“The WI has helped save lives” says HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

• The Duchess of Cornwall writes in the WI’s national magazine about domestic violence
• Calls for ‘the retreat of domestic abuse forever’
• Praises the campaigning and community work of WIs across the country

HRH The Duchess of Cornwall has praised the Women’s Institute’s campaigning to end male violence against women, telling members: ‘You will never know how many lives you have, quite literally, saved’.

Writing exclusively in the November/December issue of the WI’s membership magazine WI Life, the Duchess talks candidly and knowledgeably about the complex issues of violence against women which today includes economic abuse, digital abuse, stalking, harassment and coercive control.

She describes it as a pattern of behaviour that enables a perpetrator to maintain or regain control of a partner, affecting people from all backgrounds, ethnicities and ages. ‘As our knowledge of different types of abuse increases’, she writes, ‘so must our efforts to raise awareness to empower victims to recognise the signs and to seek help.’

With her dual membership of both Tetbury WI and Llandovery WI, Her Royal Highness writes of how truly proud she is to be a WI member and of its campaigning work to end domestic abuse. She praises the WI’s longstanding record on this, referring to its successful championing of a bill a century ago to raise the age of consent from 13 years to protect girls and boys from sexual abuse, and its subsequent action over marital rape, accommodation for women, justice through the courts and an adequate definition of domestic abuse.

The Duchess of Cornwall concludes by urging the WI to keep going and not to underestimate the power that the united WI membership has in effecting change:
‘Let us press on until we see the retreat of domestic abuse forever.’

The inspiring contribution is aptly timed to coincide with the WI’s No More Violence Against Women campaign and the annual White Ribbon Day followed by 16 Days of Action which starts on Thursday 25 November 2021.

Ann Jones, NFWI Chair, said:

“We would like to thank The Duchess of Cornwall for writing an article for WI Life about domestic violence and raising awareness of all forms of abuse and harassment ahead of the 16 Days of Action later this month. The Duchess’ fellow WI members share her passion for addressing this issue and creating a safer world for women.

“The terrible events of this year have reinforced how far we have still to go before our homes and public spaces are truly safe for women. WI members across the country are determined to redouble their efforts to make sure that all women and girls can live the lives they choose, free from the fear of abuse.

“On the 50^th anniversary since the first refuge opened in the UK, WI members continue to support and build relationships with their local refuges through volunteering, collecting donations of essential items and raising vital funds.”

Ruth Davison, Refuge Chief Executive Officer, said:

“As Refuge marks our 50th anniversary we recognise the many landmarks that have been achieved across the women’s movement in the last half a century but recognise there is still much work to be done to ensure women and children can live a life free from abuse. 

“We thank The Duchess of Cornwall for raising vital awareness of this issue and shining a light on how complex cases of domestic abuse are, ranging from physical violence to emotional abuse, tech abuse and economic abuse.”

A digital edition of the November issue of WI Life can be accessed here.