25 November – 10 December
Today we are standing, alongside women in many cities and countries, in protest against male violence against women
Global Days of Action – Stop Violence against Women – Stop Male Violence Against Women In Peace Time
National: An estimated 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 suffered domestic abuse in England and
Wales in the last year (2021), and around 5.1 million women aged 18 to 74 were victims of some form of
abuse as a child. Tragically, in the year ending March 2020, 81 women were killed in a domestic
homicide. (ONS))
Global: An estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner
violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15
and older). This figure does not include sexual harassment. The rates of depression, anxiety disorders,
unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV are higher in women who have
experienced violence compared to women who have not, as well as many other health problems that
can last even after the violence has ended.
Globally 81,000 women and girls were killed in 2020, around 47,000 of them (58 per cent) died at the
hands of an intimate partner or a family member, which equals to a woman or girl being killed every 11
minutes in their home. This year we have seen state violence and threatened execution being
perpetrated against girls and women in Afghanistan and Iran in particular.
https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
Nov 25, International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women marks the start of the Global
16 days Campaign to end violence to women, ending on December 10, Human Rights Day. The 2022
theme is ‘End Femicide’, the intentional killing of girls or women because of their gender. More here
16dayscampaign.org. Women’s Aid provide excellent support to women experiencing violence and
have a campaign #EndDomestic Abuse, more here www.womensaid.org.uk/
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
Women in Black is an international network of feminists committed to peace and justice,
opposed to war, militarism and other kinds of violence. We call for an end to violence, whether its
purpose is state power, economic advantage, male dominance or personal control. We work to
build bridges in conflict and we choose nonviolence in our actions, believing that a more
respectful, equal, just, co-operative and caring way of life is possible.
We invite men who see our vigil today to take responsibility for challenging and ending the social
shaping of masculinity in violent forms. We appreciate the solidarity with women shown by the WHITE
RIBBON CAMPAIGN www.whiteribbon.org.uk . “Our mission is to prevent violence against women and
girls by addressing its root causes. Our aim is to change long established, and harmful, attitudes,
systems and behaviours around masculinity that perpetuate gender inequality and men’s violence
against women.”
Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue,
opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London WC2. Our vigils are silent,
women-only and if possible we wear black. We welcome all women who support our call for an end to
militarism and war.
Contact us: Twitter @WIB_London FB @womeninblack.london http://london.womeninblack.org/
Donations for leaflets most welcome
NO TO VIOLENCE
against women in peace and war