International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
By Kruti Walsh
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and the start of 16 Days of Activism (running until Human Rights Day on 10th December).
The World Health Organisation states that "violence against women – particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence – is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights". And the UN says "violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today." "Whether at home, on the streets or during war, violence against women and girls is a human rights violation of pandemic proportions that takes place in public and private spaces."
"International Days.." represent opportunities to raise awareness and learn and, for those invested, to put out calls for action and change. A warning that the following information is difficult to read, but obviously much harder to live with.
Physical, sexual, emotional, financial violence against women in the UK
The Femicide Census, published today, analyses the killing of women and girls in the UK at the hands of men, over a 10-year period (2009-2018). It reveals that, on average, a woman was murdered every three days – a horrifying statistic, unchanged over the decade. This Guardian article includes more information about the conclusions of the Femicide Census, comment from the authors including, "The state is failing to protect women, failing to implement policies, failing to take on board recommendations… you are failing to save women’s lives, and that’s a human rights issue" and these stats about the economic cost: Domestic abuse costs society over £66bn a year. A report last year calculated that £393m a year is needed to provide safety and support.
While more than 2 women are killed by men every week in the UK, in the first three weeks of the first lockdown (between 23rd March and 12th April), 16 women and children were killed by men.
There are numerous similar and horrific facts about violence against women, including:
A conviction rate of less than 2% of all rapes reported to the police (The Rape Monitoring Group, Aug 2019), suggests that ‘effectively, rape has been decriminalised.’
Studies show that nearly 90% of the most-viewed pornography scenes contain sexual-, physical-, and verbal violence against women, and that boys exposed to pornography from a young age are more likely to have attitudes that support sexual harassment and violence against women and that girls exposed to hypersexualised media from a young age are more likely to develop mental health disorders, engage in risky behaviours and be sexually victimised.
In a study of 2,002 women, 38% of UK women under 40 experienced unwanted slapping, spitting, choking (strangulation) or gagging in sex that was (until then) consensual.
Abuse can be worse, or go on for longer, for disabled victims or victims at risk of "honour-based” violence. Disabled victims typically endure abuse for an average of 3.3 years before accessing support, compared to 2.3 years for non-disabled victims, and 54% of domestic abuse victims at risk of "honour-based” violence (HBV) were abused by multiple people compared to 7% of those not at risk of HBV.
The impact on women who are victims of abuse can be severe, debilitating and life-limiting:
60% of victim-survivors of coercive control have been coerced into taking out debt; 40% of survivors of abuse felt their long-term employment prospects/earnings were worse because of the abuse they had experienced; and just under half of survivors of abuse who have children said they did not have enough money to pay for essentials for their children.
Women with extensive experience of physical and sexual violence are far more likely to experience disadvantage in many other areas of their lives, including disability and ill health, substance dependence, poverty and debt, poor living conditions, homelessness and discrimination. For example, women in the extensive physical and sexual violence group are more than twice as likely to have an alcohol problem and are eight times more likely to be drug dependent than women in the group with little experience of violence and abuse.
What can you do?
If, like me, you are saddened and angered by this information but motivated to do something, you'll be pleased to know that violence against women and girls is preventable and there is much work going on across the world to get there, including by the DFID-funded research programme, What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Global Programme.
Here are 10 ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic, that the UN has put together. This includes suggestions around education and role modelling, but I'd like to highlight the following:
Do your civic duty and call on the Government to fund essential services for survivors of violence, implement prevention measures, and invest in collecting the data necessary to adapt and improve life-saving services for women and girls. Write or speak to your MP, sign petitions, and respond to consultations.
Support and fund women's organisations, particularly lesser known ones such as nia; Standing Together; Yes Matters UK; Imkaan and Southall Black Sisters. Many others can be found on the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition's website.
Call out sexism, wherever you hear or see it, whether at work, with friends or with family. Complain about sexist stereotypes in advertising and media. Hold people in positions of authority to account.
At FiLiA, we will be using the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women to highlight the work of women’s rights campaigners around the world who are pushing back and fighting against male violence.
If you, or someone you know, needs support, advocacy, counselling, advice or refuge, you can find help through the services listed here. The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247.
About Kruti Walsh
A few years ago, in her search to become more knowledgeable about feminism and become more involved, Kruti came across FiLiA. She found a rich source of women’s voices and a very welcoming team! She’s been with us ever since, volunteering since 2017 and then becoming a Trustee in July 2019. She originally wrote this piece for her colleagues, as an introduction to the violence that women and girls face.