What is violence against women and girls?
The United Nations defines Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as:
"Any act of gender-based violence that is directed at a woman because she is a woman, or acts of violence which are suffered disproportionally by women, that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to a woman or girl, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life."
It refers to the following crime types:
- domestic violence and abuse
- sexual offences
- stalking
- female genital mutilation
- crimes said to be committed in the name of 'honour'
- forced marriage
- prostitution
- trafficking for sexual exploitation
- exploitation of girls by gangs.
Support for violence against women and girls crimes
We have factsheets on all of the above:
Download support and information factsheets
Royal Greenwich violence against women and girls strategy
We have a specific strategy for violence against women and girls.