Needs of women and girls must be recognised

A number of organisations addressing violence against women and girls have come together to call for the specific needs of women and girls to be attended to during the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement issued by more than 10 organisations engaged in combating violence against women highlighted how, for many, home is not a place of safety.

The statement, which includes signatories from organisations including End Violence Against Women, Women’s Aid, and Refuge and Rape Crisis, called for an immediate cash injection from government to cope with additional pressures faced by women and girls in the crisis and to allow services that support them to continue their vital work.

Another statement, which includes signatures from Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society campaign for gender equality; Pragna Patel, director of Southall Black Sisters; and Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson, director of the UK Women’s Budget Group said that, so far, women and girls in the UK have been largely invisible from the debate and excluded from decision-making.

“Now schools and nurseries have closed their doors it will be women who take on most of the unpaid care work, reducing their hours or giving up paid work, turning the clock back on gender equality,” it said.

It pointed out that many women are on the frontline, delivering essential services, usually the lowest paid or in insecure work.

And, it added: “Many women will be trapped in their homes, self-isolating with an abusive partner.”

https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/news/coronavirus-joint-call-womens-visibility-uk-response