EVAW joins National Taskforce on Misogyny

On 20th September 2026, the government announced a new National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny, bringing together ministers, experts and organisations from civil society. 

The Taskforce will look at how and why misogynistic attitudes and harmful gender norms develop, and what works to prevent them and change culture. It aims to ensure government policy reflects the lived experiences of those most affected by misogyny: women and girls, and determine where the government can go further in tackling these harmful attitudes online, in our workplaces and our communities.

We welcome this focus on the root causes of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and a new forum for greater action to prevent VAWG, having called for focussed taskforces as part of our joint accountability framework for government. 

We are clear that a Taskforce like this is only as good as the concrete action that comes from it. The test will ultimately be whether this work makes life better for women and girls, including those at the sharpest edges of inequality and violence: Black and minoritised and migrant women, D/deaf and disabled and LGBT+ survivors. 

Prevention must be at the heart of the work

We cannot end VAWG without tackling the attitudes that uphold and facilitate violence and abuse. Many of these attitudes are rooted in misogyny and gender inequality, and are reinforced across our schools, workplaces, communities, public spaces and online spaces.

This means prevention must go beyond the criminal justice system. VAWG is persistent and pervasive across our society, and tackling it requires a whole-government and whole-society approach – from education to healthcare and beyond.

Tackling misogyny benefits everyone

While women and girls’ experiences must remain central to this work, tackling misogyny is also good for men and boys. The same restrictive gender norms that underpin misogyny can place harmful expectations on men and boys, limiting how they express themselves and build relationships.

We also welcome the Taskforce’s recognition that women’s safety can be weaponised to fuel misinformation and division. VAWG must not be used to scapegoat refugees, migrants or people seeking asylum. These narratives distract from the urgent work of preventing gender-based violence and can create further barriers for women and girls seeking safety and justice.

We called for a taskforce of this kind in 2024, when we published our blueprint for delivering and holding the government accountable for its commitment to halve VAWG. Now, we need to see that commitment translated into meaningful, properly resourced action.

Tackling misogyny and gender inequality is central to ending VAWG – and it is everyone’s business.

Deniz Uğur, Deputy Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

“We are pleased to see the National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny focus in on tackling the root causes of violence against women and girls (VAWG). This is especially important in supporting meaningful delivery of the VAWG Strategy given the focus on prevention, and meeting the government’s aim to halve VAWG in a decade. 

“In order to enable the work of the Taskforce to be effective, we hope to see meaningful commitment and engagement by ministers across all government departments.

“We strongly welcome the Taskforce’s consideration of how the weaponisation of VAWG fuels harm, misinformation and division in our communities, which ultimately undermines efforts to end and prevent VAWG, and ensure that victims and survivors can access support.

“Tackling gender inequality and misogyny benefits our society as a whole, and is everyone’s business.”

ENDS