The Women’s Equality Party (WE) has called on the UK government to provide “crucial support to women and girls in undeniable need” to mark the United Nation’s (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
Today Sophie Walker, leader of the WE, will meet staff and clients at Greenwich DV Services, a domestic violence service in South London.
According to Walker last year, on one day alone, 84 children and 112 women were turned away from a refuge because of a lack of space. Walker said more government funding is needed to improve such services.
Walker said today “marks the start of 16 days of action against gender-based violence, and falls on the day of the government’s spending review.
“WE are calling for an end to government cuts to vital services. The cuts to legal aid that started in 2012 have disproportionately affected women, preventing survivors of domestic abuse from getting justice.”
Walker said that recent closures, such as the charity Eaves, have drawn attention to how VAWG services are commissioned: “There is evidence that non-specialist organisations are winning tenders based on cost rather than quality, leaving women even more vulnerable.”
“WE will create an £800m fund by scrapping the Married Couples’ Tax Allowance, using this money to reverse the cuts to legal aid, as well as channeling funds to support those women and children who are currently finding little or no support as they flee violence at home.”
She called on the government to offer more support for women and girls: “As George Osborne announces the details of his government’s Spending Review this morning, WE call on him to provide crucial support to women and girls in undeniable need,” Walker said.
“Survivors and support workers deserve sustained and sustainable funding. WE will guarantee it. What will this government do?”
The Women’s Equality Party was founded by Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer in March 2015, and launched its policies in October. In November the party launched its 31 campaign to stand candidates in Scottish, Welsh and London elections in May.
From 25 November through 10 December, which is Human Rights Day, a UN campaign called 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence will aim to raise public awareness and mobilising people everywhere to bring about change. The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign has launched to encourage people to “Orange the world” through lighting up streets, schools and landmarks in orange and sharing the images on social media.
