News & Events
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!
November 2008
More support needed for women in Wales 
Our Map of Gaps report in 2007 was used as evidence in a recent National Assembly for Wales report to highlight the lack of specialised support for women in Wales who are abused.
We continue to work with Welsh Women's Aid, the Equality and Human Rights Commission and other partners in Wales to press for a strategy to address all forms of violence against women in Wales.
A new Map of Gaps report will be published in the new year.
November 2008
Thousands of women march to protest against violence against women
EVAW members took part in Reclaim the Night marches around the UK to say no to male violence against women. The annual marches take place on or around 25th November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
EVAW also spoke at 25th Nov events to continue to press the UK government for action on violence against women.
November 2008
Obama/Biden back laws to eradicate global violence against women & girls
Barack Obama, is a sponsor, and Joe Biden a co-author, of the International Violence Against Women Act, pending before Congress. The I-VAWA, backed by Amnesty USA, Family Violence Prevention Fund & Women Thrive Worldwide, would direct US aid to public education campaigns, HIV/AIDs healthcare, support for local women's organisations and training for peacekeeping troops - all with the aim of ending gender-based violence around the world.
The I-VAWA builds on the ground-breaking Violence Against Women Act , also authored by Biden and which he claims is one of his proudest achievements in the Senate. No wonder - the VAWA has channelled over $5billion to community programmes, domestic violence shelters, Rape Crisis centres & prevention work in the US.
See EVAW Manager Holly Dustin's Comment is Free article on lessons to be learned from America on funding women's support services. Watch the Obama campaign video here:
November 2008
Support for EVAW at party conferences
We enjoyed huge support at party conferences last month for our campaign for a UK strategy to end violence against women. At the Conservative conference EVAW Chair, Liz Kelly, spoke on a panel with Shadow Women's Minister Theresa May MP who confirmed Conservative support for a national strategy.
And at a packed and lively debate at Labour conference, EVAW Manager, Holly Dustin, spoke on a panel with Solicitor General Vera Baird QC MP who also expressed her support for this approach. We look forward to an announcement from the government soon.....
October 2008
Southall Black Sisters' victory against Ealing Council
But only 1 in 10 local authorities have services for ethnic minority women
In July Ealing Council caved in to Southall Black Sisters' High Court challenge to its decision to cut funding for domestic violence services for minority women. Lord Justice Moses' judgment warns public bodies they must carry out equality impact assessments before making policy, rather than afterwards to justify the decision.
Lord Justice Moses also says, "There is no dichotomy between the promotion of equality and cohesion and the provision of specialist services to an ethnic minority."
As our Map of Gaps report shows, fewer than 1 in 10 local authorities
across the UK have specialised services for ethnic minority women so
the SBS victory is critical. And more court cases are likely to follow
when we publish an updated Map of Gaps report with the Equality and
Human Rights Commission in the new year.
Click here for the full judgment.
September 2008
UN calls for elimination of violence against women (VAW) in the UK
The UN's CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all
forms of Discrimination Against Women) Committee has praised EVAW's
evidence on violence against women and called once again for a national
strategy and programme to eliminate VAW in the UK. Click here for the Committee's report, here for EVAW's submissions, and here for the UK Government's report to the Committee.
August 2008
8 in 10 people want cross-government action on violence - EVAW sets out blueprint for change
A fractured response to VAW in most of the UK is failing women, says new EVAW report. There are separate policies on specific forms of violence, support services are facing closure and there's no plan to prevent violence in the first place.
As YouGov polling shows that 8 in 10 people support cross-government action to end VAW, EVAW sets out our blueprint for action, Realising Rights, Fulfilling Obligations. Click here to take action.
Read New Statesman articles by IL about living with the legacy of sexual abuse, and by Liz Kelly about our blueprint for change.
July 2008
New Equality Bill could strengthen women's rights
Equality Minister, Harriet Harman QC MP, has announced a new Equality Bill which could strengthen women's rights if existing equality duties on gender, race and disability are improved. However, EVAW and other equality campaigners have warned that there should be no weakening of existing laws in the new Bill.
August 2008
UN calls for programme to eliminate violence against women in the UK
Following evidence by EVAW and other women's
organisations, the UN's CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all
forms of Discrimination Against Women) Committee has called once again
for a national strategy and programme to elimination violence against
women in the UK. Click here for EVAW's submissions, and here for the UK
Government's report on progress since it was last examined by the
Committee in 1999.
August 2008
8 in 10 people want strategy on violence against women - EVAW sets out blueprint for action
A fractured response to VAW in most of the UK is failing women, says new EVAW report. There are separate policies on specific forms of violence, support services are facing closure and there's no plan to prevent violence in the first place.
As YouGov polling shows that 8 in 10 people support cross-government action to end VAW, EVAW sets out our blueprint for action, Realising Rights, Fulfilling Obligations. Click here to take action.
Read New Statesman articles by IL about living with the legacy of sexual abuse, and by Liz Kelly about our blueprint for change.
July 2008
EVAW at launch of CPS' Violence Against Women Strategy
Liz Kelly, EVAW Chair, spoke alongside the Attorney General, Patricia Scotland, the Solicitor General, Vera Baird, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ken Macdonald at the launch of the CPS' Violence Against Women Strategy on 24th June. The Attorney General said she was 'proud' that the CPS got top marks in EVAW's Making the Grade report this year.
June 2008
MPs call for national strategy on violence against women
MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee called for the government to adopt a 'national strategy on domestic violence, or on violence against women more generally, to include explicit emphasis on prevention' in their recent report on Domestic Violence, Forced Marriage and "Honour"-Based Violence.
June 2008
Violence against women campaigners awarded MBE
EVAW
member Sheila Coates of South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre has
been awarded an MBE for services to women’s issues and women in the
community. Professor Sylvia Walby, Dr Katherine Rake of Fawcett and
Naana Otoo-Oyortey of Forward were also honoured in the Queen's
birthday honours list. Congratulations all! June 2008
London Mayoral Candidates pledge to tackle violence against women
Boris Johnson, Brian Paddick and Ken Livingstone have set out their policies for eradicating violence against women to EVAW. Click on the candidates' names to see their policies in full. Click here to read Holly Dustin's New Statesman article.
29th April
Violence against women costs £40 billion a year
Research by New Philanthropy Capital shows that violence against women costs society £40 billion each year. It says that charities offering specialist support to women are grossly under-funded and urges donors and government to support their vital work.
Government scores 2 out of 10 for action on violence against women
The UK Government has scored just 2 out of 10 in this year's assessment of government action to tackle violence against women, (Making the Grade? UK PDF) and the Northern Ireland Government scored 1 out of 10 (Making the Grade? NI PDF). The CPS scores top marks again and has published a Violence Against Women Strategy.
Listen to Liz Kelly and Harriet Harman QC MP discuss the issues on Woman's Hour programme on BBC radio 4 (this link opens in a new window).