Violence against women

With London Fashion Week coming to a close and Milan Fashion Week about to begin, ActionAid looks at the mountain of challenges that garment workers still face everyday in the ugly business of fast fashion.  

Sunday 10th December marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, an annual global movement emphasising all forms of violence against women and girls as a human rights issue.

Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) don’t just come together once a year - but all year, to be a voice and to struggle for the rights of other people. It’s their role in opposing the patriarchy and making change that means they need to be supported in ending gender-based violence.

Every year on 25 November, we come together to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). This important day for women’s rights activists often goes relatively unnoticed by the rest of the world. But in the midst of a huge international debate on sexual abuse and harassment, could this year’s be a chance for a real conversation on the causes of violence against women? Here’s why IDEVAW is important, and why we all need to do more to tackle this pervasive problem.

Last night, 16-year-old Girlguide, Caitlin, met 14-year-old acid attack survivor Sonali, after ActionAid's Survivors' Runway fashion show. This special event was to stand in solidarity with survivors to end all forms of violence against women and girls. Watch the two teenagers reflect on the show and share their messages to girls in the UK for International Day of the Girl.