 Speech by Cass Wedd, Chair of our Management CommitteeInternational Womens' Day's 100th anniversary: although it's an event to be celebrated, it also highlights the many inequalities and injustices that persist globally and at home.
Here, we know about the shameful inequalities in Parliament and in the Boardroom, and that equal pay is still not a reality even now 40 years after the Act was passed.
But there are other shocking statistics in the UK:
21% of girls under 16 experienced sexual abuse during childhood - a third of children sexually abused still hadn't told anyone about their experiences by early adulthood.
1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime - in 74% of domestic violence cases, the victim told someone what happened but only 13% reported the abuse to police.
40% of adults who are raped tell no-one about it, and of the reported rape offences, fewer than 6% result in a conviction.
This is why organisations such as Women + Health are important: to reach women who go towards making up these statistics.
Here at W+H, whether it's through having complementary health treatments and building a trusting relationship with the practitioner; or through long-term counselling; or the support you can get through group work; women can be supported to increase their emotional and physical health, their strength and confidence. This has a hugely positive impact on them, and on their families.
Everyone accepts that the impact of the cuts will fall disproportionately on women, but we don't see any priority being given to safeguard services like ours which are providing vital help to women in need.
There are many ways you can help us - for example, with donations, by volunteering, by hosting a dinner or event, and of course direct debits are incredibly valuable, and if you are already supporting us with a direct debit, how about getting a friend to as well!
Let's drink a toast to another 25 years of Women + Health!
Statistics from Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Centre, NSPCC
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