Action to address sexualisation must go hand in hand with proper sex education
Responding to new measures to protect children from sexualisation, Holly Dustin, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said:
“Music videos and games that glorify sexual violence help create a culture in which women are stereotyped as sex objects and in which violence against women is normalised, so we welcome these further measures. We would urge that work on sexualisation is properly linked to other work on violence against women, including sexual consent and sexual exploitation.
“However, if the Government is truly serious about tackling sexualisation it must also look at ways of empowering young people. Michael Gove’s recent statement that sex education may not be needed is extremely worrying. There is clear evidence about the importance of age-appropriate sex and relationships education – which includes sexual consent, gender stereotypes, healthy relationships and media literacy – in providing young people with the information and support they need. All schools should be required to do this. We cannot continue to leave children’s health and safety to chance.“
May 2012
Ched Evans/Twitter: Connor Brown suspension and arrests of Tweeters who named woman
Holly Dustin, Director of End Violence Against Women, said:
"We welcome the news that the police have made arrests of those suspected of breaking the law by naming the woman raped by Ched Evans.
Alongside Rape Crisis England and Wales and Welsh Women's Aid we have
written to the Home Secretary to ask her to review the way that abuse
and harassment of women online is dealt with and how she will ensure that all schools work with young
people to tackle prejudicial attitudes to women and teach about healthy
relationships.
Today's suspension of Sheffield United player Connor Brown in relation to misogynistic and abusive comments he is alleged to have made on Twitter is also welcome. However, the Club's silence so far on the naming and abuse of the woman, as well as Ched Evans' conviction itself, is deafening and shows a lack of leadership. As with racism and homophobia in the sport, it's high time we kicked sexism out."
April 2012
Our joint statement with Rape Crisis England and Wales on the naming and abuse of the woman raped by Ched Evans is here.
London elections: parties set out their stall on violence against women at EVAW hustings
Cutting through the taxes and tears and going straight to the issues that have a big impact on women's lives in London, candidates from the four main parties told a crowd of activists and experts what they would do if elected on May 3rd.
Chaird by Bidisha, Natalie Bennett (Green Party), Kit Malthouse AM (Conservatives), Caroline
Pidgeon AM (Liberal Democrats) and Val Shawcross AM (Labour) answered questions ranging from cuts to women's services to action to tackle Female Genital Mutilation.
See what they are promising on violence against women here.
More than 1 in 4 women in London feel unsafe on public transport. Evaw launches London elections campaign with Yougov poll and women's safety manifesto
In the wake of findings that a quarter of women in London don't feel safe on public transport all of the time, EVAW calls for Mayoral and Assembly candidates to take action, including better staffing levels and staff training, better lighting and adequate policing.
TAKE ACTION!
Tweet/Facebook the Mayoral candidates what they will do to make London safe for all women
Victory for campaign to abolish no recourse to public funds rule for destitute women experiencing violence
The Home Office has introduced a concession allowing victims of domestic violence on spousal visas with no recourse to public funds (NRPFs) to access benefits and public housing while they apply for settlement under the ‘domestic violence rule’. Whilst this is a welcome step, campaigners are calling for protection for all women subject to this rule.
Violence against women is a men's issue, Michael Kaufman tells MPs
At a joint parliamentary event hosted by Helen Grant MP and End Violence Against Women, co-founder of the White Ribbon Campaign Michael Kaufman told a packed room of MPs, gender experts, youth workers and others that work with men and boys is essential for ending violence against women.
Michael presented Helen with a white ribbon badge and asked her to give it to David Cameron to wear to show his commitment to this issue.
TUC Women's conference calls for concrete action to support women and prevent violence
EVAW Director Holly Dustin joined Vera Baird QC, Prof Sylvia Walby, Denise Christie and Carolyn Jones on a panel discussion at TUC Women's Conference on 15th March about action needed to ensure women's support services are properly funded and to tackle attitudes that condone violence against women.
On International Women's Day (8th March) the Campaign to Abolish No Recourse to Public Funds called on the Home Office to save the lives of all women and children. Read the full statement here.
March 2012
Happy International Women's Day!
Today, 8th March, celebrations are taking place around the world to mark women's huge achievements as well as campaigning for women’s true safety and equality.
Here in the UK there is still a long way to go…
• 2 women a week are killed by a partner or former partner in England and Wales
• There were over 1700 calls to the Forced Marriage Unit in 2010
• 1 in 3 girls say they experience unwanted sexual contact in school in the UK
• Sexist and sexualised images of women are widespread in daily newspapers, music videos, ads and the internet creating a culture in which harassment and abuse flourishes.
So we were delighted to be at the No 10 International Women’s Day reception this morning to discuss the need to take real action to prevent violence against women and girls with the Prime Minister David Cameron.
Our members Vivienne Hayes and Natalie Ntim of the Women’s Resource Centre (pictured outside No 10) gave Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg a ‘Why Women?’ badge to wear.
EVAW Director, Holly Dustin, will be speaking on Fawcett’s panel at the South bank Women of the World festival tomorrow on women’s power in an age of austerity. 11.30am, Level 5 Function room, Royal Festival Hall. Details here
March 2012
EVAW APPLAUDS UK DECISION TO SIGN UP TO EUROPEAN WOMEN TREATY
This decision comes after significant lobbying by our members so a huge congratulations to everyone who took part in this campaign. See EVAW Co-Chair Professor Liz Kelly’s statement here and the TUC blog here.
March 2012
Labour's Commission on Women's Safety
EVAW was pleased to hold a special session on action needed to prevent violence with former Solicitor General Vera Baird QC as part of Everywoman Safe Everywhere. Our expert members gave evidence on the need for;
action on sexualisation and media sexism
work with young people in all schools to tackle sexual harassment, consent, forced marriage, FGM and teen relationship abuse
public awareness campaigns to challenge attitudes that tolerate or condone violence
The evidence of our expert members was so powerful that it was annexed in the report published. We want to see politicians from all parties commit to concrete action to ensure a safer world for women and girls.
Young people are bombarded with messages that blur the lines of what sexual consent means, so we welcome the new Home Office campaign, ThisisABUSE, to tackle sexual abuse in teen relationships. We want to see long-term investments in these kinds of campaigns, alongside funding for support services.
However, we are astonished that the Department for Education will not promote the campaign schools directly but will use Twitter and Facebook instead. This is unacceptable with an issue like children's safety.
We believe that all schools should have a statutory obligation to deal with this issue through Sex and Relationships Education which should include sexual consent, healthy and respectful relationships, sexualisation and gender equality.
EVAW Director Holly Dustin was interviewed on the BBC News Channel to call for all parts of government to pull together on this critical issue.
Take the Mumsnet survey on rape and sexual violence
EVAW, along with our member Rape Crisis England and Wales, are supporting Mumsnet's new campaign which has kicked off with a survey on women's experiences of rape and sexual violence. The survey is here and you don't need to have experienced abuse to take part.
March 2012
EVAW are delighted to be part of EQUALS
EVAW is very pleased to be part of the EQUALS coalition, a partnership of leading charities brought together to step up the call for an equal world. EQUALS have just launched eight short films about different aspects of gender inequality, designed to get people talking about whether men and women are equal in 2012. Find out more at their website, www.weareequals.org.
March 2012
Police failings in rape cases - we need a revolution in our approach
Responding to the publication of the joint HMCI and HMCPSI report on the investigation and prosecution iof rape in England, Holly Dustin, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said;
"It is deeply troubling that the 'no-criming' rate has remained the same since the last Inspection, and is significantly higher than for other similar violent offences. The high variation between different police forces shows that women across the country continue to receive patchy and inconsistent responses.
After repeated Inspections and reports showing that the system is failing women, it is clear that we need a revolution in our approach to rape. For the police this means starting from the basic principle of believing the complainant and supporting her through the process. But it goes much broader, and must include work to tackle prejudicial attitudes in schools, the community, criminal justice agencies and other public bodies. Of fundamental importance is ensuring sustainable funding for Rape Crisis centres to support the vast majority of survivors of sexual violence who don't report to the police or authorities."
Cambridge Union should disinvite Dominic Strauss-Kahn
We fully support Cambridge University Students Union in their campaign for Cambridge Union to disinvite DSK to an event next week. DSK is a powerful global figure who has been accused of a string of sexual offences and is currently under investigation for his involvement in a prostitution ring.
We have received a letter from Mr Murdoch. This is in response to our letter to him setting out the concerns we raised about media sexism, Page 3 and the inaccurate and prejudicial reporting of violence against women at the Leveson Inquiry. We asked for a meeting to discuss these issues.
He took our concerns seriously and sent us this reply.
February 2012
Sick of sexist ads? Complain!
The Advertising Standards Authority recently banned a sexist Ryanair ad so complaining works. On our Take Action page (at the bottom) we provide links to all the key regulators for TV, radio and newspapers.
Women's organisations call on Defra to ensure rural women's safety
Along with our partners NFWI, Eaves Housing, NUS and Women's Aid, EVAW submitted a response to Defra's consultation on the new rural policy functions within Government and proposed abolition of the Commission for Rural Communities. We raised concerns about the abolition of the CRC and highlighted our concerns for women and girls living in rural communities who are experiencing violence and their ability to access services. Our submission was supported by Map of Gaps 2, NFWI's Violence Against Women in Rural and Urban Areas, and the Women's Resource Centre's Still We Rise.
The Sun questioned about Page 3 at Leveson
Sun editor, Dominic Mohan, has been questioned at the Leveson Inquiry about Page 3 following evidence given to the Inquiry by EVAW, Object, Equality Now and Eaves. See Inquiry webcast from 177 mins on the afternoon of 7th February.
EVAW Director, Holly Dustin, responded to his evidence by saying:
“We are delighted that the sexualisation of women in the media has been put under the spotlight of a high-ranking judicial inquiry. The message to government from Mr Mohan’s evidence is clear; parts of the media simply do not understand how their portrayal of women, whether in pictures or stories, are part of a culture in which women are unequal and sexual harassment and abuse flourishes.
“The Prime Minister has made clear his intention to tackle sexualisation and we would urge that the next step in this agenda must be to look at the production of sexist and misogynistic images in newspapers, social media, music videos and advertising. We also need to ensure that young people are empowered through proper sex education and media literacy classes to deal with the bombardment of sexualised images they face in their daily lives.”
See our joint press release with Object, Turn Your Back on Page 3, Equality Now and Eaves.
See the Guardian's report and download Mohan's further statement to the Inquiry about Page 3.
February 2012
Blanket ban on criminals claiming compensation is wrong approach
The Government is proposing to reform the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and make criminals contribute to the cost of victims' services. Whilst we welcome a consultation on the complex and arbitrary compensation scheme, we do not support cost-cutting measures that will exclude many victims from claiming compensation and do nothing to plug the gaps in provision for women who experience sexual or domestic violence, forced marriage or other crimes.
On Tuesday 24th January EVAW Co Chair, Marai Larasi, gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry about the inaccurate, prejudicial and biassed reporting of violence against women.
EVAW members Eaves Housing, Object and Equality Now also gave evidence about the way that women are sexualised and objectified in the media and subject to prejudice and discrimination.
We called for:
The PCC to be replaced by a stronger body which will hear complaints from groups as well as individuals; which has powers to investigate on its own authority as well as acting on complaints; which is independent of the press and has representatives of equality groups on it; of which membership is compulsory; and which can impose strong sanctions when complaints are upheld, including perhaps fines.
This new body to carry out ongoing monitoring of patterns of discrimination.
Journalists to receive training on the myths and realities about violence against women and how to treat victims.
A new code of practice to be developed for the way ‘case studies’ are dealt with by the media.
Regulation of printed materials to be consistent with other forms of media regulation so that if sexually objectifying material would not pass pre-watershed restrictions on the television it should not be printed in unrestricted newspapers.
Schools to be required to tackle gender inequality and gender stereotypes and deliver media literacy classes.
In a year in which Vincent Tabak was convicted of the murder of Joanna Yeates, Charlotte Church told the Leveson Inquiry of The Sun's countdown clock to her 16th birthday, and Facebook refused to take down ‘rape’ pages, our campaign for a world free from abuse and exploitation of women and girls was more important than ever before.
We have produced authoritative reports and campaigns, met key politicians (including Nick Clegg, Theresa May, Ed Miliband and Yvette Cooper), spoken at national and grassroots events, and used traditional and new media to achieve change. With your support we can do even more next year so please make a donation, however small. Your support is hugely appreciated.
Our latest bulletin gives an overview of the year.
See you in 2012!
Our political leaders must support the Human Rights Act
EVAW, along with 40 other NGOs, is supporting the British Institute of Human Rights in calling for our political leaders to support the Human Rights Act as something to be treasured and championed. A joint letter from the NGOs was published in The Times on International Human Rights Day, 10th December, just days before the UN Human Rights Chief is due to warn the UK that any attempt to overhaul the Human Rights Act will have a negative impact on global democracy at an Equality and Diversity Forum event.
December 2011
Experts advise the Government that schools must tackle all forms of violence against women and girls
In its response to the Department for Education's review of Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education guidance for schools, the Department's advisory group on violence against women (of which EVAW is a member) has stated that all schools should be required to address sexual bullying and harassment, childhood sexual abuse, teenage relationship abuse, forced marriage, FGM, sexual exploitation. The group's response can be downloaded here.
November 2011
Tell the Government to stand up for women's rights in the UK & across Europe
On International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women we are calling on the UK Government to step up it's action on violence against women at home and abroad:
We are supporting the TUC's campaign to urge the UK Government to sign the Council of Europe Convention on Violence Against Women.
We have written a joint letter to the Guardian with the Women's Institute and other women's groups to warn that legal aid cuts are risking women's safety.
We urge the Prime Minister to take action on Forced Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and 'Honour-Based' Violenc, following Imkaan's open letter to him setting out how ethnic minority girls at risk of abuse are failed.
Having been launched in 2005 to campaign for more integrated approaches to domestic and sexual violence, forced marriage, trafficing and other violence against women, we warmly welcome the publication of local violence against women strategies in Lambeth and Bristol. We look forward to other local authorities following suit.
November 2011
New Imkaan report on FGM, forced marriage and 'honour-based' violence sent to the PM
EVAW member Imkaan has today written to the Prime Minister urging him to work with key ministers to develop the government's violence against women and girls action plan to eradicate forced marriage, ‘honour-based' violence and female genital mutilation (sometimes referred to as ‘female circumcision') in the UK.
The report is damning in its broad finding that despite the thousands of girls at risk in the UK, there is no consistent approach by authorities to deal with these issues. Health workers including GPs, social workers and teachers receive no mandatory training in this area and there is a real and dangerous postcode lottery of support services for girls and women should they try to find help.
November 2011
NGOs flag concerns over the UK's human rights record
EVAW is one of 44 NGOs supporting the British Institute of Human Rights' coordinated submission to the UN on it's examination of the UK under the Universal Periodic Review process. Key concerns raised include the UK's failure to sign up to the European Convention on Violence Against Women (VAW) and the lack of progress on a VAW oversight body.
November 2011
In a sexualised world what's the connection between the media and violence against women?
At FEM11 on saturday 12th November, EVAW ran a packed workshop on the role the media plays in providing a conducive context for violence against women to flourish, and conversely how we can use the media to tackle VAWG. We had a fun and lively debate with lots of creative ideas for action. Blogged at Open Democracy, sian and crooked rib and stop whistling, start listening.
November 2011
Funding for sexual violence services welcome, but gangs strategy must be joined up to work on women's safety
Responding to the Government's new 'Ending Gang and Youth Violence' report and announcement of £1.2 million funding over 3 years for sexual violence services for young people, Professor Liz Kelly, Co-Chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said:
"We know that girls are particularly affected by gang-related sexual violence, but also sexual violence more generally. It's long been a national scandal that most young victims don't have access to specialist services to support them to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence, so we warmly welcome this new funding.
"However, we are concerned that much of the gang strategy appears largely disconnected from work on sexual exploitation or the Government's strategy on violence against women and girls.
"We urge the Government to take stock of issues affecting women at this early stage and ensure that women's safety and equality runs throughout all elements of the anti-gangs strategy. This means, for example, connecting work in schools on youth violence to work tackling attitudes to women; ensuring that there is expertise on violence against women and girls on the Ending Gang and Youth Violence Team; and that the network of 100 expert advisers are trained on these issues."
New WI report makes case against legal aid reforms
EVAW member the WI has launched a new report and short film about the proposed changes to the legal aid system which would leave many women without proper access to justice and potentially at risk of violence. Read the report and watch the film here, and take action here.
PM announces action on sexualisation but schools are missed out
Following the Bailey Review on the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood earlier this year, the Prime Minister has announced action to tackle this issue including:
An opt-in to blocking internet porn for new customers of TalkTalk, BT, Sky, Virgin and a child protection app for smartphones
Parentport - a single website for parents to complain about products, ads or services
Guidelines restricting outdoor ads with sexual images near schools and a voluntary ban on ads near schools for lap-dancing clubs etc
A ban on peer to peer marketing of under 15s
We welcome these initiatives but, as we argued in our response to the review, think they should be much bolder, and rooted in women and children's rights. Sexualisation goes beyond just young people, it provides the context for a culture in which violence against women and girls flourishes.
One of the holes in these plans is work in schools and empowering young people to deal with the messages they are bombarded with depicting women as sex objects. Brook has published research showing that young people are being failed by inadequate sex education. Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) and Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education are the ideal places for young people to discuss issues around sexualisation, sexual consent and healthy relationships.
In a letter to EVAW, Rights of Women and Rape Crisis England and Wales following the Justice Secretary's comments about rape, the PM says he believes young people should receive high quality SRE. So why are we still leaving this to chance?
October 2011
EVAW at Party Conferences
End Violence Against Women Coalition board and staff members attended this year's party conferences where we met Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women, Yvette Cooper and Conservative Party Co-Chairman Baroness Warsi. We put questions to Ministers about the role of schools in dealing with issues like forced marriage and sexual harassment, and women's safety in relation to the Olympics.
October 2011
Women's groups welcome teenage relationship abuse campaign
The End Violence Against Women (EVAW) Coalition today welcomed the launch of a new Government campaign, This is ABUSE, to tackle abuse in teenage relationships, and called for an ongoing investment in this kind of initiative to challenge attitudes which condone violence against women and girls.
A Yougov poll for EVAW last year found that 1 in 3 girls experience unwanted sexual contact in UK schools and our short video, We Are Man, is aimed at tackling young men's attitudes to sexual violence.
September 2011
Funding cuts by local authorities risk women’s safety and support - new research
Local Authorities are ignoring Ministers’ warnings that violence against women services should not be a soft target for funding cuts and are risking women’s safety and support, according to the TUC, End Violence Against Women Coalition and Women’s Resource Centre.
Research published by the False Economy campaign shows that numerous support services for women are having their funding cut or withdrawn. These services are essential for women to access safety, justice and to rebuild their lives.
August 2011
Seb Coe promises action on women's safety and the Olympics - EVAW campaign success
Following the EVAW Coalition's call for action by Olympics organisers LOCOG, its chair Lord Coe has written to EVAW promising to put information on the law on domestic violence, rape and prostitution in athletes' packs, and that the Games leaders will champion women's equality publicly as a central part of London 2012's legacy.
This follows publication of our report on the connections between major sporting events and violence against women in July which was covered on BBC London news.
We are in ongoing discussions with the police, the GLA, the Westminster Government, the key London boroughs and sports bodies. Watch this space for how to get involved and take action on women's safety.
August 2011
Steps to Safety marks Welsh Government's progress on violence against women and girls
New visual report shows what progress the Welsh Government has made since launching its strategy The Right to be Safe last year. This innovative report has been published by the Wales Violence Against Women Group and is a launched on the day Welsh politicians debate women's safety.
July 2011
EVAW launches ground-breaking 'A Different World is Possible' report and hard-hitting 'viral' film, 'We are Man'
Click here to download the full report and here for the summary.
Click here for the report showcasing promising practices
Media enquiries: Sarah Green, 07984 717 817
Take Action now! Use our template letters and campaign postcard to ensure schools play their part in creating a safer world for women and girls.
Click here for resources for schools and teachers.
June 2011
Our campaigns
A Different World is Possible!
Schools must play their part in preventing violenceagainst women and girls.
1 in 3 girls in the UK experience unwanted sexual contact or sexual harassment at school. Violence against women and girls is not inevitable. We need urgent action to ensure that schools, colleges & unis play their part in creating a safer world for women and girls. Take action now!
Map of Gaps campaign to end the postcode lottery of funding for VAWG services
1 in 4 local authorities in Britain don't have Rape Crisis Centres, specialist domestic violence projects or support for BME women. We believe women have the right to support wherever they live. Click here to find out more.
Holding governments to account
Home Secretary Theresa May says that her ambition is "nothing less than ending violence against women."
Governments around the UK are developing strategies on VAWG. Our members make sure they keep their promises to act on women's safety. Click here to find out more and here for our template VAWG strategy.
Follow us on
Get our monthly bulletin - a round-up of campaign news, briefings, research etc. To sign up email admin@evaw.org.uk.
London elections: parties set out their stall on violence against women at EVAW hustings
White Ribbon Campaign 
TUC Women's conference calls for concrete action to support women and prevent violence
Our members Vivienne Hayes and Natalie Ntim of the Women’s Resource Centre (pictured outside No 10) gave Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg a ‘Why Women?’ badge to wear.
We fully support Cambridge University Students Union in their campaign for Cambridge Union to disinvite DSK to an event next week. DSK is a powerful global figure who has been accused of a string of sexual offences and is currently under investigation for his involvement in a prostitution ring.
Human Rights Act
Experts advise the Government that schools must tackle all forms of violence against women and girls 
human rights record 
we met Shadow Home Secretary and Minister for Women, Yvette Cooper and Conservative Party Co-Chairman Baroness Warsi. We put questions to Ministers about the role of schools in dealing with issues like forced marriage and sexual harassment, and women's safety in relation to the Olympics.
against women and girls. 
1 in 4 local authorities in Britain don't have Rape Crisis Centres, specialist domestic violence projects or support for BME women. We believe women have the right to support wherever they live. Click 