Male violence against women and girls is both endemic and systemic. It is a constant daily experience for women and girls. From street harassment, poor access to women’s reproductive health services and abortion, domestic violence and rape. Across our planet sexualised violence has been used to punish, terrorise and exact “revenge” on communities in “wars” which are supported and created by capitalist demands for resources; whether this be conflict diamonds, mineral wealth as seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or simply land. Women’s bodies bear the brunt of male aggression and capitalist greed. Male violence kills, tortures and maims millions of women and girls across the world every day.

Many victims/survivors do not report their experiences to state agencies. This mean that the data does not show the true scale of violence. Services such as specialist Black/Global majority women’s services, Rape Crisis Centres and Women’s Aid refuges are a lifeline for many victim/survivors. The numbers of women and children being supported in this way is not presented in the “official” data. We also know that many victims/survivors are prevented from accessing support. While their experiences are not part of the “numbers”, we hold their truths in our hearts.

Violence against women and girls in the UK:

• Globally, almost 840 million women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life. This violence is most likely at the hands of a man that they know.

• 1 in 3 pregnant women are subjected to domestic violence.

• One in three adult survivors of rape experience it in their own home.

• Disabled women are nearly 3 times more likely to be subjected to domestic violence and are at a higher risk of being raped.

• The increase in far-right/fascist activity disproportionately impacts women and girls that are already marginalised in any society. Eg. in the UK there has been an increase in incidents of harassment and sexual/ physical assaults of Black/ Global Majority women and girls

• War and genocide increase the levels of violence against women and girls. Worldwide, 676 million women now live within 50 kilometres of an active site of war and genocide

• Nearly 80% of people displaced by climate change are women.

• Across the world, more than 60 million women and girls who are forcibly displaced or “stateless” face high risks of all forms of men’s violence. This includes rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment.

• Women who can’t access public funds, such as welfare support or housing assistance – due to No Recourse to Public Funds conditions – are three times more likely to experience VAWG

In the UK, the social and economic costs of domestic violence exceed 25 billion pounds every year. Yet, lack of funding to women’s services and cuts to public funding are forcing more women and children to live with abusive men as they are unable to access safety and support.

Two women are murdered every week by their partner or ex-partner. Three women a week in the UK commit suicide due to the trauma of domestic violence. This is the reality within which women and children live and die.

Our Sisters have not been “lost” to violence. Their lives have been stolen by individual men, by the state, by institutions and by families.

#NeverForgotten #WhyWeRise