of a standalone offence that would better recognise serious patterns of coercive, controlling, and abusive behaviour before violence escalates.
Angela said she believes the proposals could save lives.
"To have a standalone charge for things like what Kiena went through, I do feel is so important," she said.
"Nothing is ever going to bring my baby back, but if we can change things moving forward, I'd hate to see another family go through what we've been through."
The campaign has been spearheaded by Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who has worked alongside Angela and Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) to raise awareness of domestic abuse-related suicides and press for legislative change.
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More than 16,000 people have now signed the Kiena's Law petition, according to campaign organisers.
Frank Mullane, chief executive of AAFDA, said Kiena's case had exposed "a serious gap in the law."
He said: "Too often, when a victim dies by suicide following prolonged domestic abuse, coercive control, and intimidation, the full impact of that abuse is not recognised by the criminal justice system.
"Kiena's Law represents an opportunity to recognise the devastating and sometimes fatal consequences of coercive and controlling behaviour, improve accountability, and help prevent future deaths."
Mr Grunshaw added: "Kiena's story has touched people across Lancashire and beyond.
"Angela's determination to campaign for change in her daughter's memory is both courageous and inspiring.
"We must continue to learn lessons, improve protections for victims, and ensure that women and girls are supported when they seek help."
Angela is encouraging people to sign and share the petition in the hope that Kiena's legacy will help drive change and prevent other families from suffering similar losses.
She said: "Please make changes before girls have to die to be heard.
"Please don't give up.
"Let's stop losing girls in this way."
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