About Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is a crime. It is never the fault of the person experiencing it, and it can happen to anyone—regardless of age, background, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnicity. However, evidence shows it is most often perpetrated by men and experienced by women.
Understanding Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse is about control. It doesn’t always involve physical violence. Emotional, psychological, sexual, technological, and financial abuse can be just as harmful. If you find yourself changing your behaviour out of fear of your partner’s reaction, you may be experiencing abuse.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
The most common form of domestic violence is carried out by intimate partners—husbands, boyfriends, or male relatives. It exists across all societies and is a stark expression of gender inequality.
- Globally, 38% of all murdered women are killed by a current or former partner (compared to 6% of men).
- IPV is both a cause and a consequence of women’s disadvantage and unequal status.
- It cuts across class, culture, and geography, but women in poverty are particularly vulnerable. They often lack access to justice, healthcare, or financial means to escape.
How Domestic Abuse Affects Women and Girls
Women living in poverty face multiple barriers to safety—financial dependence, lack of housing, limited access to legal and medical support, and fear of losing their children. This makes it even harder to leave abusive relationships.
Economic inequality often forces women to choose between abuse and destitution. That’s why supporting women to achieve financial independence is critical to ending domestic violence.
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Abusive relationships often involve reproductive control. Women may face:
- Coercion or pressure to have sex
- Denial of contraception
- Risk of unintended pregnancy
- Increased vulnerability to STIs and HIV
Even when women gain some independence, fear of violence or retaliation can persist. Addressing reproductive rights and challenging the power imbalances at the heart of abuse is vital.
Types of Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse can take many forms, often occurring in combination:
- Physical Abuse: Hitting, pushing, strangling, or attacking with objects.
- Sexual Abuse: Coercion, manipulation, or assault, including non-consensual sex or sexual contact.
- Emotional & Psychological Abuse: Threats, name-calling, gaslighting, humiliation, forced isolation.
- Coercive Control: A repeated pattern of domination and surveillance. It is a criminal offence.
- Tech Abuse: Abusive messages, spyware, tracking devices, or non-consensual image sharing.
- Economic Abuse: Controlling finances, sabotaging employment, taking income, or placing debt in your name.
- Denial of Services: Preventing access to healthcare, education, or work opportunities.
Is Your Relationship Abusive?
You might be in an abusive relationship if your partner:
- Is jealous, possessive, or controlling
- Switches from charm to cruelty unpredictably
- Tells you what to wear, where to go, or who to see
- Insults or belittles you regularly
- Makes you feel like you’re walking on eggshells
- Manipulates or gaslights you
- Pressures or guilts you into sex
- Controls access to money, medicine, or support
- Monitors your devices, calls, or messages
- Uses threats or anger to intimidate you
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone—and help is available.
How STN Women’s Lives Matter Is Taking Action
STN Women’s Lives Matter supports women and girls to break free from violence by:
- Empowering local women’s groups and youth clubs
- Supporting survivors with access to justice, education, and income-generating opportunities
- Partnering with grassroots organisations to deliver legal and emotional support
- Campaigning against harmful practices like child marriage
- Advocating for sexual and reproductive rights
- Researching the link between domestic abuse and women’s health outcomes
Together, we’re challenging the systems and norms that allow abuse to persist.
Need Help? You're Not Alone
You don’t need to face this alone, and you don’t have to report to police to get support. These services can help:
- 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline– 0808 2000 247
Free, confidential support for women, friends, and family members. - Rape Crisis – – 0808 802 9999
A national helpline for women and girls affected by sexual violence. - Galop, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity Offers dedicated support for LGBT+ survivors of abuse and hate crime.
- The Survivors Trust
A network supporting survivors of rape and sexual abuse, past or recent. - Childline – 0800 1111
Free advice and support for anyone under 19.
We empower women and girls to know their rights – especially their right to make choices about their own bodies. we help provide vital information and support services for survivors of domestic violence.