Violence Against Women and Girls

Women and girls experience violence and discrimination in society across the world because of their gender. It has serious long and short-term effects, both for the individual victims but also society as a whole. 

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) can take many forms, such as:

  • Domestic abuse
  • Forced marriage
  • Early marriage
  • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
  • Sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sex trafficking
  • So called ‘honour’ crimes

In July 2021, the government produced a new VAWG strategy, detailing a national plan to address and tackle violence against women and girls. You can read the strategy here.

In December 2021, a national policing framework on VAWG was published, for all police forces in the country to follow. The framework recommends the following actions:

  • Communicating clearly and frequently that misogynistic, sexist and sexualised behaviour will not be tolerated
  • Responding unequivocally to allegations of police-perpetrated abuse
  • Expanding and enhancing processes for listening to women and girls
  • Increased action against violent men
  • Transform how the police and CPS handle investigations into rape and sexual offences

 You can find out more about VAWG on the following websites:

  • Action Aid: information about VAWG across the world
  • Women’s Aid: UK-based charity supporting women and children

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