Take action on violence against women!

Support the call for a Strategy on Violence Against Women for the UK

There is a fractured approach to violence across much of the UK

  • Rape Crisis Centres, support for BME women and other life saving services are threatened with closure whilst resources are poured into the criminal justice system even though most victims don't report!
  • Health and other professionals are ill-equipped to respond to violence. Schools too often take a stance of 'don't ask, don't tell' even though students want support and information.
  • Whilst 1 in 2 young men think it's ok to hit a woman in some circumstances, there's no plan of work to prevent violence.

What can you do?

  • Download our template strategy on VAW, Realising Rights or the 6-page summary. Email holly.dustin@amnesty.org.uk to order our VAW Strategy postcard.
  • Send it to the Chief Executive of your Local Authority and ask what they're doing to ensure women's safety.
  • Write to the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP and tell her you support the call for a cross-government strategy.

UK Government scores 2 out of 10 for action on violence against women

Each year, EVAW assesses cross-government action on violence against women in Making the Grade? This year it scored a dismal 2 out of 10. Tell the Government what you think about its score.

  • Write to Minister for Women Harriet Harman QC MP if you're concerned that, despite promises and international commitments, there is still no cross-government strategy to end violence against women.
  • Write to Ed Balls MP if you're concerned that, whilst attitudes and behaviours start young, the Department for Schools, Children & Families scored a paltry 1 out of 10.
  • Write to Hazel Blears MP if you're concerned that the Department for Communities & Local Government isn't putting enough pressure on local authorities to fund specialist services.

Take action on the equality duties

Download Tools for Change for factsheets on the Gender, Race & Disability Equality Duties, action cards, postcards and template enforcement letters.