A priority for London
Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a key mayoral priority within the Police and Crime Plan, and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) is dedicated to working with partners across London to address VAWG.
Mayor of London - tackling violence against women and girls
What does this mean for Merton?
Merton currently provides services for men and women who have/ are victims of domestic violence and abuse, sexual abuse, forced marriage and Violence committed in the name of "honour". This new strategy will focus on how the borough coordinates services to victims of these and other crimes listed as VAWG by the Mayor of London.
Merton will continue to provide support services to men and women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse, sexual abuse, forced marriage and violence committed in the name of "honour" and a list of services available to victims in the borough can be found on the domestic violence web page. Please see below for a list of other support services for victims of the crimes listed as VAWG.
Merton's VAWG strategy
Merton's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy 2022-25
Definition of VAWG
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is the umbrella term used to describe a range of violent and abusive acts and behaviours, which are predominantly, but not exclusively, directed against women and girls. This term is used to describe abuse against all genders but highlights the disproportionate impact on women and girls.
Locally and nationally, we have adopted the United Nations definition of VAWG, which defines VAWG as:
“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”
There are multiple forms of VAWG, whether physical, sexual, psychological, or economic. This can include violence in public places, such as sexual harassment, or within the private sphere such as intimate partner violence, which can often lead to homicide. Two women are killed every week by a partner or ex-partner in the UK. Some forms of violence are technology based, such as internet stalking, or driven by economic factors such as international trafficking of women and girls. Others are the result of harmful practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation, Forced Marriage, and virginity testing. These abuses can differ in how they are experienced, but all are the result of the misuse of power and control.
| Type of Abuse | What does this mean? |
|---|---|
| Domestic abuse (including coercive control) | This is when a partner or family member has power and control over their victims and uses abuse to maintain it. Abuse can be physical, emotional, economic, psychological and/or sexual. |
| Rape and sexual violence | Rape is sex without consent. This means that rape isn’t just people being physically forced into a sexual act, it also includes pressure that makes someone feel like they have no choice but to have sex or perform/receive a sexual act. |
| Female genital mutilation | This is the partial or total removal of external female genitalia for non medical reasons. |
| Early and Forced marriage | This is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, cannot) consent to the marriage as they are pressurised, or abuse is used, to force them to do so. |
| So called “honour” based violence | This is abuse and violence which is carried out in order to protect or defend perceived “honour” of the family and/or community. We are clear that there is no honour in honour-based violence. |
| Faith-based abuse | This is when someone uses religion or faith to justify the abuse of another person, usually a child or vulnerable adult. It could be caused by the perpetrator’s belief in witchcraft, spirit or demonic possession, ritual, or satanic abuse. It is not caused by religion or faith. |
| Sexual harassment | This is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature which violates someone’s dignity, makes someone feel intimidated, degraded, or humiliated and/or creates a hostile or offensive environment. |
| Stalking | This is a pattern of persistent and unwanted attention that makes someone feel pestered, scared, anxious, or harassed. |
| Modern Slavery | This is an umbrella term for human trafficking and servitude. It is used when somebody is forced or controlled to do something, and another person gains from this. |
| Prostitution and Sexual exploitation | This is where someone is being coerced or forced into selling sex or performing sexual acts. Victim/survivors may also be trafficked into prostitution. Children, young people, and vulnerable adults may also be sexually exploited and coerced into receiving or performing sexual acts. Abuse of children and adults can include sharing pornographic images and the use of technology. |
Male allyship
Male allyship remains crucial to preventing violence against women and girls. This starts with understanding and challenging harmful attitudes of young men and boys. Free resources and a growing programme of regular events is available to support young men and boys to help them to identify healthy norms and relationships.
These include:
- The Good Guys Guide, which provide simple actions that you can take to make women and girls feel safer on the streets.
- WomenKind, a global women’s rights organisation, gives helpful suggestions on what how to respond to sexist language in the article about how to respond to sexist language,
- The Government website sets out guidance on recognising domestic abuse in a relationship and how to support a friend if you think they are being abused or they tell you they are.
- The Respect Helpline gives you advice to help if someone is displaying abusive behaviour.
- A ten-minute online training provides techniques to stop street harassment, whilst keeping you safe.
- A number of articles on Male allyship are available from Beyond Equality and Primary prevention in schools and at home — White Ribbon UK
White Ribbon
We are proud to be White Ribbon accredited and we will work to ensure we can eliminate violence against women by men.
If you want to make the promise, please visit the White Ribbon website:
Make the White Ribbon Promise — White Ribbon UK
Support services
- National Stalking Helpline
- Am I Being Stalked? - Suzy Lamplugh Trust
- Unseen - Supporting victims who have been trafficked
- Forced Marriage unit
- Women and Girls network - Supporting women victims of FGM, honour crimes
- Forward - Support for FGM victims
- IKWRO - Iranian and Kurdish Women's Rights Organisation, supporting women victims of FGM, honour crimes
- Victim Support - Support for victims of domestic and sexual violence and abuse
- Merton Children and Families Hub - The single point of contact for all safeguarding concerns regarding children and young people in Merton
- Metropolitan Police
Contact us
Safer Merton
Merton Council
Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX
Telephone: 020 8545 4146
Email: safer.merton@merton.gov.uk