EVAW Coalition – Bulletin, Spring 2017

Local elections 4 May 2017 – Putting VAWG on candidates’ agendas

Are there elections where you live on 4 May? EVAW has produced an activist guide which contains background information, links and suggested actions individuals can take to generate much-needed commitments from candidates to help end violence against women and girls.

Government announces compulsory Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)

After over a decade of campaigning by the women’s sector, we are delighted at the announcement by Education Secretary Justine Greening that ‘RSE’ is to be made compulsory in all schools. We look forward to working with the government, experts, and schools on the development of guidance on this. More info here…
Prime Minister, government and parliament make pledges on ‘VAWG’

We welcomed the Prime Minster’s announcement that she will personally oversee revision of the laws and practice around domestic violence, alongside the commitment of £20m in the budget announcement on 8th March. Parliament also recently voted for a further hearing of the Istanbul Convention Bill, which promises higher standards of protection for women and girls.

Women defend human right to hold police to account in the Supreme Court

On 13th March the Met Police, backed by the Home Office, sought a Supreme Court ruling saying police cannot be sued for failures that allowed violent, serial rapist John Worboys to remain at large. In a historic case, EVAW, NIA, Rape Crisis England & Wales and Southall Black Sisters intervened to press the court to uphold women’s human rights, including the right to protection from gender based violence. More info here…

Making women ‘prove’ rape for tax credits

We are dismayed that the UK government is pushing through its plan to require women to ‘prove’ rape in order to receive tax credits for third and subsequent children. EVAW Co-Director Rachel Krys commented that the policy “betrays a lack of understanding about sexual and domestic abuse“. On 20th March the government rejected calls for an emergency debate on the new policy, which came into force this week.

EVAW members attend vigil demanding #Justice4Seeta

EVAW members joined the vigil at New Scotland Yard recently demanding #Justice4Seeta. The vigil marked two years since Seeta (Saini) Kaur died in highly suspicious circumstances at the home of her husband and in-laws in India. Seeta’s family believe that she was the victim of a brutal honour killing. Two years later, there has been no investigation into her death in India or in the UK. More info here…

#EndingVAWG Media Awards 2017

We will soon be launching our 2017 Media Awards, celebrating exemplary journalism that constructively shapes the debate on violence against women. More info here…

Finally – In case you missed us in the media: we joined BBC Woman’s Hour on 24th March to discuss a pilot scheme allowing pre-recorded testimony in Court from children and vulnerable women. We also spoke to the BBC and Telegraph about the Met Police’s appeal against their obligation to properly investigate rape, and iNews about the government’s announcement that Relationships & Sex Ed will be compulsory in UK schools.