More must be done to protect women and girls from violence, equality body warns

Equality and Human Rights Commission submits report to UN

Women are still being "failed" in many areas of life, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned in its largest ever review of women's rights.

In its latest report – Pressing for progress: women's rights and gender equality in 2018 – which is being presented to the United Nations in Geneva on 23 July 2018, the Commission says more action is needed to better protect women and girls from violence.

The report sets out a number of concerns and recommendations including better support for survivors of domestic violence, higher prosecution and conviction rates for violent crimes against women and girls, and a review of hate crime legislation.

The report also emphasises the importance of ensuring that there is no regression in equality and human rights protections as a result of the changes introduced as we leave the EU, and that we do not lag behind future developments in equality and human rights. It also highlights that funding for women's services may decrease as a result.

Rebecca Hilsenrath, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:

"[I]t is estimated that only 15% of survivors of sexual violence report their experience to the police, and social movements such as #MeToo continue to shine a spotlight on areas where women are being failed. The priority must now be ensuring that women and girls of all ages can enjoy their basic right to feel safe in their everyday lives. Our recommendations are intended to improve the lives of women and girls and to protect their fundamental rights. This centenary year is a good time to take action."

The Commission has called for the following changes to end violence against women and girls:

ensuring police take a victim-centred approach when dealing with sexual violence and consent and improve the reporting and prosecution and conviction rates of sexual violence and domestic violence crimes
strengthening support services for survivors of violence including those that provide specialist services to Black and ethnic minority women, disabled women and women with complex needs
improving the police response to so-called 'honour-based' violence
developing a sustainable funding model for refuges and domestic abuse services and withdrawing proposed changes to housing benefit that would prevent women from using it to pay for refuge accommodation
providing funding to community groups working closely with communities where FGM is practiced and ensuring that all relevant public sector professionals receive mandatory training in how to identify and support women and girls affected by FGM and other harmful practices
committing to a full-scale review of hate-crime offences and enhanced sentencing powers and consider amending hate crime legislation to extend protections on the basis of gender
putting forward legislation to end the cross-examination of survivors of domestic violence by their perpetrators in the family courts
offering Universal Credit as single payments to individuals rather than joint payments to avoid exacerbating financial abuse for women experiencing domestic violence
reconsidering the 'spare room subsidy' regulations which discriminate against survivors of domestic abuse who have safe rooms
introducing a mandatory duty on employers to take reasonable steps to protect workers from harassment and victimisation in the workplace
introducing a statutory code of practice on sexual harassment and harassment at work
investigating ways of reducing barriers to women's participation in politics such as the intimidation of female MPs and making it easier for domestic abuse survivors to register to vote anonymously
improving data collection and understanding of sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools, disseminate guidance and improve teacher training on how to recognise and address such behaviour.

The review has also highlighted the continued need to tackle discrimination in the workplace and ongoing concerns around the treatment of women in immigration detention.

The full report and list of recommendations have been submitted to the United Nations as part of its review into the UK's women's rights record.

For the report, click here.

23/7/18

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