Violence Against Women

Petition – in the House of Commons at 9:51 pm on 4 November 2008.

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Photo of Edward Timpson Edward Timpson Conservative, Crewe and Nantwich 9:51, 4 November 2008

I wish to present a petition on behalf of members of the Cheshire federation of the women's institute concerning violence against women across the UK. Each year, 3 million women across the UK experience rape, domestic violence, forced marriage, stalking, sexual exploiting, trafficking or other forms of violence. The women's institute is concerned that there is vision for eliminating violence against women, as there appears to be an assumption that the abuse of women and girls is "a fact of life".

The petitioners attracted the support of 14 signatures and the petition was co-ordinated by the members of the Cheshire federation of the women's institute. It reads:

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to stand by the UK's commitment to afford women and girls their basic human right to live free from violence, and its threat, by taking steps to eliminate violence against women.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[ The Petition of members of the C heshire f ederation of the w omen' s i nstitute, declares that violence against women is a cause and consequence of women's inequality and that the Government is not doing enough to prevent violence against women from occurring; and further declares that there seems to be a mentality that abuse of women and girls is a fact of life .

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to stand by the UK's commitment to afford women and girls their basic human right to live free from violence, and its threat, by taking steps to eliminate violence against women .

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000280]