The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated 1.4 million women and girls experienced domestic abuse over the last year. Around 7.9 million people had experienced sexual assault since the age of 16 years, and a huge 1.9 million were victims of rape. The latter figures represent 7.7% of all women and 0.2% of men across the two countries. These figures do not reveal the true extent of violence and abuse as due to a variety of factors including stigma, a fear of reprisal and a belief that justice will not be served, incidents are under-reported.
Men also experience violence, but the nature of violence against women differs significantly. Globally, men are more likely to die from armed conflict, violence by strangers, and suicide. In contrast, women face violence due to their unequal economic and political status in many societies, which can lead to such violence being tolerated or ignored and, more often than not, perpetrated by someone they know.
Approximately 48,800 women and girls globally lost their lives at the hands of their partners or family members, such as fathers, mothers, uncles and brothers. This equals an average of 133 women or girls being killed each day by someone within their own family. In the UK alone, the femicide census reports that on average one woman is killed at the hands of a man every 2.7 days.
To best prevent incidents of violence against women and girls, it is important to also consider how attacks have changed. Like with many things, the evolution of technology and specifically social media has changed how people interact. One in 10 women in the European Union have faced online harassment since turning 15. This includes receiving unwanted, offensive or unsolicited sexually explicit emails or messages.
Although to some, this may feel a less severe form of aggression, its effects are extremely detrimental to the mental health of the victims. In order to protect themselves, women and girls often retreat or withdraw from online spaces, meaning their voices, opinions and experiences are lost from online debate and discussions. It has also become increasingly apparent that online abuse isn’t always kept online and can develop into real-world attacks.
Online trends and movements rooted in misogyny have led to the radicalisation of young men across the world and have been cited as the inspiration behind violent, unprovoked attacks on women over the last few years. This fact also highlights how misogyny and gender-based violence are not generational issues, and we have a responsibility to protect and prevent abuse from happening to women and girls still The UK Home Office has pledged to treat misogyny like “any other extremist ideology”, in an attempt to counter these violent crimes and stop such movements from having space to develop online.
We all play a vital role in stopping violence against women and girls. For there to be a real solution, action needs to be taken locally, nationally and globally. As a Union we have made progress in raising awareness of these issues and supporting our members with the tools they need to prevent gender-based violence in their workplace, but there is more to be done.
Therefore, Usdaw commits to:
Campaign for action from Government and employers to tackle sexual harassment.
Usdaw will continue to make the voices of low-paid women members heard in conversations about how to tackle violence and abuse, and call for changes in laws and policies that address the specific concerns of members in Usdaw workplaces.
Campaign and raise awareness of rights at work.
Usdaw will continue to campaign in the workplace to raise awareness of the many different forms gender-based violence takes, what rights at work victim-survivors have and signpost members to sources of free, expert support, such as domestic violence national charities and campaign organisation.
Work with employers to develop policies.
Usdaw will continue to work with National Officers, reps and negotiators to develop effective workplace policies that work towards preventing violence against women, including sexual harassment, and supporting victim-survivors, including domestic violence workplace policies.