Alesha Dixon Leads Domestic Violence Walk of Hope
Avon is rigorously campaigning against domestic violence with their campaign Speaking Out in Her Name and their ambassador, Alesha Dixon, took to the streets along with Refuge and Women’s Aid for a Walk of Hope.
Sandra Horley, CBE, CEO of Refuge, says, “Refuge has worked hard to bring domestic violence out of the shadows ever since we opened the world’s first refuge in 1971. But this issue is still shrouded in myth and misunderstanding.
“The government needs to invest in powerful awareness raising campaigns to change the attitudes that allow violence and fear to darken so many homes up and down the country.
“It is essential that unhealthy attitudes and beliefs about violence against women in all professional and public spheres are challenged and addressed too. Changing social attitudes is not an add-on. It is at the very root of preventing and ending domestic violence.”
Worryingly, domestic violence kills two women a week in England and Wales, and these shocking figures are calling for greater awareness surround domestic violence.
As part of the Speaking Out in Her Name campaign, Avon, Refuge and Women’s Aid presented new research at the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday which highlights shocking statistics and calls for better education regarding domestic violence.
Some of these facts are quite disturbing, with the most worrying and shocking statistic being that 18 per cent of 16-18 year olds don’t know if slapping or hitting are classed as domestic violence.
Further still, even if they were being subjected to domestic violence 50 per cent of them would not know where to seek support.
In fact, a third of all respondents in the survey said they would not know where to turn for support.
Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, says, “It is terrifying that many young women do not know where to get help if they are experiencing domestic violence, although that is to be expected when so few young people have been taught about domestic violence at school.
“Women’s Aid has developed a free downloadable teaching resource, but at the moment it is a choice for schools if they decide to educate about healthy relationships.
“If we are going to reduce the level of domestic violence in the future, and educate those directly affected now about where they can go for help and support, we need the government to support statutory education about relationships for all young people.”
To bring these facts into perspective and bring them to public knowledge, Alesha Dixon lead domestic violence survivors, families of victims and campaigners on a Walk of Hope to Westminster.
The walk commemorated the women who have died as a result of domestic violence and also symbolises hope for a domestic violence free future.
Avon's Beauty & Empowerment Ambassador, Alesha Dixon said, “One in four women will experience Domestic violence in their lives making it the single biggest issue that will affect young women and their peers in their life.
“Yet the results of research commissioned by Avon show that awareness of domestic violence is still shockingly low and that’s why it’s so important that we raise awareness about a subject that is too often ignored.”