Violence against women 'costs £40 billion a year'

Esther Mandelstamm/May 2, 2008/4:29pm/Gender Issues

Charities to help women victims of violence are seriously unfunded in England and Wales. Women's violence is costing £40 billion a year, this figure includes the lost economic output, use of services such as the legal system and the emotional toll. Even though sexual and domestic violence is so devastating, a significant number of charities that are trying to deal with the problem are not getting the funding they need. "The charity, which provides advice to donors on how to give more effectively, undertook research over 18 months into areas including domestic violence, sexual violence, "honour" crimes, forced marriage and human trafficking." When adding the income of three prominent charities helping domestic violence (Refuge, Women's Aid Federation of England and Eaves Housing for Women) is just £17 million. In 1996 there were 60 centres that were members of the Rape Crisis Network in England and Wales but now only 38. England and Wales has no nation rape telephone helpline and one in three local authorities in the UK does not have a women's refuge. Even though over seven million women in the UK will suffer from domestic violence at some point in their lives, these charities that are offering support are failing to get funding they need. These women need this support and the hope that they will live free from abuse and without these charities these women will lose that hope. The charities need funding!
It is very sad to hear that these charities that are so important to the safety and wellbeing of these victims are not getting the funding they need. Especially when there is such a high number of abused women in England and Whales this is such a serious issue. Not only does there need to be funding to help the women that have already been victims but as well as prevention. These needs to be a stop to this widespread of violence. We always hear about it in our own country but this is a problem that is universal.


http://www.24dash.com/news/Housing/2008-04-23-Violence-against-women-costs-40-billion-a-year