Choose To Challenge

For IWD 2021 Monday 8 March we highlighted problems that mainly affect women but everyone must want to solve. 

• The number of violence against the person offences flagged as domestic abuse-related in March-June 2020 increased compared with the previous year. (1)
• Over 90% of respondents currently experiencing domestic abuse said the Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted in at least one way. Of those women living with their abuser during lockdown, 61% said the abuse had worsened. (2)
• Over the past decade, 1,425 women have been murdered in the UK.  That’s roughly one woman every three days.  A terrible statistic that hasn’t changed in the past ten years despite a welcome fall in violent crime as a whole. (3)

The whole of society

Women’s organisations and governments have for decades sought to reduce the personal suffering and social harm of domestic abuse.  Yet the problem persists.  And it’s clear from many sources that coronavirus and lockdown have made things worse.

Citizens Advice exists to help people with problems find a way forward (4), and decision-makers to improve policies that cause problems.  As indicated, any easy solution to gender violence and domestic abuse would by now have come to light.  But for a start, we’re pleased IWD 2021 wants more men to take part in the campaign.

It could mean less pigeonholing the harm as a ‘women’s issue’ and more reframing as a problem for the whole of society.   

1) Domestic Abuse in England and Wales, Office for National Statistics, Nov 2020

2) A Perfect Storm, Women’s Aid, August 2020

3) Twice as many women killed by men during Covid lockdown,  ITV News. Nov 2020

4) Gender violence advice, Citizens Advice Online.