The Women's Aid Federation of England (Women's Aid) is a United Kingdom charity whose aim is to end domestic violence against women and children. The charity provides advocacy for abused women and children and aims to ensure their safety by working locally and nationally in the UK. Women's Aid provides a network of over 500 women's refuges and promotes policies and practices to prevent male on female domestic violence from occurring.

The charity claims that in 2001/2 it supported a total of 143,337 women and 114,489 children (with over 40,000 women and children staying in their refuges). 35,000 other individuals called their 24-hour helpline for information.

Women's Aid was set up and is run by women, and states that:

Domestic violence is a violation of women and children's human rights, that it is the result of an abuse of power and control, and that it is rooted in the historical status of women in the family and in society. Women and children have a right to live their lives free from all forms of violence and abuse, and society has a duty to recognise and defend this right.

See also

• Erin Pizzey

External links

• Women's Aid home page