Reporting highlights the scale of violence against women in the UK

Author: Sheetal Frank

March 19, 2026

HRRC condemns violence against women and recognises it as a serious human rights violation that threatens women’s safety and quality of life. We call for coordinated action between British authorities and the government to strengthen protections and ensure justice for victims.

Protest to end violence against women [Image credit: Getty Images – BBC News]

Violence against women and girls, perpetuated mostly by men, can include sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, honour-based violence, exploitation and online abuse. Such acts are a violation of women’s fundamental human rights.

The charity organization Women’s Aid referred to violence against women as a ‘national threat’ and called for all departments to collaborate to combat this crime by providing enhanced training programmes delivered by specialist services and cooperation between the criminal justice system, the government and experts. Without careful collaboration advocates say, the current system will continue failing women and children.

The Convention on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which recognises that this issue is a global phenomenon caused by the inequalities in relationships between men and women. The declaration calls for states to implement national laws to criminalise acts of violence against women, add more services such as sheltered accommodation and challenge public perceptions to reduce stigma against women reporting these crimes.

Amnesty International warns that violence against women deprives them of the right to health, physical and mental integrity, the right to be free from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and the right to life.

Human rights organisations emphasize that addressing violence against women requires continued effort between governments and law enforcement as well as increased support for victims.

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Glossary

• Amnesty International - Non-governmental organisation working to end human rights violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Collaborate - To work together as a team or group to achieve an outcome.

• Combat - To prevent or reduce crime.

• Criminal Justice system - Law enforcement, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service, the courts and prison services, who are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes.

• Criminalising - To make an activity illegal so that it is considered a criminal offence if carried out.

• Deprives - Lacking a benefit which is considered an important part of life.

• Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) - Procedure of removing the female external genitalia or casuing an injury to the female genital organs without any medical reason.

• Global phenomenon - An issue that is widespread across nations.

• Honour-based violence - An act of violence or abuse committed to protect or defend honour of a family, often against a family member who is believed to have brought shame or dishonour.

• Inequalities - A situation where people can experience different treatments based on their identity, such as gender.

• National Threat - An event, action or circumstance with the potential to harm a country's safety, stability, prosperity or citizens.

• Perpetuated - Repeated action or causes something to continue.

• Prosecuting - To prove that someone has committed that crime in a court of law.

• Public Perceptions - A set of beliefs, attitudes and opinions held by the public.

• Preventative - To stop something from occurring by putting a plan/action in place.

• Stigma - Negative perceptions and disapproval from people about a particular situation.

• The Elimination of Violence against Women - An international treaty sometimes referred to as a 'bill of rights for women', it calls for states to end discrimination against women, ensuring legal protection and measures are put in place against gender-based violence.

• Violence against Women - This is defined by the United Nations as any act that results in physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women.

• Women’s Aid - A national charity for women and children working to end domestic abuse.