News & Events
Honour for women's rights campaigner Lee Eggleston
Lee Eggleston of South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC) has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours list. Lee is Chair of Rape Crisis (England and Wales) and East Region Representative.
Lee said: “I am delighted to receive this honour on behalf of all of the women and girls I have met and worked with. SERICC is a pioneering organisation and has served our local community for more than 25 years. This year, 455 women and girls have used SERICC services. We see the award as recognition of the often hidden struggle of the many issues women and girls face when coping with the impact of sexual violence on their lives and acknowledgement of the dedication of all colleagues at South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre (SERICC)and Rape Crisis (England and Wales)"
Congratulations Lee!
June 2011
EVAW is referred to in PMQs
Click here to see a video of Prime Minister's Questions in which the Opposition Leader, Ed Miliband, referred to EVAW when questioning the PM about Ken Clarke's comments on rape.
Responding to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s remarks concerning categories of rape today (18 May), End Violence Against Women Coalition Co-Chair Professor Liz Kelly said:
“The
Justice Secretary's comments appear to trivialise the seriousness of
rape and are in conflict with the Government’s own Violence Against
Women Strategy which seeks to tackle attitudes that condone sexual
violence, and to improve the criminal justice system’s response to rape.
“The
facts are that around 60,000 women are raped in Britain every year -
the majority by partners or men they know - and only a tiny fraction,
around one in ten, report it to the police. Of these few cases, less
than 7% result in conviction.
“We want to see more
perpetrators brought to justice and convicted and better treatment of
rape survivors. However we are very concerned that the Justice
Secretary's comments reinforce common myths and stereotypes about what
rape really is, he seems to be relying on an outdated understanding
that only rape of strangers is 'real rape' and harmful.
“The End Violence Against Women Coalition wants to see urgent action to
tackle attitudes that condone rape and prevent it from happening in the
first place: this includes public campaigns to tackle stereotypes -
such as that 'date rape' is less serious - as well as making it
mandatory for all schools to deal with sexual consent and healthy
relationships.
“These comments come in the same week that Nadine Dorries MP suggested
that there might be less sex abuse if girls were taught to 'just say
no'. Clearly deep misunderstanding about sexual violence pervades all
sections of society so we want to see better training for professionals
including police, doctors, probation officers and teachers, and
possibly MPs too!"
EVAW Response to Nadine Dorries’ “Just Say No to Sex” Bill
Holly Dustin, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said:
“Nadine Dorries' "Just Say No to Sex" Bill is entirely the wrong approach and risks turning the clock back on women's rights. There is no evidence that abstinence programmes reduce teenage pregnancies or promote healthy relationships. Rather, they deny young people crucial information they need about sexual consent, respect and equality - vital in our society which is saturated by sexualised images that give a distorted view of sex and gender roles.
Moreover, Dorries' view that girls should be taught to "say no to a boyfriend who insists on sexual relations" smacks of the worst kind of victim blaming for sexual violence, suggesting that young women do not say no currently. In fact we know from research not only that young women do refuse sex but more significantly that young men choose not to hear this. Where are boys and men's responsibilities in all this for ensuring consent?
The 10 Minute Rule Bill should never have got this far and only did so because not enough MPs took it seriously. Whilst it is unlikely to become law, those who know that this is a retrograde and sexist approach need to stand up and be counted when it comes back to the Commons.”
European Convention on Violence Against Women adopted - improved legal protection for women all over Europe
The Council fo Europe has formally adopted a new convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The convention requires governments to take action to prevent, investigate and prosecute violence against women, and encourages the sharing of best practice and the promotion of women's equality before the law. Women's organisations and human rights organisations includiong Amnesty International have lobbied for the convention because in particular laws on rape and sexual violence are not enforced adn there is entrenched impunity for violence against women. The text of the treaty is now agreed by all 47 member states and the next stage is for each country to sign up to and ratfiy the treaty so that its measures come into force.
Huge coalition of women's organisations write to Theresa May expressing great concern about potential impact of child benefit changes
The Guardian publishes today (6 April) a letter from a large group of women's organisations including the End Violence Against Women Coalition to Home Secretary Theresa May. We ask her to look again at proposals to change child maintenance which we believe will have a devastating impact on women raising children alone.
EVAW calls for schools to take urgent action in response to alarming police data on sexual abuse against girls
Responding to NSPCC's research on cases of child sexual abuse reported to the police (26 May), End Violence Against Women Coalition spokesperson Somali Cerise said:
"The finding from police data that at least 64 children are being sexually abused every day in England and Wales and that 86 percent of these assaults are taking place against girls should ringing alarm bells for the Coalition Government. These figures are just the tip of the iceberg since the large majority cases go unreported. Schools and children's services are clearly failing in their obligations to keep girls and young women safe from sexual abuse.
"The finding that a significant number of perpetrators of sexual abuse are young people signals the need for the Department for Education to ensure that every school teaches young people about sexual consent, healthy relationships and respect in an age-appropriate manner. Importantly, schools need work with young men and boys early to prevent sexual abuse against girls from happening in the first place.
"We urge the government to act to ensure that every primary and secondary school in England introduces and enforces a zero tolerance policy on violence against young women and girls as an immediate priority. All school staff - teaching and non-teaching- must receive training to respond to these issues. It is clear from this research that young girls need safe spaces to discuss these issues and seek support. Schools must ensure that children and young people who experience sexual violence have access to specialist support in the community."
May 2011
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!
On the Centenary of International Women's Day we respond to the UK Government's Action Plan on violence against women and girls. We believe that bringing together existing work is helpful but want to see more concrete proposals for achieving change, both at national and local levels.
Click here for our comments on Sky news.
- After decades of under-investment we warmly welcome the opening of new Rape Crisis Centres plus funding for other women's services. This comes at a time when women's groups have deep concerns about their future due to funding cuts.
- The Government's focus on preventing violence is welcome. Eg campaigns to tackle sexual and domestic abuse as well as new questions on attitudes to violence in the British Crime Survey - a key ask from EVAW's Prevention Project.
- However current plans to address sexual
consent
and work with young people in schools are disappointingly weak. We are
calling on Education Secretary Michael Gove to take a much stronger
stance on changing attitudes and preventing abuse of women and girls
through education.
- Whilst the Bailey Review on the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood is included in the Action Plan we believe it needs to be much more firmly embedded in the violence against women and girls work. Most importantly it must start from a perspective of children's and women's human rights.
- The Government also promises to review the evidence from our joint seminars with Southall Black Sisters on tackling violence against BME women.
However - whilst the Government is making positive moves at home, at a European level it is singing a different tune and attempting to weaken women's rights in a key treaty.
Click here for our letter in the Guardian today with a powerful lobby of organisations including the Women's Institute, Amnesty UK and the TUC calling on the Government to stop this double dealing.
Click here for EVAW co-Chair Marai Larasi's comment in The Times today.
8th March 2011
Funding for Rape Crisis Centres welcomed by women's groups
The End Violence Against Women Coalition has welcomed the announcement by Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke of funding for Rape Crisis Centres of £10.5 million over next three years.
Click here for Liz's comment on the BBC news.
Click here for comment by Rape Crisis England and Wales
January 2011
Honours for EVAW Board members
Many congratulations to EVAW Board members Janet Veitch and Marai Larasi who were honoured in the New Years honours list. Janet was given an OBE for services to women's rights and gender equality, and Marai Larasi was given an MBE for services to Black and Minority Ethnic women.
January 2011
Violence Against Women plan welcomed by women's groups
On UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25th November) Home Secretary Theresa May has set out her vision for ending violence against women with a focus on:
- preventing violence and challenging attitudes and behaviours
- providing support for victims
- working in partnership with public bodies and community groups
- reducing the risk to women and girls and bringing perpetrators to justice
This replaces the previous government's strategy and follows years of campaigning by members of the EVAW Coalition to comply with UN obligations to take such an approach.
Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: "We are delighted that the Home Secretary is championing this as a priority issue. This sends out a strong message that rape, domestic violence, trafficking and other violence against women is totally unacceptable. We believe that all public bodies have a role to play in ensuring support for victims, bringing perpetrators to justice and beginning the long-term task of preventing violence before it begins."
An action plan will be published next Spring and EVAW is calling for it to include:
- A long-term programme of work to prevent violence, including teaching young people about healthy relationships and respect for girls as well as ongoing public awareness raising campaigns similar to drink drive campaigns
- Funding to ensure specialist women's services in the community are funded such as Rape Crisis Centres, domestic violence projects and support for ethnic minority women
- Coordination across all government departments so that all schools, police forces, social services and health authorities play their part
- Regular monitoring and reporting of the plan
November 2010
Keep violence against women and girls on the education agenda
Take action for 16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women and Girls
The Home Secretary Theresa May MP says that the prevention of violence against women and girls through education, is a priority for the Coalition Government.
The Coalition Government will be publishing a ‘strategic narrative’ on violence against women and girls (VAWG) on 25 November 2010, followed by an action plan next Spring.
The Coalition Government's commitment to teaching sexual consent in
schools is welcome but it is not enough to ensure the safety of girls
in schools and to effectively tackle attitudes that condone violence
against women and girls.
Urgent action is needed to keep the Coalition Government to its promise
to ensure that prevention through education and support for young women
experiencing violence is a focus of the forthcoming strategy.
Take action now
- Download our campaign leaflet on keeping violence against women and girls on the schools agenda.
- Use our template letter to write to or email Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education to ask for violence against women and girls to be a priority for the Department for Education.
A safer, fairer world for women is possible.
November 2010
EVAW calls for stronger equality law to empower community groups
See our response to the consultation on the Single Equality Duty by clicking here
November 2010
Outrage over jailing of rape complainant
EVAW, Rape Crisis and others have expressed outrage at the jailing of a woman for 'falsely retracting' an allegation of repeated rape by her husband.
Click on links below for Holly Dustin's widely reported comments:
November 2010
Spending Review risks women's safety
By making women poorer, through benefit cuts and cuts to public sector jobs, the Coalition Government puts women's safety at risk says the End Violence Against Women Coalition. Decreasing women's income and increasing women's financial dependence on men puts them at risk of violence from partners and sexual exploitation.
We condemn the decision by the Coalition Government to take money away from women and children.
Click here for the Women's Budget Group response
Click here for the Fawcett response
October 2010
Holly Dustin warns against cuts to women's services at TUC rally
EVAW Director, Holly Dustin, addressed the TUC Rally against public sector funding cuts today warning of the risk to the already-fragile violence against women sector. There were cheers from the packed Westminster Central Hall when she highlighted the case of Croydon Rape Crisis Centre which successfully fought a threatened cut of £27,000.
Click here for media coverage of the event
19th October
1 in 3 girls experience unwanted sexual touching
Sexual harassment in schools widespread
We are calling for the Coalition Government to take 
urgent
action in response to a Yougov poll finding that 71% of 16-18 year olds
experience daily or weekly sexual harassment. Furthermore, 1 in 3 girls
say they've experienced unwanted sexual touching.
Professor Liz Kelly, chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said;
"Schools are failing in their ethical and legal responsibility to challenge all forms of violence against women and girls and provide safe and supportive environments for female students."
The poll has received widespread coverage in the UK including The Daily Mail, Express, and The Belfast Telegraph as well as international media.
Click here to download the press release
Click here for the poll results
Take action - make the Coalition Government keeps its promise
Home Secretary Theresa May MP says violence against 
women
and girls (VAWG) is a priority. The Inter-Ministerial Group on VAWG
meets on 19th October and a 'strategic narrative' will be published in
November so now is the time to have your say.
Take action! Download our campaign leaflet on the Big Society and VAWG.
Use our template letter to key government departments to influence the strategy. Please tell the Coalition Government how important it is that women have support (access to Rape Crisis Centres, specialist domestic violence projects and services for ethnic minority women) no matter where they live, and that the crucial task of preventing violence is begun.
A safer, fairer world for women is possible.
Click here for the campaign leaflet
Click here for the template letter
October 2010
Equality developments
In Britain, most provisions of the Equality Act 2010 has now come into force with the aim of harmonising and simplifying discrimination law. However, the Public Sector Equality Duty, replacing the Gender, Race and Disability Equality Duties, is likely to come into force next year. A consultation on the specific duties is out now.
The European Union's 5 year Strategy for promoting equality between women and men has been published including measures to tackle gender-based violence with a focus on eradicating female genital mutilation.
October 2010
Ed Miliband says violence against women is "one of the great social injustices of our time"
Congratulations to newly elected Labour leader Ed Miliband. Ed told us during the campaign that if elected he would:
- Champion a cross-government strategy on violence against women
- Appoint a lead in the Shadow Cabinet to coordinate action across the Party, then Government
- Intervene early to stop violence occuring and educate boys about respect for women and girls
- Ensure women's services are resourced and supported
Click here for his full response. We will be working to ensure that Ed and his new team keep their promises.
September 2010
Anger at plans to abolish Women's National Commission
The Women's National Commission (WNC) is on a list leaked to the Telegraph of bodies to be scrapped. This is despite representations to the Coalition Government from EVAW and countless others about the critical role it plays as an independent body bringing the voice of women to government.
Holly Dustin, Director of EVAW, said;
"Abolishing the WNC would be an extremely shortsighted move: It would save peanuts but cut small, grassroots women's organisations adrift from power and decision-making.
This is a body blow to an already vulnerable sector from a government that says it wants to empower women's organisations to participate in the Big Society.
It would be hugely disappointing if the new Minister for Women presided over the destruction of the last piece of machinery that is dedicated to addressing women's needs - and that has done so much valuable work for the violence against women and girls sector."
Click here for statement by WNC Chair, Baroness Joyce Gould.
September 2010
Have your say on how to end violence against BME women & girls
EVAW and Southall Black Sisters (SBS) are consulting on a UK-wide
strategy on violence against BME women and girls. The seminars will be
hosted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). 
These events will be crucial in informing policies around the UK, including the Westminster Government's strategy so please come and share your experiences and ideas.
13 October 2010 Birmingham
25 October 2010 London
27 October 2010 Manchester
1 November 2010 Glasgow
3 November 2010 Cardiff
Click here to download booking form. For further information contact SBS on Tel 020 8571 9595 or info@southallblacksisters.co.uk
Consultation on Single Equality Duty launched
Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone has launched a consultation on the Single Equality Duty which will replace the existing Gender, Race and Disability Equality Duties. The Duties are a powerful tool for making sure public bodies address violence against women so have your say on how to ensure that the new Duty leads to real action. Click here for link to consultation. Closing date 10th November.
August 2010
Home Office to publish cross-government violence against women strategy in Spring 2011
EVAW is delighted that the Coalition Government has confirmed in the Home Office's draft Structural Reform Plan that a new violence against women strategy will be published early next year. There were real concerns after the previous government's strategy was archived, despite a lengthy and costly consultation process.
We urge the Coalition Government not to reinvent the wheel and waste the huge amount of evidence gathered in the consultation process. We are calling for the strategy to:
- Be based on the principles of equality and human rights
- Ensure all government departments and public bodies play their part in ending violence against women and girls
- Focus on the crucial task of preventing violence in the first place
- Ensure adequate funding for specialised services so that all women and girls have access to the support they need.
We will be meeting the Coalition Government to discuss the content of the new strategy.
August 2010
Labour candidates tell EVAW how they would tackle violence against women and girls
The lacklustre campaign to be Leader of the Opposition is 
hardly the X Factor but who wins is critical to women's rights. We asked
the candidates what action they would take to tackle violence against
women and girls and set out their answers here. We welcome the warm
words but urge Labour's future leader to be much bolder on this
critical issue, or s/he risks getting left behind. See what you think!
Click here for Diane Abbott's response
Click here for Ed Ball's response
Click here for Andy Burnham's response
Click here for David Miliband's response
Click here for Ed Miliband's response
Click here for Holly Dustin's New Statesman article arguing that Labour's future leader needs to take a more radical stance.
August 2010
Home Office to publish cross-government violence against women strategy in Spring 2011
EVAW is delighted that the Coalition Government has confirmed in the Home Office's draft Structural Reform Plan that a new violence against women strategy will be published early next year. There were real concerns after the previous government's strategy was archived, despite a lengthy and costly consultation process.
We urge the Coalition Government not to reinvent the wheel and waste the huge amount of evidence gathered in the consultation process. We are calling for the strategy to:
- Be based on the principles of equality and human rights
- Ensure all government departments and public bodies play their part in ending violence against women and girls
- Focus on the crucial task of preventing violence in the first place
- Ensure adequate funding for specialised services so that all women and girls have access to the support they need.
We will be meeting the Coalition Government to discuss the content of the new strategy.
August 2010
EVAW gets legal status
The End Violence Against Women Coalition is spreading our wings and taking steps to become an independent organisation. We have now registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee (number 7317881), a move agreed by our Committee in order to be able to fundraise to continue our campaigning.
We are still based at Amnesty UK and work closely on related campaigns. We are extremely grateful to Amnesty for their past and continuing support.
August 2010
Back-down on anonymity for rape defendants!
In the face of loud opposition from EVAW, Rights of
Women, Rape Crisis, other women's groups and MPs from all parties, Ministry of Justice Minister Crispin Blunt has signalled a retreat
on the Coalition Government's myth-driven proposal to give anonymity to
defendants in rape cases. This is a victory for common sense as well as
for women's rights as it would have put back efforts to bring rapists
to justice and sent a signal that women are not to be believed.
According to reports, the Government is still looking at ways of working voluntarily with the media to ensure suspects in rape cases are anonymous until charge. We do not support any proposal that singles out rape in this way, but believe there are arguments for giving all defendants anonymity prior to charge.
July 2010
Theresa May says violence against women is a priority and extends scheme to support vulnerable women
Home Secretary and Women's Minister, Theresa May, said that violence against women is a priority for her at the Women's Aid Federation England conference. She also extended a pilot scheme supporting women with no recourse to public funds who experience violence.
Click here for full speech.
July 2010
Is the government Measuring Up on violence against women?
Rights of Women report sets out what UK government must do to comply with human rights obligations on violence against women. Click here to download report.
July 2010
Proposal to give anonymity for rape defendants driven by myths & stereotypes
EVAW opposes the Coalition Government's proposal
to give anonymity to rape defendants. There are good reasons for giving
complainants anonymity to encourage them to come forward. But there are
no good, evidenced reasons to give defendants anonymity and the
Government should drop the proposal.
We believe such a policy would:
- Further undermine victims' confidence that they will be treated fairly
- Send a signal that victims of rape, overwhelmingly women, are more likely than other witnesses to make false allegations - there is no evidence for this
- Undermine attempts to bring rapists, often serial offenders, to justice as victims often come forward once a defendant has been identified
Instead of putting scarce resources into unevidenced policies, we are calling on the Coalition Government to implement the violence against women and girls strategy published in November 2009.
Up to 90% of rapes go unreported and of the few that are reported, just 6% result in conviction. A funding crisis means that specialist support services are seriously under-resourced - most victims do not have access to a Rape Crisis Centre.
The government must take action to:
- Ensure all victims have access to specialist support services
- Improve the appallingly low conviction rate (just 6% of reported rapes result in conviction) and improve the way victims are treated by professionals
- Prevent sexual violence in the first place
Ask your MP to sign Fiona Mactaggart MP's parliamentary petition (EDM) opposing this change and take part in the debate in the House of Commons on 8th July. Click here to download our briefing.
June 2010
New campaign by Welsh Assembly Government challenges 'harmless' male behaviour
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a public awareness campaign challenging attitudes and behaviours as part of their violence against women strategy, The Right to be Safe. The campaign asks men to think again about behaviour they may consider to be 'harmless' but is actually abusive.
Click here for the campaign website and videos and here for Welsh Women's Aid response.
June 2010
Action on violence against women absent from Coalition Programme
Whilst both Conservatives and Lib Dems called for a violence against women strategy when in Opposition, the Coalition Programme is very weak on these policies.
We will be asking Theresa May, Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality, to ensure her government implements and resources the violence against women and girls strategy published earlier this year.
May 2010
Work for the End Violence Against Women coalition and help create a safer world for women and girls!
We are recruiting a Prevention Manager to run an exciting project on preventing violence against women and girls, and an Administrative Assistant to support our work. Deadline for applications 5pm on Thursday 1 July.
Following our success in campaigning for a cross-government strategy (published by the Home Office in November 2009), we are now focusing on the critical work of creating a world where women and girls can live without the threat or reality of violence.
Click here to download the job ad for Prevention Manager
Click here to download the recruitment pack for Prevention Manager
Click here to download the job ad for Admin Assistant
Click here to download the recruitment pack for Admin Assistant
Click here to download the equal opportunities monitoring form.
These posts are funded by the generous support of Comic Relief.
June 2010
Election 2010 - all-male talks decide our future
The
shameful absence of women in the election 2010 campaign continues as
all-male talks between the Tories and Lib-Dems will decide our future.
The proportion of women in the new parliament has gone up by a woeful 2% to just 22%. Key Ministers who took action on violence against women have lost their seats, such as Vera Baird and Jacqui Smith.
There is a silver lining, however - the first MP to be declared was Bridget Phillipson who runs a women's refuge in Sunderland. A good sign for the next parliament we hope.
May 2010
EVAW responds to Zoo 'advice' to cut ex-girlfriend
EVAW has responded to stomach-churning advice by actor Danny Dyer in his column for Zoo magazine in which he tells a reader to 'cut' his ex-girlfriend's face.
The next government must take urgent action to tackle media messages that condone or tolerate violence against women.
See our comments on Sky and the Guardian.
May 2010
Why you won't hear about violence against women in the debates
Click here for Holly Dustin's New Statesman article
Women are more at risk of being sexually assaulted than getting breast cancer yet violence against women is far from top of the agenda in this election campaign. Sarah Brown's need for a pedicure is deemed more worthy of dicussion in some parts of the media.
Both Labour and Conservative manifestos make commitments on issues like consent in sex education and the need for women only services but fail to reflect violence against women across different policy areas. Plaid Cymru and the Greens support violence against women strateties but shamefully, the Lib Dems make no reference to the issue at all!
The spectre of three white men slugging it out on tv debates hosted by three white men on issues like public sector cuts which will have a disproportionate impact on women is depressing.
' Change' is the buzzword, but it seems like the same old politics to us.
April 2010
Equality Act receives Royal Assent
The Equality Act has now been passed, with key measures including a new single duty on the public sector to promote equality and a duty to consider reducing socio-economic inequalities.
April 2010
EVAW urges government to prioritise teacher training to protect young women from violence
EVAW has welcomed the DCSF (Department for Children Schools and Families) response to the Violence Against Women and Girls Advisory Group Report to protect against violence in schools and prevent it in the longer term through education, but it falls far short of what we expected and what is needed.
The DCSF measures will only be effective if all teachers are given the training and support they need to work effectively with a complex issue. The DCSF's planned investment in training will reach very few teachers and is thus doomed to fail to meet the needs of teachers and young people.
Professor Liz Kelly, EVAW Chair, said:
"We now know that violence against young women in intimate relationships is as high as in the adult population . Today young people develop their social and sexual identities whilst being bombarded by images and messages that objectify women, celebrate sexual exploitation and normalise abusive behaviour. Young women and men are crying out for opportunities to explore relationships, but are not even receiving basic messages about what is and is not acceptable behaviour. Crucially, teachers are not given the training and ongoing support they need to do this."
Click here for full press release
February 2010
Global Petition to Amnesty International: Restoring the Integrity of Human Rights
Gita Sahgal, head of the Gender Unit at Amnesty's International Secretariat, has spoken publicly of her concerns about Amnesty's relationship with former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg and his organisation Cage Prisoners.
Click here for a link to Gita's statement and a petition supporting her position.
February 2010
Government plan to stop abuse of women and girls - major success for EVAW coalition
The EVAW coalition is celebrating a major success as the UK government publishes its violence against women and girls strategy on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
EVAW members attended the launch of the cross-government plan by the Home Secretary at Lancaster House. Our campaign for the strategy to put prevention of violence at its heart instead of just picking up the pieces afterwards has borne fruit. One of the key changes will be putting gender equality and violence against women and girls on the national schools curriculum.
Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of the EVAW Coalition, said;
"We are delighted that the government is launching this strategy covering all forms of violence against women including rape, domestic violence, trafficking and forced marriage. We welcome the focus on stopping violence before it happens through education and public campaigns.
When consulted, women told the government they wanted women only services so it's vital that the strategy sustains and extends frontline women's services. This is particularly the case as the vast majority of women never report the violence to the police."
EVAW is urging activists, campaigners and bloggers to get busy sending the message out about this excellent news.
Media coverage of the strategy and EVAW response:
November 2009
EVAW members active in UN Elimination of Violence Against Women Day events
25th November is United Nations Elimination of Violence Against Women Day and EVAW members around the UK will be taking part in events including Reclaim the Night marches in many towns and cities.
To mark the event, EVAW Committee members Janet Veitch and Dr Aisha Gill will be speaking at Refuge's 7th Annual Domestic Violence Conference on Thursday 19th November 2009 alongside Shadow Minister for Women Theresa May MP. For more info and ticket details click here.
November 2009
Welsh Assembly Government commits to action on violence against women
Following concerted lobbying by EVAW members in Wales, including Welsh Women's Aid and Women's Voice, the Welsh Assembly Government has committed to a strategy to end all forms of violence against women. Click here for more info on the Wales Violence Against Women Action Group website.
This is a critical step towards ensuring women in Wales get the same protection as women in other parts of the UK. Assembly Members raised key issues in a recent debate that EVAW has long campaigned for including;
• the need for a gender-specific strategy;
• references to the UN Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
• links between violence and wider gender inequality;
• the need to address the current postcode lottery of services (particularly in rural areas); and
• the importance of preventative education.
Congratulations to our members in Wales for this major achievement!
November 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
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, Saver 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
Boris Johnson takes action on violence against women in London
The London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has published a draft violence against women strategy for London. EVAW 
welcomes
this as a significant step towards a safer capital city for women. We
are particularly pleased that it focuses on supporting survivors and
puts preventing violence at its heart. The draft strategy is out for consultation until 20th July.
April 2009
Map of Gaps update - mixed news for specialised violence against women services
We recently highlighted the fragility of services for women who experience sexual violence in our Map of Gaps report with the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Minister for Women, Harriet Harman, has just announced £1.6 million for Rape Crisis Centres and other sexual violence services in England and Wales.
Angie Conroy of Rape Crisis said, “It is vital that the Government tackles the historic underinvestment of sexual violence services. Rape Crisis Centres need long term solutions and do not want to be in the same critical situation again in March 2010”.
We
also highlighted that fewer than 1 in 10 local authorities have
specialised services for ethnic minoritywomen as this map shows (red is
where there are no services!).
Despite this, Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust has recently decided to integrate the excellent African Well Women's Service into a generic sexual health service and exclude women from outside the borough accessing these services.
Please take urgent action to stop this change which could have a serious impact on women's safety. To find out more go to www.forwarduk.org.uk and to take action click here for a template letter to the PCT.
Click here for the Solicitor General, Vera Baird QC MP's statement on the equality duties and violence against women services last year.
EVAW welcomes Home Office consultation on violence against women
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has launched a public consultation on violence against women - and incorporated our name into the snappy title Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy!
This is a major success for the EVAW coalition which has campaigned for a strategy for 4 years as a critical step towards creating a world without the threat or reality of violence against women.
Use the EVAW BRIEFING to have your say by responding to the consultation online, or attending a roadshow or stakeholder event in your area.
The strategy must be put in place swiftly and should:
- start the long-term work of preventing violence so that abuse of women and girls isn't just a fact of life!
- lead to joined up working around the UK, and link into strategic working on VAW in Scotland
- prioritise a long-term funding plan for women's support services, so that access to Rape Crisis Centres, specialised domestic violence services and other support isn't dependent on your postcode
- be genuinely cross-governmental so that all departments play their part, eg Department for Children, Schools and Families should work with young people to shape healthy attitudes.
The strategy represents a major policy shift and shows the real benefits of coalition working. It is a tribute to all the women's organisations, human rights organisations and others who have worked together to achieve this.
Congratulations all!
March 2009
EVAW and the Commission celebrate Map of Gaps at parliamentary reception
We celebrated the huge succes of the second Map of Gaps project and new interactive website
(mapofgaps.org) at a parliamentary reception with guest speaker Vera Baird QC MP, Solicitor General.
Ms Baird welcomed the report and promised a plan to sustain funding to the violence against women sector.
February 2009
WI and EVAW hand in petition to No. 10
Here are EVAW Chair, Liz Kelly, and Women's Institute chair Ruth Bond, handing in a petition to No. 10 in February calling for action to end violence against women.
February 2009
1 in 4 local authority areas have no support for women who experience violence
Commission to take legal action
1 in 4 local authority areas have no specialised violence against women support services, such as Rape Crisis Centre, refuges, domestic violence projects and services for ethnic minority women.
This is the stark finding of the Map of Gaps 2 report by the End Violence Against Women Coalition and the Equality and Human Rights Commission that is making front page news.
The Commission has threatened the worst local authorities with legal action under the Gender Equality Duty.
EVAW and the Commission are calling for urgent action by national and local governments and other relevant bodies, such as health authorities, to ensure that women don't have to travel miles to get the support they need.
- Click here to download the report.
- See the maps on our interactive website at www.mapofgaps.org and lobby for change where you live.
- Ask your MP to sign EDM 653 calling for better funding of support services
Take action - make a difference!
January 2009
Conservatives publish strategy on 'Ending Violence Against Women'
Just
before Christmas, David Cameron set out details of his party's violence
against women strategy, with the expansion of the Rape Crisis Sector at
the heart of the policy. Click here to listen to Cameron explain his proposals on Woman's Hour.
January 2009
We celebrate Human Rights Day at reception with the PM
10th December is Human Rights Day and this year human rights organisations around the globe are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
EVAW joined the Equality and Human Rights Commission celebrations at a Lancaster House reception with the PM, Gordon Brown.
December 2008
Success for EVAW!
We warmly welcome the UK government's announcement of a consultation on a national violence against women strategy.
EVAW has long campaigned for this major policy shift from the current fractured approach to violence.
Our recently published blueprint of a strategy (Realising Rights, Fulfilling Obligations) gave the campaign a real boost and was discussed during debates in Westminster on 25th November, International Elimination of Violence Against Women Day.
Look out for the consultation in the new year and have your say to ensure the strategy:
- starts with a vision of eliminating violence so that women and girls can live their lives without the fear of physical or sexual abuse, sexual harassment or other violence
- leads to joined up working around the UK, and links into strategic working on VAW in Scotland
- is genuinely cross-departmental, so that transport, health and other departments all play their part
- increases funding for women's support services, so that access to Rape Crisis Centres, specialised domestic violence services and other support isn't dependent on your postcode
December 2008
A roadmap to eradicating violence against women
Compass have launched a competition of policy ideas for How to Live in the 21st Century. Our idea, 'A roadmap to eradicating violence against women in the UK' will be judged along with others by an expert panel. If successful, it will become a campaign priority for Compass for the next General Election. So please leave a response about this idea and do spread the word!
Nov