Stop Violence Against Women

NEXT SUNDAY, 25 November, is widely recognised as International Day against Violence against Women, or White Ribbon Day.

Eleanor Donne, National Chair, Campaign Against Domestic Violence

Its purpose is to highlight the extent of abuse of women worldwide and raise awareness of the causes.

In Britain alone, according to Home Office statistics, every week two women are killed by their current or former partner and one in four women experience domestic violence at some stage in their life. In the face of such horrific statistics the government's strategy document on violence against women called Living Without Fear has been woefully inadequate.

The £6 million allocated to various projects has been nowhere near what is needed to give women a chance to escape domestic violence and access proper support services. We are still awaiting the results of yet another review of refuge provision - to tell us what we already know - refuges are overcrowded and underfunded.

Ten years ago members of the Socialist Party (Militant Labour at the time) were instrumental in launching the Campaign Against Domestic Violence (CADV). CADV calls on the government to implement a 12-point action programme on domestic violence.

This includes demands for secure funding and expansion of facilities and services for women experiencing domestic violence. We also call for legal reform such as an expansion of Legal Aid, changes to the law on self-defence and a review of cases of women in prison for killing violent partners.

Women and children escaping violence need an expanded, fully funded network of refuges, the right to be rehoused permanently and decent benefits or a decent minimum wage. They should not have to face a choice between violence and poverty.

CADV will be organising local activities to promote our programme. For more details and copies of the action programme telephone 020 8520 8881.

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In The Socialist 23 November 2001:

War Brings No Solution