Photos from ICRW House of Lords Briefing on Violence Against Women and Girls

Article Date

09 July 2014

Media Contact

Anne McPherson

Vice President, Global Communications email [email protected]

On March 10, ICRW and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) UN Women hosted a briefing in the House of Lords to discuss the epidemic of violence against women and girls, and solutions to this global issue. Chaired by Baroness Helene Hayman and Pauline Latham MP, the discussion featured new ICRW research and took a deep dive into the types of violence against women and girls around the world, and innovative solutions to end and prevent this global problem.

Panelists included: Veronique Aubert, Senior Conflict and Humanitarian Policy and Research Advisor at Save the Children; Dr. Sarah Degnan Kambou, President of ICRW; and Dr. Charlotte Watts, Head of the Social and Mathematical Epidemiology Group and founding director of the Gender, Violence and Health Centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 

See event in photos below:

Pauline Latham MP, Chair of the APPG UN Women, opens the briefing in the House of Lords.

The Lords Spokesperson for DFID, Baroness Lindsay Northover, addresses members of Parliament, their staff, and members of civil society in attendance. “Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic. One in every three women is beaten or sexually abused by a partner or experiences sexual violence from a non-partner in her lifetime. Girls who experience violence are less likely to complete their education, are at increased risk of maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS, and their ability to participate fully in economic activity can be severely limited. Violence against women and girls is not just a violation of human rights; it is a critical barrier to development and one that we must take urgent action to address.”

ICRW President, Sarah Degnan Kambou, speaks on the scope of the issue of violence against women. “Millions of women and girls are facing an epidemic of violence every day in their homes, in the streets of their communities, and near the frontlines of armed conflict.”

Veronique Aubert, Senior Conflict & Humanitarian Research & Policy Adviser at Save the Children, shares her experience in dealing with violence against children in fragile settings and solutions to end impunity. “We need to strengthen international efforts and coordination and bring perpetrators to justice.”

Charlotte Watts from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine raises the importance of engaging men and boys in ending violence. “Violence against women and girls needs to be a people issue, not just a women and girls issue.”

Former Lord Speaker, Baroness Helene Hayman, concluded the briefing, reiterating the role of men and boys in ending violence against women and girls. “Unless boys recognize their responsibilities, girls will not be safe in their families or outside the home.”

Read more on this event.

Photos courtesy of Paul Brock.