Standing together to end violence against women
Building on the Women's Institute (WI)'s long history of action, our No More Violence Against Women campaign equips communities with the knowledge, confidence and tools needed to recognise abuse, challenge harmful attitudes and support those affected.
Violence against women remains one of the most widespread human rights issues in the UK. An estimated 2.2 million women experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, while around 29.6% of women have experienced domestic abuse since the age of 16.
Refuge reports that one in four women will experience domestic abuse during their lifetime, and on average, one woman is killed by an abusive partner or ex-partner every five days.
Domestic abuse isn't always physical. It can include coercive control, emotional abuse, economic abuse, stalking, intimidation and other patterns of behaviour designed to control another person. Too often, these warning signs go unrecognised until significant harm has occurred.
Big Give's Women & Girls Match Fund
Between 6 and 13 October 2026, we were incredibly grateful to take part in Big Give's Women & Girls Match Fund. We’re over the moon that we raised £8164 for our campaign.
For one week only, every donation to our No More Violence Against Women campaign was matched, meaning our members and supporters could make twice the difference.
This funding is helping us create a network of WI No More Violence Ambassadors across our movement, who can help start conversations, challenge misconceptions and signpost people to support.
Our history
For decades, the WI has campaigned to make sure women and girls can live free from violence and abuse.
Over the years, we've campaigned for:
- Refuge provision for survivors of domestic abuse.
- Better access to justice through the courts.
- Stronger legal protections for those experiencing abuse.
- Greater public awareness of violence against women and girls.
1975: The WI campaigned for the funding of refuges in every county.
1988: We made sure domestic violence survivors were able to access justice through the courts.
1993: We campaigned to adequately define domestic violence under the law.
2019: We launched the No More Violence Against Women campaign to build on this legacy, helping members raise awareness in their communities and calling on decision makers to address the causes and consequences of violence against women.
Since then, WI members have:
- Taken part in awareness-raising events and vigils.
- Supported the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
- Worked alongside specialist organisations and campaign partners.
- Encouraged men and boys to play an active role in preventing violence against women.
- Raised awareness of coercive control and other less visible forms of abuse.
- Started building a network of No More Violence Ambassadors.
Expanding our work
With support from fundraising initiatives, we're expanding our work to create a network of WI No More Violence Ambassadors across our movement.
At the WI, we're uniquely placed to make a difference through our network of over 175,000 members and around 5,000 WIs across England, Wales and the Islands. These trusted local networks can help start conversations, challenge misconceptions and signpost people to support.
Through this project, we'll:
- Train WI members to become No More Violence Ambassadors.
- Develop new educational resources and campaign materials.
- Increase understanding of domestic abuse, including coercive control and other non-physical forms of abuse.
- Equip members with the confidence to speak about violence against women in their communities.
- Support members to organise awareness events, talks and local activities.
- Encourage community action during the UN's 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
The aim is not to provide frontline services, but to build awareness, increase understanding and help create communities that are better equipped to recognise abuse and support those affected.
Working with men and boys
Ending violence against women requires everyone to be part of the solution.
The campaign continues to engage male allies, community leaders, sports clubs and local organisations, encouraging them to publicly challenge violence against women and promote positive attitudes and behaviours.
Through initiatives such as White Ribbon Day and local pledge campaigns, we encourage men to speak out against abuse, challenge harmful attitudes and demonstrate that violence against women is never acceptable.
Behind every statistic is a person whose life has been affected by abuse. Through education, awareness and collective action, we can help create safer communities for women and girls.
How you can get involved
WI members can support the campaign by:
- Becoming a No More Violence Ambassador.
- Organising awareness events within their WI and local community.
- Taking part in the 16 Days of Activism with us each year.
- Sharing campaign resources and educational materials.
- Encouraging local organisations and community leaders to become allies.
- Raising awareness of the signs of domestic abuse and coercive control.
Find out more about our campaign by downloading our campaign action pack and download and share our sources of support document.
If you want more information, get in touch with Public Affairs by emailing PA@nfwi.org.uk.
Together, we can help create a future where every woman can live free from violence, abuse and fear.
If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on my WI.
If you are not already a WI member, the members decide the WI campaigns through a democratic vote. We would love to welcome a new WI member, find out how to become a WI member.
Our impact so far
2023
The WI movement once again showed their solidarity with domestic abuse survivors by attending the Million Women Rise march.
The day began with a pre-march panel event where attendees heard from Shadow Secretary of Women and Equalities, Anneliese Dodds MP, Lizzy Dobres, Policy and Practice Manager from Women’s Aid England, and Dr Hannana Siddiqui, Head of Policy and Research at Southall Black Sisters.
2022
We continued our work with specialist organisations n the sector, including the IC Change campaign to call on the UK Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention.
The Istanbul Convention is a legal framework that exists to tackle violence against women and girls, and sets minimum standards for governments to meet when tackling this issue. The full name is The Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.
The Istanbul Convention is the gold standard framework for addressing violence against women and girls. The Convention recognises that violence against women happens in a context of gender inequality and sets out key measures to address the underlying root causes of this inequality, as well as discrimination and violence against women.
After years of campaigning, in July 2022, the UK ratified the Istanbul Convention and it entered into force on 1 November 2022.
2021
On Friday 19 March 2021, WI members and friends joined WI Walk With Women to show their support for all women who have experienced abuse and harassment.
Between 6pm and 7pm, members walked down the streets in their local areas with a candle or lantern to raise awareness of violence against women and stand in solidarity with survivors
2020
In March 2020, we attended the Million Women Rise march in London, showing our solidarity and support to survivors of abuse.
We hosted a pre-march panel discussion around the topic of domestic abuse. The discussion included an incredible panel of expert speakers from Women’s Aid and Southall Black Sisters and heard from WI members on their personal and professional experience.
2019
Spearheaded by the United Nations (UN), 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence runs every year from 25 November (International Day to End Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).
In 2019, taking inspiration from NFWI Wales’ Not in My Name campaign, WI members took part by collecting donations, fundraising for their local refuges, holding candlelight vigils to raise awareness and by engaging with decision-makers.
Since then, the WI movement continues to take part in the campaign every year to show our solidarity and support to survivors and to remember those we've tragically lost.
Become a supporter!
Are you passionate about our campaigns and would like to become part of the largest women’s organisation in the UK?
There are ways of joining and supporting the WI that are suitable for everyone. Find out how to become a WI supporter.
