End Violence Against Women Coalition

The End Violence Against Women Coalition, commonly known as the EVAW Coalition, is a United Kingdom-based alliance of individuals and organisations working to end violence against women and girls. Its activities cover public policy advocacy, research, campaigning, evidence submission and the exchange of information and practice among organisations addressing gender-based violence. The coalition treats violence against women not only as a set of separate crimes or service issues, but also as a cause and consequence of women's inequality and as a violation of human rights. The organisation began in early 2005 as a working group established by the Women's National Commission, a former non-departmental public body. Its initial work focused on examining the adequacy and coordination of government responses to violence against women. One early publication, What a Waste: The Case for an Integrated Violence Against Women Strategy, argued for a more coherent approach. In November 2005, the group formally launched alongside Making the Grade? An Independent Analysis of Government Initiatives on Violence Against Women, which assessed central-government activity and identified shortcomings in provision and policy. The coalition's stated objectives include ensuring that national, regional and local governments in the United Kingdom take all necessary steps to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls; enabling people and organisations to participate in a movement for change; improving understanding of violence against women as a structural equality and human-rights issue; and sharing information and innovative practice across the country. Its approach therefore combines political advocacy with movement-building and the development of a coherent voice for specialist organisations and individuals. In addition to its policy work, the coalition has participated in public debates about the representation of violence against women in the media. It joined Eaves, Equality Now and Object in giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry, the public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press established after the News International phone-hacking scandal. The joint submission criticised reporting patterns that, in the organisations' view, reinforced myths, stereotypes and victim-blaming narratives about violence against women and girls. Supporting documents included recommendations for press-regulation reform and an assessment of how eleven national newspapers portrayed women during a two-week period in September 2012. On 31 March 2015, the coalition became a registered charity. It has subsequently continued to operate as a civil-society advocacy coalition rather than as a commercial product brand. The organisation's work is UK-focused, with its influence expressed through campaigns, policy interventions, research, communications and collaboration with member organisations. The coalition is currently co-chaired by Gurpreet Virdee and Aisha K. Gill; Liz Kelly and Marai Larasi were co-chairs when the organisation became a registered charity.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition originated in early 2005 as a working group created by the Women's National Commission, a now-defunct UK non-departmental public body. The working group was established to bring organisations and individuals together around a coordinated response to violence against women. Rather than treating domestic abuse, sexual violence, trafficking, forced marriage, female genital mutilation and related forms of abuse as isolated subjects, the coalition's work places them within a wider framework of gender inequality and human rights. One of its earliest publications was What a Waste: The Case for an Integrated Violence Against Women Strategy. The document made the case that government policy needed to be joined up across different forms of violence and across relevant departments and levels of government. In November 2005, the coalition launched publicly with Making the Grade? An Independent Analysis of Government Initiatives on Violence Against Women. That report reviewed central-government initiatives, identified gaps and drew attention to weaknesses in the availability and coordination of services. The coalition's continuing goals have been to persuade national, regional and local governments in the United Kingdom to take effective action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls; encourage individuals and organisations to join a broader movement for change; establish public recognition that such violence is both a cause and consequence of women's inequality and a breach of human rights; and circulate evidence and innovative practice so that campaigners and service providers can develop more effective strategies. A significant public intervention came through the coalition's participation in the Leveson Inquiry. Together with Eaves, Equality Now and Object, it submitted evidence concerning the representation of violence against women and girls in the British press. The submission argued that media coverage often reproduced myths and stereotypes and could place responsibility on victims rather than perpetrators. Associated documents proposed changes to press regulation and included Just the Women, an assessment of the portrayal of women in eleven national newspapers over two weeks in September 2012. On 31 March 2015, the coalition became a registered charity. This marked an important institutional transition from a working group established under the Women's National Commission to an independent charitable organisation. Liz Kelly and Marai Larasi were identified as co-chairs at that stage. The coalition later came to be co-chaired by Gurpreet Virdee and Aisha K. Gill. The EVAW Coalition is not a conventional commercial brand. Its principal outputs are campaigns, policy positions, research, public submissions, communications and collaboration among organisations concerned with violence against women and girls. Its operating scope is the United Kingdom, and its influence is primarily exercised through public-policy advocacy, coalition coordination and efforts to change institutional and cultural responses to gender-based violence.

• 2015

  Registered charity status

  [1]End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition became a registered charity on 31 March 2015.

• 2012

  Evidence submitted to the Leveson Inquiry

  [1]End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition and partner organisations presented evidence on media treatment of violence against women and girls and recommended reforms to press regulation.

• 2005

  Working group established

  [1]End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The Women's National Commission established the coalition as a working group focused on developing a coordinated response to violence against women.

• 2005

  Initial integrated-strategy publication

  [1]End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The group published What a Waste: The Case for an Integrated Violence Against Women Strategy, advocating a joined-up government approach.

• 2005

  Public launch and government-policy assessment

  [1]End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The coalition launched in November with Making the Grade?, an independent assessment of central-government initiatives and gaps concerning violence against women.

A UK-wide feminist and human-rights advocacy coalition focused on preventing violence against women and girls, challenging structural inequality, and improving government policy, public understanding and service provision.

• Advocacy · 2005

  Policy advocacy and campaigning

  The coalition campaigns for action by UK national, regional and local governments to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. Its advocacy promotes coordinated policy, effective prevention, appropriate services and recognition of gender-based violence as a structural equality and human-rights issue.

• Research · 2005

  Research and policy analysis

  EVAW produces or supports evidence-based analysis intended to assess government responses, identify gaps and inform campaign strategy. Its early publications argued for an integrated national approach rather than disconnected responses to individual forms of violence.

• Movement building · 2005

  Coalition coordination and knowledge sharing

  The coalition provides a platform through which individuals and organisations can participate in a wider movement to end violence against women and girls. A stated part of its role is sharing information and innovative practice across the United Kingdom and helping create a coherent voice in dealings with governments.

• Public-interest advocacy · 2012

  Media and press-regulation advocacy

  Through submissions and partnerships, the coalition addresses how the media portrays women and violence against women and girls. Its work in this area has challenged victim-blaming narratives, harmful stereotypes and reporting practices that may reinforce discrimination.

• 2012Media representation and press-regulation advocacy

  United Kingdom

  Working with Eaves, Equality Now and Object, the coalition raised concerns about the portrayal of women and violence against women and girls in national newspapers during the Leveson Inquiry.

  Outcome. The joint evidence documented perceived harms and proposed reforms to press regulation, contributing a gender-equality perspective to the inquiry.

  Source
• 2005Integrated Violence Against Women Strategy

  United Kingdom

  The coalition's early campaign argued that government should address violence against women through an integrated strategy covering policy, prevention and services rather than through fragmented initiatives.

  Outcome. The campaign established the coalition's central policy position and informed its subsequent government advocacy.

  Source

• 2015

  Formalise as a registered charityStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a coalition that originated within the Women's National Commission, the organisation adopted a formal charitable structure.

  Action taken

  The coalition became a registered charity on 31 March 2015.

  Aftermath

  It continued its UK-focused campaigning, research, evidence work and coalition-building as an independent charitable organisation.

  Source

1. 1End Violence Against Women Coalitionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2End Violence Against Women Coalition official websiteendviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk