Violence against women and girls
Violence against women and girls is a global issue and has been labelled by the UK government as a national threat. According to the World Health Organisation, one in three women globally have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes.
UNISON believes that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect at work and in the union. Sexual harassment, aggression, intimidation, bullying, misogyny, discrimination or violence should not be tolerated.
Employers are legally required to ensure the health, safety and welfare of workers, which includes protection from sexual harassment and violence at work.
On this page
The rise in violence against women and girls
There has an unprecedented rise in misogyny and violence against women across the World. According to the World Health Organisation, one in three women globally have been subjected to physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the range and prevalence of crimes of violence against women is widespread. They may face derogatory comments about their appearance, sexual harassment, physical or sexual violence, trolling on social media or domestic violence.
An estimated 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 suffered domestic abuse in England and Wales in 2021, and 2 in 3 for women aged 16 to 34 in Great Britain were subjected to at least one form of harassment.
The workplace is also no exception. TUC research shows that half of women have been sexually harassed at work, two thirds of LGBT+ people have experienced it and four out of five people don’t feel able to report it to their employer.
It can happen to anyone, but sexual harassment is mostly experienced by women. If acts of sexual harassment go unchecked, they can spill over into violence. Not addressing sexual harassment means violence against women can fester and fuel misogyny and violence against women and girls.
As the UK’s biggest trade union and largest women’s membership organisation, UNISON believes that employers and trade unions can help in changing abusive behaviour and culture that create a toxic situation which in turn, can lead to acts of violence.
UNISON has set up a Violence at Work Charter, which employers can sign up to. Agreeing to and meeting these standards will show that organisations founded on the principles of care and social responsibility are serious about protecting their staff.
What UNISON is doing
In relation to sexual harassment
- A new statutory duty to prevent sexual harassment.
- Dual enforcement of this duty by the EHRC and individuals.
- Punitive damages and costs payable to employees if they succeed in a claim of sexual harassment.
- Protections from third-party harassment, eg by clients or contractors.
- Protection for volunteers and interns.
- A minimum of six months for individuals to bring Employment Tribunal claims of sexual harassment and where such a claim has been made outside of this limitation period, the ‘just and equitable’ test be exercised in favour of the claimant.
In relation to domestic abuse
Guidance for employers on supporting domestic abuse victims at work, including people working from home.
And a commitment to:
- equal access to support, welfare systems and legal tools that provide protection from abuse, without discrimination;
- safe reporting mechanisms for survivors accessing vital public services, so they can safely report abuse to the police, social services, health professionals and others, with confidence that they will be treated as victims and without fear of immigration enforcement;
- eligibility for the existing Domestic Violence (DV) Rule and Destitution Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) extended to all migrant women experiencing or at risk of abuse;
- dismantling of the Hostile Environment and the suspension of No Recourse to Public Funds;
- accessible refuges and temporary accommodation for disabled women and all domestic abuse services informed and able to meet the needs of LGBT+ women;
- support to help perpetrators to end their abusive behaviour.
For more information on UNISON’s campaign to protect workers from violence and harassment, download UNISON’s guide in our resources section below, Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
What to do in an emergency
If you or anyone you know are suffering violence or abuse, the NHS recommends talking to your doctor, health visitor or midwife or contacting the following services. If you are emailing for support, it is important that you specify when and if it is safe to respond and to which email address.
Helplines
- In an emergency, call 999.
- Women can call The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge, on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night. The staff will offer confidential, non-judgemental information and support.
- Men can call the Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 (Monday and Wednesday, 9am to 8pm, and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 9am to 5pm) for non-judgemental information and support.
- Men can also call ManKind on 0182 3334 244 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm).
- If you identify as LGBT+ you can call Galop on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support.
- Anyone can call Karma Nirvana on 0800 5999 247 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for forced marriage and honour crimes. You can also call 020 7008 0151 to speak to the GOV.UK Forced Marriage Unit.
Email support
- Women can email [email protected]. Staff will respond to your email within five working days.
- Men can email [email protected].
- LGBT+ people can email [email protected].
- The Survivor’s Handbook from the charity Women’s Aid is free and provides information for women on a wide range of issues, such as housing, money, helping your children, and your legal rights.
- If you are worried that you are abusive, you can contact the free Respect helpline on 0808 802 4040.
Learning
Learn more about identifying, understanding and preventing violence against women and girls by attending one of these free courses.
Understanding Violence Against Women – FutureLearn
On this free online course, you will learn about the roots of violence against women, the principles of gender inequality and how to challenge entrenched attitudes that impact women the world over.
IDAS Online Training Courses
CPD accredited online training for professionals working with domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Anti-Bullying & Bullying Prevention Certificate – Staff Skills Academy
The Anti-Bullying and Bullying Prevention Diploma course has been developed with pupils, parents and teachers in mind and provides all the necessary knowledge required to tackle the bullying in schools issue. Taking the course and working on the additional exercises will assure that you will be better prepared to respond in situations where bullying is present.
Legal disclaimer
The information contained within this article is not a complete or final statement of the law and is based on the laws of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
While UNISON has sought to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date, it is not responsible and will not be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences, including any loss arising from relying on this information. If you are a UNISON member with a legal problem, please contact your branch or region as soon as possible for advice, or for non-employment matters call UNISONdirect.