Violence against women

The UK has signed the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The definition of Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) in UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is: 'violence directed at a woman because she is a woman or acts of violence which are suffered disproportionately by women'.

Find out more about the United Nation's work on equality.

Tackling violence against women and girls

The Home Office is the government’s lead department on tackling violence against women and girls.

Find out about the work we are doing on the violence against women and girls section of the website. Information includes:

• Violence against women and girls action plan
• strategic vision to end violence against women and girls 

Women’s safety

See information about women’s safety on the Directgov website.