Violence Against Women Workshop

Saturday 21st June, 2008

Written by Talyn Rahman

I've had an interest in human trafficking not so long ago and it intrigued me to attend WILPF's Violence Against Women's workshop on Saturday 21st June 2008.

Human trafficking leads to prostitution, rape, violence, murder etc. Surprisingly and unfortunately, an estimated 80,000 women (and men) are involved in prostitution in the UK alone, 5000 of them are young people. The aim for this workshop was to clarify misconceptions about violence against women, what this term actually means , different forms of violence, causes and consequences and how power structures needed sustaining. Women need to be taught to empower themselves so these atrocities would lower in numbers. If women knew they indeed had rights, many would be able to defend themselves at home from domestic violence, or being manipulated into the promise of work abroad when all the while are in debt to 'pimps'.

The workshop was an incredible source of information and statistics, and I walked away from it thinking of how women's rights isn't well and truly in today's society, not when you think of all the things that are happening in women right in front of your door.

Since this workshop, I have become an honourary member of WILPF's 'Violence Against Women' working group, thus researching into areas of interest, liasing with other organisations like 'Eaves' and 'The Poppy Project' to see how we can implement and put forward legislation to the parliament in strengthening women's rights in this country and how sex trafficking and prostitution can diminish out of our society.