“Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act.” – Ban Ki-moon

What is Violence Against Women?

Violence against women is one of the most persistent and widespread human rights violations.

It is defined by the United Nations as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.”

It’s estimated that up to 70 per cent of women in some countries face physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime.

What are the different forms of Violence Against Women? 

The term “violence against women” includes but is not limited to: 

• Domestic and intimate partner violence
• Sexual violence
• Sexual harassment
• Emotional/psychological violence
• Economic abuse
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking
• Honor-related violence
• Dowry murder
• Femicide
• Female infanticide
• Female genital mutilation
• Forced and child marriage

How do we end Violence Against Women? 

We ACT.

We INNOVATE.

We FIND SOLUTIONS.

Examples?

In India, W4 is working to prevent violence and discrimination against women by providing young men with the knowledge, tools, peer support, and leadership skills they need to adopt gender-equitable behavior.

In Democratic Republic of Congo, W4 is helping to teach women survivors of sexual violence how to launch and run income-generating activities, empowering them with a reliable income.

In Spain, W4 is creating a peer-to-peer support network for marginalized and abused women, offering them access to the resources and assistance they need to flee and recover from domestic violence.

In Thailand, W4 is helping to launch a social business to provide handicraft trainings for women victims of violence as they benefit from physical and psychological support in recovering from the trauma they’ve experienced. Once trained, the women create and sell handmade, unique products from recycled materials. By acquiring crucial professional skills and earning a sustainable income, the women can regain their confidence and become financially independent.

WE CAN SUPPORT WOMEN BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE COURAGE TO BREAK FREE FROM ABUSE AND FIND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

“I live with the father of my son. We’re not married. More than once, our arguments have ended in him hitting me, shouting humiliating things at me, and the police having to come to our home. My son is 15 months old and his father supports us both financially as I can’t find work.”
 
“I want to find my own place with my son but I have nothing to offer. I’m forced to put up with the unbearable. I can’t report the abuse because he tells me that I should forget every thing, otherwise he’ll kill me.”
 
-Women survivors of domestic violence supported by W4’s field project in Spain

Join us to take action!

Help women escape violence and turn over a new leaf for themselves and their children.

TAX DEDUCTIBILITY OF YOUR DONATION

W4 is registered as a nonprofit organization in France (Association Loi de 1901) and in the US (501(c)3 status). Your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

In order to benefit from the tax deductibility of your donation, you should hold on to the receipt of your donation which W4 will send you.