Words by Pippa Moyle
www.citygirlnetwork.com
Two million women a year are victims of male violence. One in 12. 3,000 crimes a day. A 37% rise in violence in just five years. These are the stats that contributed to Violence Against Women and Girls being declared a ‘national emergency’ on 23rd July 2024.
Survivor’s Network, the rape crisis centre for Sussex and our charity partner, know this emergency all too well. Hailing this declaration as “a serious recognition of a long-standing crisis in our society.” But we’ve always been in crisis, as they’ll explain in this column takeover.
“For those of us working within rape crisis centres, this is not new information. While we are grateful that the headlines are finally catching up with this crisis, this “epidemic” scale of gender-based violence is the reality we have been confronting for the decades we’ve been in operation. The emergency declaration by UK police chiefs may be new, but the crisis has always been there, simmering beneath the surface of a society deeply entrenched in a misogynistic culture.
Our work in rape crisis is a relentless battle against not only the traumatic consequences and wide-ranging fallout of sexual violence but also the systemic failures that perpetuate it. The declaration by the police certainly feels like a significant step, but it is not enough. It is vital that we do not allow this moment to pass without pushing for meaningful, long-term changes.
The truth is, that violence against women and girls is not just a series of isolated incidents; it is a reflection of a culture that normalises and excuses misogyny. From the language we use to the laws we enforce, the UK is rife with attitudes that devalue women and tolerate abuse. These ingrained beliefs and behaviours cannot be dismantled by declarations alone. We need to see a profound shift in how our society understands and addresses violence against women. We all have a part to play.
Politicians must go beyond words and commit to actionable change. This means not only increasing funding for rape crisis centres and support services but also implementing comprehensive education programs that challenge misogynistic attitudes from a young age. It means reforming the criminal justice system to ensure that survivors are believed and abusers are held accountable. It means recognising that violence against women and girls is a societal problem, not just a women’s issue.
We must seize this moment to demand that our leaders take the necessary steps to create a society where all women and girls can live free from violence and fear. We must each take our own steps to help create the safest possible world for ALL.”
