We wholeheartedly support this campaign. We have worked tirelessly for over 20 years to raise awareness of violence against women and children and increase understanding through dynamic original theatre and training. We have worked closely with victims, survivors and statutory and voluntary organisations across the UK. We have seen first hand the devastating effects of violence against women and will continue to work to end it! What we need is a government that commits to do the same.
In 2012 our government signed the Istanbul Convention and the then Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Violence against women should never be tolerated in any form. By signing up to this Convention on preventing and combating violence against women we are making clear our commitment to take it very seriously.”
Three years later it has still not ratified or implemented. That's three years of missed opportunities to prevent domestic violence murders; to support women and children through properly funded specialist support services; to teach young people about healthy, respectful sexual relationships; to train professionals in gender based violence; to take positive steps to ending all forms of violence against women. We need action - the UK's signature supporting the Istanbul Convention is an empty gesture without ratifying. A government that takes this seriously takes action!'