Hounslow Council’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) plan for the next three years was approved at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (13 December, 2022).
Published: Wednesday, 14th December 2022
The new plan outlines how the Council, the Violence Against Women and Girls partnership, local strategic boards, including the Police, and local business venues, will work towards making Hounslow a safer place for all women and girls to live, work, study and visit.
To develop this plan, the Council has listened to and considered the everyday experiences, stories and suggestions from survivors, residents, and all the staff who work tirelessly day in and day out to make sure victims are supported. Feedback has been invaluable because it has helped to identify the priorities for this plan over the next three years.
The plan is formed of three key priorities: ensuring victims, survivors and children receive the right help; working together to stop Violence Against Women and Girls and taking action against perpetrators.
Work around VAWG is ongoing and the priorities will be achieved through working with the Violence Against Women and Girls Partnership, made up of statutory organisations, as well as community and voluntary organisations who are local to the borough including Southall Black Sisters, Women and Girls Network, SheWise, and EACH Counselling.
Achievements will include the Council obtaining White Ribbon accreditation to demonstrate the commitment to engaging with men and boys to end violence against women and girls. White Ribbon accreditation involves amongst seeking cabinet approval to nominate the Leader of the Council as a White Ribbon ambassador.
As part of the recent 16 Days of Activism global campaign to end Violence Against Women and Girls, the Council partnered with Brentford Football Club ambassador, Marcus Gayle, to encourage men and boys to sign up to the white ribbon promise and help address and eliminate violence against women and girls.
Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “We know at least two women are murdered each week across England and Wales because of domestic abuse, and thousands more have experienced some form of violence, abuse, or harassment in their lives.
“As a society we need to challenge male violence at every level from misogynist language to unacceptable attitudes and behaviours by men. We need to change the way we treat women and girls.
“As part of our continued commitment to tackle violence against women and girls and to raise awareness, we have launched the new Violence Against Women and Girls Plan.
“I am pleased to be nominated as the White Ribbon ambassador for our borough. Over the next three years, we will implement the White Ribbon action plan as a symbol of our commitment to long-term change.
“Violence Against Women and Girls is abhorrent and I would like to encourage all men and boys to call out and speak up to prevent violence and abuse against women and girls. Let us all play our part in being part of the solution.”
