Member News
By Baroness Gale - 24th November 2011
Baroness Gale calls attention to the work that still needs to be done to protect women across the UK.
I tabled my question to be answered on the eve of National White Ribbon Day on November 25th.
Violence against women and girls is a major problem in every country in the world. My question asks what is being done in the UK to reduce the level of violence against women and girls. Up to three million women across the UK experience rape, domestic violence, forced marriages, stalking, sexual exploitation and trafficking, female genital mutilation or so-called honour violence each year.
There is much awareness of violence against women and girls in all its forms. There are many laws in place to deal with it. The law can deal with the perpetrator, and give help and support to the victim, but is there a 'cure'? Prevention would be much better.
End Violence against Women (EVAW) has recently published an excellent document, 'A Different World is Possible', on the whole subject of violence against women and girls. It speaks about the need for preventative measures, and spells out what is required to achieve this. It identifies ten areas of action to prevent violence against women and girls, such as ensuring universal delivery of a 'whole school approach' across the education system; ensure funding for specialised violence against women and girls; services to deliver prevention work; invest in research, monitoring and evaluation of prevention intervention, and fund community mobilisation activities to challenge violence against women and girls.
Any measures such as these cost money, but the cost of violence against woman and girls is extremely expensive both in financial and emotional terms.
Again on the prevention side, the White Ribbon Campaign is an organisation of men working to end violence against women. Violence against women is an issue that is relevant to all men. It asked men to make a pledge: I pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. This is a good campaign which I fully endorse.
The Westminster government, and the devolved governments working together with all charities and organisations in this field, should be able to bring about a change in attitude toward women and girls.
If the will and determination is there we could see a fairer, more equal society, one where the threat of violence against women and girls is removed once and for all. I look forward to that day.
Anita Gale is an opposition whip. She was raised to the peerage in 1999 and sits on the Labour benches.
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