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Violence against women: Time to take action

A woman is assaulted an average of 35 times before she reports it but campaigners have said enough is enough.

By Katerina Vittozzi, Sky News Reporter

Saturday 25 November 2017 23:30, UK

The DrawALine campaign in London's Covent Garden, regarding violence against women
Image: UN Women and others will light聽up iconic buildings in orange as part of DrawALine
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One in four women in the UK are affected by sexual or physical violence, according to the latest United Nations statistics.

The figures were released ahead of the International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls on 25 November.

The prevalence of gender-based violence, across all countries and in all cultures, has sparked a new campaign by the UN Women called Draw A Line.

During the next 16 days, UN Women and partners will light up iconic buildings in orange, to symbolise a brighter future without violence.

In central London, campaigners encircled Covent Garden market with a bright orange vinyl tape; a physical line that stopped passers-by in their tracks. Messages were printed on it revealing the scale of violence, such as the fact that, on average, every week two women in the UK are killed by their partners.

Women participate in a demonstration to commemorate the U.N. International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in San Salvador, El Salvador, November 24, 2017
Image: As well as the UK, there were marches in other countries, including El Salvador,

Laura Haynes, UN Women's UK Chair told Sky News, said: "There has been a lot of talk about ending violence against women.

"What we've said is it's important to make a statement, it's important to be heard, but people are desperate now to take action, to find a way to make a difference.

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"And so we said enough is enough, it's time to literally draw a line to end violence against women."

The 140m height landmark Fountain of Geneva is illuminated in orange to commemorate United Nations-backed International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, 2017 in Geneva
Image: The 140m Fountain of Geneva is one of the icons lit orange for the campaign

Too few women report being the victims of violence or abuse.

A UN report revealed that a women is assaulted an average of 35 times before she reports it, and 85% of rapes are never reported at all.

A demonstrator shouts slogans as she holds a placard during a gathering to mark the U.N. International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Diyarbakir, Turkey, November 25, 2017
Image: Women in Diyarbakir, Turkey, also marched to highlight the problem of violence against women

Phoebe Tansley, a women's rights campaigner, told Sky News: "If you look at the rates of reporting and the rates of convictions for sexual and domestic violence in the UK, they are still shockingly low.

"There are issues there where our systems are not representing survivors properly and they are not giving them the access to justice and the support that they need."

There were marches and protests in a number of locations besides London, including France, Lebanon and Spain.

The campaign ends on 10 December.

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