Write to End Violence Against Women Awards 2025: Shortlist released

Leading women’s rights organisation the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) has today published the shortlist for its 2025 Write to End Violence Against Women Awards, which recognise excellence in reporting on violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In acknowledgement of how the media shapes public attitudes, the annual awards celebrate journalism that takes a stand against sensationalism, victim-blaming, myths and stereotypes, and champions responsible reporting.

The shortlist

The awards are open to public nominations for any piece published between 1^st October 2024 and 30^th September 2025.

This year’s outstanding shortlist includes writers from the Guardian, BBC, iNews, Glamour UK, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Metro, Open Democracy and more:

Best News

Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse

Nic Murray and Rajeev Syal, The Guardian, 26^th July 2025

My abusive husband tried to kill me multiple times’

Shehnaz Khan, BBC News, 29^th January 2025 

UK police to charge more abusers with manslaughter after suicide of partner

Ben Quinn, The Guardian, 25^th March 2025

Survivors of coercive control are being criminalised in England, research finds

Hannah Al-Othman, The Guardian, 27^th July 2025

More than 170 mothers killed by their sons in 15 years in UK, report reveals

Alexandra Topping and Jessica Murray, The Guardian, 5^th March 2025

Best Feature

FGM In The UK: A Common Sexual Assault On Migrant Women

Sonia Sarkar, Migrant Woman Press, 3^rd December 2024

My daughter, 15, was murdered by her ex. It must be called domestic abuse

Alannah Francis, iNews, 9^th November 2024

‘Would love to see her faked’: the dark world of sexual deepfakes – and the women fighting back

Shanti Das, The Guardian, 12^th January 2025

For Muslim women, images of us without our hijabs can be as damaging as nude photos

Alia Waheed, Glamour UK, 24^th March 2025

‘There is no safe way to do it’: the rapid rise and horrifying risks of choking during sex

Anna Moore, The Guardian, 7^th July 2025

Too many crimes against women of colour are being ignored

Sharan Dhaliwal, Metro, 22^nd March 2025

Bonnie Blue, Channel 4 and the problem with commodifying sexual violence

Lucy Morgan, Glamour UK, 24^th July 2025

Best Investigation

The Silicon Valley-style start-up targeting rape survivors at UK universities

Sian Norris, Open Democracy, 10^th July 2025

Psychologist’s ‘alarming’ views on domestic abuse throw spotlight on family court experts

Hannah Summers and Louise Tickle, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, 30^th January 2025

Why are ‘deepfake porn’ tutorials still showing up in search engines?

Lydia Morrish, Glamour UK, 22^nd November 2024

Rape victims could have health data and sexual history trawled by police AI tool

Cahal Milmo and Mark Wilding, iNews, 23^rd July 2025

Best Opinion and Comment

Gisèle Pélicot’s refusal to be shamed changes everything

Kate Maltby, iNews, 23^rd October 2024

Survivors of strangulation are being let down when they turn on their TVs

Thaira Mhearban, Metro, 17^th May 2025

A harrowing new report reveals rape culture is poisoning British Primary Schools

Mischa Anouk Smith, Marie Claire, 3^rd April 2025

“Let’s call the Ballymena riots what they really are: toxic men using women’s pain as an excuse to be violent”

Sara Macauley, Cosmopolitan, 13^th June 2025

How tech became the new frontier of domestic violence against women and girls

Emma Pickering, Open Democracy, 24^th September 2025

How To Date When You Don’t Trust Men

Jamila Pereira, Black Ballad, 1^st May 2025

Best Blog and Self-Published

She Was only 15: When Misogynoir Wears a Uniform

Sierra Kamara (Griotgal), Griotgal Substack, 28^th June 2025

The Hijacking of Women’s Safety

David Challen, David Challen Substack, 31^st August 2025

Netflix’s Adolescence: Ten “Teachable” Takeaways

Jackson Katz, Jackson Katz Substack, 26^th April 2025

When the Algorithm Meets Feminism: Bonnie Blue, Outrage Machines and the Cost of Visibility

Seyi Akiwowo, Seyi Akiwowo Substack, 28^th July 2025

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said:

“We cannot understate the media’s role in informing public attitudes, particularly around violence against women. We know that quality reporting and investigations can help shift attitudes, prevent abuse and hold perpetrators and institutions accountable. 

Journalists can be a really important part of our movement to end violence against women and girls. We are delighted to be celebrating those shedding light on these enduring issues and helping reshape the narratives that underpin it.”

Nick McGowan-Lowe, National Organiser for the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said: 

“News reporting plays a crucial role in exposing and framing the epidemic of violence against women. As a trade union the National Union of Journalists seeks not just to protect the work of our members, but also to uphold ethical standards in the industry through our Code of Conduct.

Our members, working in newsrooms across the UK and Ireland, strive to produce the best journalism they can whether it’s by reporting court cases, sensitively interviewing survivors of abuse, or exposing the perpetrators. We are proud to support these awards that recognise responsible reporting in this important area.”

ENDS