What is Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)?
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On this page you will find:
- The meaning of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
- The different types of VAWG
- What VAWG means for men and boys
The meaning of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Haringey Council have adopted the definition from the United Nations Declaration (1993) on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, in which Article 1 defines Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as:
“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life"
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The different types of Violence Against Women and Girls
VAWG is an umbrella term which includes the following types of abuses. You can click on the links below to learn more about each type of VAWG:
- Domestic violence and abuse ([external link)
- Coercive and Controlling behaviour (external link)
- Sexual violence, abuse and exploitation (external link)
- Including:
- rape
- forced prostitution
- Including:
- Sexual harassment and bullying (external link)
- Stalking (external link)
- Crimes committed in the name of “honour” - so-called 'honour based violence' (external link)
- Harmful Practices (external link)
- Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
- Gendered Gang Violence (girls in gangs)
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What VAWG means for men and boys
The term Violence Against Women and Girls can often cause concern about the exclusion of men and boys from services, and a lack of recognition that men and boys can also experience these forms of violence and abuse.
The UN Declaration is based on the concept of disproportionate impact. We understand the gendered nature of these types of abuse and crimes, and also that men and boys are sometimes victims of these types of abuse and crimes.
It is important that men and boys are included in all aspects of our work on all forms of violence against women and girls (particularly work on prevention and awareness raising). We are committed to ensuring that any victim will receive a sensitive and appropriate response, according to their needs.
To find out more about our response to supporting men and boys, please read the following briefing:
If you or someone who know is a man experiencing domestic abuse, there is help available.
- Victim Support offer a specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) for men:
- Email: IVWS@victimsupport.org.uk
- Tel: 0808 168 9111
- Respect run a helpline for men experiencing domestic abuse:
- Men's Advice Line: 0808 8011327
- Mens Advice Line website (external link)
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