"Violence against women continues to persist as one of the most heinous, systematic and prevalent human rights abuses in the world"
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General
Welcome to the End Violence Against Women site
3 million women across the UK experience rape, domestic violence, forced marriage, trafficking, or other violence each year. Click here if you want to know more about the issue.
End Violence Against Women (EVAW) is a coalition representing 7 million individuals and organisations across the UK who believe we can and must create a world free from the threat and reality of violence against women.
****Latest news****
A step forwards in Wales...
Following effective lobbying by EVAW members in Wales, the Welsh Assembly Government is now consulting on updating its domestic abuse strategy and addressing all forms of violence against women. More info on the Welsh Women's Aid website.
June 2009
Thousands call on UK government to end abuse of women and girls
The Home Office has received thousands of responses to its consultation on a strategy to end violence against women and girls - vastly more than most consultations.
Key demands include:
- work in schools and public campaigns to prevent violence happening in the first place
- funding for women's support services
EVAW is advising the government on the development of the strategy as a member of its external stakeholder group.
Below are links to a selection of responses:
Asylum Aid's Refugee Women's Resource Project
National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
The strategy is expected to be published later this year.
June 2009
Have your say on plans to tackle violence against women in London
The Mayor has launched a draft strategy to tackle violence against women in London. Have your say on what needs to be done by going to http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/crime/vaw/
Consultation closes 20th July.
June 2009
Scotland's 'shared approach' to violence against women
The Scottish government has become the first national government in the UK to publish a violence against
women policy, Shared Lives, Changed Lives. Scotland has led the way for several years on broadening its domestic abuse strategy to cover sexual violence and other forms of violence against women. The policy is explicitly rooted in obligations under the Gender Equality Duty. Congratulations to all those in government, public bodies and the voluntary sector who have achieved this!
June 2009
Equality Bill published
The long-awaited Equality Bill has now been published with the aim of harmonising discrimination law and advancing equality for all. We welcome the Bill overall, and in particular proposals for a new duty on public bodies to advance equality for people of different backgrounds.
However, we have concerns that including religion or belief in the new duty could undermine the rights of women and other protected groups. Read more in our Briefing for the Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on 11th May.
May 2009
European Parliament supports UN "say
NO to violence against women" campaign
The European Parliament is supporting the UN's campaign against violence against women, headed by Nicole Kidman. 5 million people around the globe have already signed up to the campaign and MEPs are calling for a 'European Year on Zero Tolerance on violence against women.'
April 2009
The economy cannot be pitted against women's safety in this budget
EVAW is challenging the Treasury to shake off its macho image and commit to sustainable funding of violence against women services and invest in long-term work preventing violence against women. Read more on the New Statesman website...
Use our BRIEFING to lobby departments to play their part in ensuring women's safety.
April 2009
EVAW's monthly bulletin is a round-up of our campaign news, briefings, research etc. To sign up to the bulletin email Holly Dustin at holly.dustin@amnesty.org.uk.