We believe every woman and girl has the right to pursue a fulfilling and successful life. This is one without fear of intimidation, harassment, bullying or violence.
However, we know that women and girls are disproportionally affected by violence perpetrated by men. A woman is killed by a man every 3 days. 1 in 4 women in England and Wales having been raped or sexually assaulted as an adult.
Violence Against Women and Girls
(i) The United Nations Declaration (1993) on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 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"
VAWG is used as an umbrella term that captures this disproportionate impact. It includes offences such as:
- domestic abuse
- sexual violence
- harassment
- stalking
By working together to tackle VAWG, we improve society for everyone. We also recognise that men and boys can also be victims of abuse and violence.
Sheffield City Council's White Ribbon Accreditation
Sheffield City Council is now a White Ribbon accredited organisation. This means we work to engage with men and boys to address harmful attitudes and gendered violence against women and girls in our Council and city.
White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity on addressing men’s violence against women. Its mission is to change the long-established and harmful attitudes, systems and behaviours around masculinity to address the root causes of inequality and violence.
We became an accredited White Ribbon organisation in 2022.
In October 2023, an action plan was agreed by the Strategy and Resources Committee, and approved by White Ribbon It sets out our work until 2025.
White Ribbon Day is 25 November each year. It is also known as the International Day to End Violence Against Women and Girls.
Each year around this time we make a particular effort to raise the profile of the campaign in the Council and support activity in communities.
What you can do
You can get involved in this work by:
Sheffield City Council's VAWG newsletter
You can sign up to our VAWG newsletter. It will find out more about work in Sheffield and what’s happening nationally to tackle VAWG.
Women and those with gender identities that include woman can also come along to our VAWG forum. It meets every 3 months.
Get in touch with us to be added to the mailing list.