Green Party committed to eliminating all forms of violence against women

25 November 2015

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1), which was established in 1999 to raise awareness of rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence against women, Natalie Bennett, Green Party Leader, said: 

“That one in three women in the European Union has experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lives is a shocking and saddening statistic. What’s even more shocking is that the huge problem of violence against women is even worse than the topline statistics indicate; in the UK, according to Women’s Aid, the police receive one domestic violence-related call every minute, despite more than half of all incidents of domestic violence going unreported.” 

“A growing number of women are seeking refuge and asylum in the European Union are fleeing gender-based violence in their home countries (2) and it is our responsibility as a decent, humane society to offer gender-sensitive support.” 

Bennett added:

"Chancellor George Osborne's announcent today that £15million raised from the 'tampon' tax is to go to women's charities is no substitute for stable, secure core finding for women's refuges and other services for victims of violence that have been closed and cut back as a result of austerity policies."

The Green Party calls on the Government to make good on its promise to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention), which requires states to introduce comprehensive measures to prevent and combat violence. 

The Government signed the Convention in June 2012, and Prime Minister David Cameron promised to ratify it by the end of the Parliamentary Session, but this has still not been done. Ratification will require the Government to bring the Convention’s provisions into force through domestic policy and legislation, leading to an improved response to violence against women across the board. 

The Green Party pledged in the 2015 General Election manifesto to implement a UK-wide strategy to tackle violence against women, including domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, female genital mutilation and trafficking.

In Parliament, Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, has campaigned for all young people to be taught high-quality personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). Good PSHE is key to tackling violence against women and girls, and also has significant knock-on benefits for both academic attainment and future employability. 

Notes  

1) http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/

2) http://neurope.eu/wires/joint-statement-on-the-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-violence-against-women-25-november-2015/

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