Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls

As a Women’s Rights Activist and Gender-based Violence Specialist from a Black background, I am honoured to present this Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. This strategy, centering culturally adaptive and sensitive solutions, recognises the unique challenges faced by diverse Black and minoritised groups in addressing and preventing violence against women and girls.

We know and understand that violence against women and girls affects all communities, and that irrespective of their ethnicities and backgrounds, experiences of abuse often remain hidden. However, women facing marginalisation and intersectional discrimination – such as racialised women, women with disabilities, sex workers, those of lower socio-economic status, experiencing homelessness, with precarious or irregular migration status, as well as people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions and sex characteristics including trans and non-binary people, are among the most at risk of gender-based violence. In addition to the challenges with abuse and the intersections with varying marginalisations and inequalities listed above, they are often the least protected and supported by existing efforts to prevent and tackle violence and other harm and often face additional barriers in seeking help and justice.

We cannot address VAWG in isolation from wider issues of gender inequality and racial discrimination. This strategy takes an intersectional approach, recognising that to achieve freedom from abuse and protect fundamental rights for all, we have to address all forms of gender-based violence, in particular when linked to gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, age, disability, class, religion and migration status. It also acknowledges that those who experience intersectional discrimination face greater vulnerability to all forms of gender-based violence and abuse, with an additional emphasis on harmful practices such as female genital cutting, "honour"-based abuse, forced marriage and more.

In addressing these challenges, the strategy emphasises the importance of training frontline professionals to work effectively with marginalised and minoritised victims and survivors. It also recognises the need to tackle institutional racism within the criminal justice system and other public services that interact with victims and survivors. As well as identifies cisnormativity in support services and its impacts on programme development, client experiences, and services offered.

Additionally, increasing global majority representation among staff and leadership in VAWG services is another crucial step toward building trust and providing culturally appropriate support.

With this strategy and embedded improved and intersectional approach, we are committing to challenging sexist, misogynistic and other harmful attitudes and behaviours that can lead to violence and abuse, while also empowering our communities to speak out and seek help. Additional specialist resources will reflect our dedication to enhancing understanding, support, and empowerment within our community.

Let this strategy be a catalyst for change, sparking difficult but necessary conversations within our families, communities, institutions and the VAWG sector itself. Together, we can break the silence surrounding VAWG and build a future where all women and girls can live free from the fear of violence.

I call on all members of our Croydon community to engage with this strategy. Violence against women and girls is not a "women's issue", harmful practices are not an “ethnic problem” – these are societal problems that require all of us to be part of the solution. By working together, raising awareness, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can create a safer, accessible and more equitable society for all women and girls.