Stop Domestic Abuse marks International Women’s Day on March 8th

Saturday 8th March 2024 is International Women’s Day (IWD) and is a day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women whilst also calling for gender equality. This year’s theme of ‘Accelerate Action’ focuses on the need to march forward and take clear and decisive steps towards gender equality. We have created a free ‘Speak Up for Change’ e-toolkit to help organisations to have difficult conversations online to challenge biases and negative attitudes relating to Violence Against Women and Girls. While we hope the e-toolkit will provide the momentum for changing these conversations, we are also launching a Live Chat online service for survivors of domestic abuse which provides another way for women to access the support they need.  

So why do we need a toolkit to help navigate tricky conversations regarding gender? Sadly, it is increasingly common for organisations, particularly within the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector, to receive comments that attempt to divert the conversation, minimise the issue, or shift focus away from gender-based violence. These comments and conversations, if unchallenged, reinforce the status quo and create further barriers to progress towards gender parity. 

Our ‘Speak Up for Change’ e-toolkit’ is available to any charity or organisation who hopes to challenge and change attitudes, including any charities, authorities or organisations that work within the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector. The toolkit can help colleagues who manage social media platforms or work in communication departments respond to negative comments online and change perceptions around gender inequality. You can download the toolkit here - Stop Domestic Abuse Speak Up for Change Toolkit.

To mark International Women’s Day, we will also be launching new extended hours for a Live Chat service which offers free advice. It is available to directly support victims and survivors and family and friends who are concerned about someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse. The Live Chat feature will now be available Monday to Wednesday from 2pm to 5.30pm and 9.30am-1pm on Thursdays and Fridays.  

Our live Chat function provides an additional line of communication, increasing the accessibility of our services for those who are most vulnerable. The Live Chat function will be available via our website and can provide a more discreet route of contact for those who are unable to call our telephone helpline. We understand that women disproportionately suffer from isolation as part of being subject to abusive behaviours, Live Chat will enable more women to reach out to us in their time of need. Visit www.stopdomesticabuse.uk to access the Live Chat service. 

Stop Domestic Abuse CEO Claire Lambon says:  

“Stop Domestic Abuse continually reflects on how we empower women through our services at Stop Domestic Abuse, and validating their experiences and supporting their voices is key to our trauma informed work.  

Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. We continue to challenge cultural stereotypes which still assume that the perpetrators of domestic violence are men and the victims are women, however, at the same time, we must recognise that the majority of perpetrators are men. We still live in a patriarchal society where men have more power than women. To ignore the impact of gender on domestic violence does a disservice to people of any gender.  

This year’s International Women’s Day theme of ‘Accelerate Action’ highlights that at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity. This shows the need for us to work together to increase the speed in which this issue is being addressed.” 

If you live in Hampshire, Portsmouth or Southampton and are experiencing domestic abuse, you can call the Domestic Abuse Advice Line on 0330 0533 630 or email advice@stopdomesticabuse.uk for confidential advice and support.