Map shows London areas with new CCTV cameras at bus stops

Metro is being supported by several charities and organisations in our bid to raise awareness of violence against women.

Women’s Aid

Women’s Aid, the formal partner of This Is Not Right, is the UK’s national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.

Randip Thompson, Director of Income Generation and Engagement at Women’s Aid, says: ‘Women’s Aid is proud to be supporting Metro’s This is Not Right Campaign. There is currently an epidemic of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in this country, which society needs to come together and actively challenge if we are to overcome it and protect women from abuse. 

‘The media has a pivotal role to play in ending VAWG, through spreading awareness of this gender-based abuse and empowering the public to take action against it. Campaigns like This Is Not Right are invaluable for positively changing narratives around abuse and ensuring that survivors feel validated and supported.’

Refuge

Refuge, the UK’s largest domestic abuse organisation, works to support thousands of women and their children overcome the impacts of abuse.

Abigail Ampofo, interim CEO of Refuge, says: ‘Despite the horrific scale of VAWG that we are witnessing, this devastating, systemic issue is still not talked about enough.

‘Refuge will be supporting Metro on the launch of their new awareness-raising campaign as we continue on our mission to actively challenge harmful and pervasive societal attitudes around VAWG, recognising that how media write about and report on these crimes and the social issue of misogyny impacts us all.

‘We must all stand together against VAWG and domestic abuse, and we look forward to working with Metro to shift perceptions and show survivors that support is out there.’

White Ribbon

White Ribbon is the UK’s leading charity engaging men and boys to understand their role in ending violence against women and girls.

Anthea Sully, CEO of White Ribbon UK, says: ‘As the global symbol for ending violence against women and girls, it’s important that the White Ribbon is visible and raises awareness of the importance of preventing violence against women and girls across society.

‘The work that Metro has committed to doing in paying close attention to the way they report violence against women and girls is really important, and contributes to a shift in understanding about the responsibility every single person, especially men and boys, have in creating a world where women and girls can live free from the fear of and of violence.

‘By positively engaging male readers, we can provide space where they can better understand the prevalence and impact of gender-based violence on women and girls and learn strategies to become allies.’

End Violence Against Women (EVAW)

EVAW is a coalition of more than 160 feminist organisations and experts from across the UK, working to end violence against women and girls in all forms.

Deniz Uğur, Deputy Director of EVAW, says: ‘Media reporting has a huge influence on attitudes about violence against women and girls, which in turn influences behaviours and shapes access to justice and support. It’s crucial that reporting reflects the scale of gender-based violence, connects individual women’s stories to the systems that enable this abuse, identifies the root causes of male violence and treats our stories sensitively and with dignity.

‘By informing the public, reshaping narratives, holding institutions and perpetrators to account and highlighting support services available to victims and survivors, Metro’s campaign can play a powerful role in ending and preventing violence against women and girls.

‘This is a pivotal moment for change – women and girls deserve better.’

Killed Women

Killed Women is an organisation and network for the bereaved families of women who were killed by men, who work to protect women’s lives and ensure justice.

Julie Devey, Chair and Co-Founder of Killed Women, says: ‘We at Killed Women value the support and reporting of issues surrounding Violence Against Women and Girls by Metro.

‘As a campaigning network of bereaved families we have a deep understanding of the suffering of victims and co victims in this area of crime and misuse of power by men.

‘Everyone has a role to play in bringing about change to create better and safer communities for women. This is not a feminist issue, this is a societal issue and one which demands that men play their part too. Men and boys need to be on board with creating a tidal change in the way women and girls are viewed and only then will we begin to embark on becoming a safer country. Talking about VAWG issues and challenging one another openly is how Metro can help bring this problem to light.’

The Circle

Founded by singer-songwriter and activist Annie Lennox, The Circle is a global feminist organisation committed to standing in solidarity and action with women facing violence and injustice across the world. 

Raakhi Shah, CEO of The Circle, says: ‘The relentless epidemic of violence against women is abhorrent and we, at The Circle, are working tirelessly with our grassroots partners and changemaker activists to address this injustice. We are delighted to support Metro’s This is Not Right Campaign, which seeks to shine a spotlight on the issue of violence against women and show how we can all contribute, through collective and individual actions to bring about real meaningful change.  

‘Joining together in solidarity with campaigns like this, can and we hope will, make a difference to the lives of women and girls here in the UK and worldwide.’

Woman’s Trust

Woman’s Trust is a mental health charity providing free counselling and therapy for women who have experienced domestic abuse.

Heidi Riedel, CEO of Woman’s Trust charity, says: ‘The time for a national conversation about the escalating level and multifaceted impact of violence against women and girls is long overdue.

‘For too long, the violence and abuse has been treated either as individual incidents or as a criminal justice problem. This has left women with a system they don’t trust.

‘Set up by a group of domestic abuse survivors and counsellors who realised there was nothing to address the emotional and psychological trauma caused by domestic abuse, Woman’s Trust has supported tens of thousands of female survivors over the last three decades or so.’

‘It’s our hope that This Is Not Right will encourage bold conversations at national, policy, local and community level. The survivors of abuse and the women and girls of the UK deserve better.’