Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a pervasive and devastating crime with far-reaching consequences. The impact on victims and society as a whole is immeasurable and therefore addressing this should be a priority for all.

Whilst all people, including men and boys, can be abused, women and girls are disproportionately victimised.

Statistics from the National Police Chiefs’ Council state that every three days in the UK, a woman is killed.

But that’s not all, 18% of all recorded crime in England and Wales is recorded as domestic abuse and in 2021/2022, there were 194,683 sexual offences, of which 70,330 were rape.

The question is, what can we do to better understand and end the violence against women and girls national emergency? Let’s explore.

The Scale of the VAWG Crisis

The statistics above are both shocking and frightening, we know through the media and what we see online every day that the issue of violence against women and girls is an epidemic.

Just recently, there have been stories of women killed in their own homes by jilted partners, a lady attacked at random whilst walking her dog and the tragic killings of three innocent young girls attending a summer holiday dance class.

It is becoming a weekly occurrence to hear the stories of women hurt, injured or worse at the hands of men. The Independent newspaper reported that incidences of violence against women on public transport have risen over 50% in the last year, with sexual offences rising by 10%.

Violence against women and girls can include, but is not limited to:

• Domestic abuse – which can include physical and emotional abuse, as well as coercive control, image-based or online and financial abuse.
• Sexual assault – which can include inappropriate touching, exploitation, unwanted sexual behaviour or rape. This can be from a known perpetrator or a stranger.
• Stalking or harassment – which can include repeated and unwanted attention or behaviour that causes fear or distress or behaviour designed to annoy, intimidate or threaten.
• Honour-based violence (HBV), forced marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM) – although less prevalent, these actions still come under the category of VAWG.

The Impact of VAWG

Violence against women and girls can have a devastating and lifelong impact on victims, their families and their communities. Some of the key consequences might be:

Long-Lasting Physical and Mental Health Conditions

There is so much talk of violent behaviour towards women, but we don’t always relate this to the injuries that occurred or damage done. These can be outward injuries such as cuts and bruises, broken bones etc. But there can be internal injuries too, particularly to the genitals during sexual assault or rape.

As well as the physical injuries, there will also be a significant mental health impact, including depression, anxiety, PTSD and low self-esteem, which in turn could lead to dangerous coping strategies such as alcohol, drugs or even self-harm or suicide.

Possible Social, Economic and Financial Impact

The trauma related to domestic abuse, sexual assault, rape or attempted murder can leave survivors unable to work or having to have significant periods of leave – resulting in financial instability or complete loss of earnings.

We know that economic or financial abuse can leave victims financially dependent on their abusers, making it harder to leave. Victims may find it hard to trust others, which can lead to social isolation or exclusion from their community.

Impact on Children

In 2021, the Domestic Abuse Act stated that children who witness domestic abuse in the home are victims of abuse in their own right.

We know that witnessing domestic abuse or growing up in a house with violence is considered an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) and can have a life-long impact on children’s self-esteem, relationships, behaviour and ability to learn.

Growing up in a world where violence against women and girls is normalised can also create gender inequality and biases and encourage misogyny.

How Can We Address VAWG in Schools?

Tackling violence against women and girls requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of the problem.

Schools and education settings must play a pivotal role in addressing gender inequality and stereotypes from the earliest of ages to ensure all girls grow up feeling safe and boys understand the importance of the role they play in this as well.

To address the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls, schools can implement several strategies:

• Comprehensive Sex and Relationships Education (RSE): Teaching consent, healthy relationships, and respect from a young age.
• Challenging gender stereotypes: Promoting equality and breaking down harmful stereotypes.
• Bystander intervention training: Equipping students with the skills to safely intervene when witnessing harassment or abuse.
• Zero-tolerance anti-bullying policies: Enforcing strict policies against bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
• Staff training: Providing teachers and staff with training on recognising and responding to signs of abuse.
• Safe spaces: Creating designated areas for students to report incidents without fear of judgment.
• Collaboration with external agencies: Working with local support services and charities, e.g. Women’s Aid, Refuge, Equality Now, Childline or local organisations.

Final Thoughts on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

While slow progress is being made, there is still much work to be done to tackle the violence against women and girls national emergency.

Collectively, we need to continue to raise awareness, challenge stereotypes and empower our girls and young women. It is essential to create a society where all women and girls feel safe and respected.

Ultimately, ending violence against women and girls is a moral imperative. It is about ensuring that every female can live free from fear and violence and creating a more just and equitable society for all.

At Services For Education, we help equip schools and colleges with the necessary resources and learning programmes to ensure the highest quality safeguarding provision and student wellbeing support.

We have some upcoming courses based on or around this topic, including:

• Promoting Gender Equality by Challenging Gender Stereotypes – This course is designed to equip senior leaders, DSLs and other educators with the knowledge and tools to address these issues within the education environment. Covering the core concepts of misogyny and toxic masculinity, then looking at fostering positive and respectful relationships, challenging gender bias and the importance of female empowerment.
• Supporting Self-Regulation for children who have experienced Trauma & ACEs – This course is ideal for pastoral staff, class teachers or teaching assistants working with children who have experienced trauma. Gain an increased awareness and a deeper understanding of trauma and its effects on a child’s development, both emotionally and academically and explore methods for creating a safe and supportive classroom environment that fosters emotional wellbeing.

If you wish to receive more information about our resources for anxiety in children and young people, contact us at hello@servicesforeducation.co.uk.

 

About the Author

Emma Mudge - Adviser, Services For Education

Emma has over 20 years of experience working in primary education. Throughout this time, she worked as a leader in a wide variety of areas, and as Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, and Acting Head Teacher, she has been at the forefront of school leadership and improvement for a significant number of years.  

Emma now works as the Educational Adviser for English and is also a member of the Safeguarding team, sharing her experience and knowledge to continually promote and improve the quality of safeguarding, the standard of teaching and learning in English, and in school improvement overall. Supporting schools with the accuracy of their KS1 and KS2 writing assessments is an important part of her role as she can use her expertise as a member for the moderation team to inform, train and support teachers and school leaders. 

Emma is also part of the team which delivers the Health For Life programme (improving the healthy opportunities for primary aged children) and the NPQSL, where she proudly supports the development of our aspiring leaders in the city. 

NEED SAFEGUARDING SUPPORT AT YOUR SCHOOL?

Our expert advisers can provide in-school visits to deliver sessions on any specific safeguarding issues that are relevant to your setting. We also offer consultancy and a detailed safeguarding audit. We will work with you to understand your exact requirements.

Get in touch with us today if you’d like to discuss bespoke Safeguarding training for your school.

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For further support and information, SFE can offer bespoke consultancy packages of support for DSLs to look at processes and procedures. In addition, our team of experts can complete an audit of the current safeguarding status of your school.   

Browse our website for further information www.servicesforeducation.co.uk or email safeguarding@servicesforeducation.co.uk