- Global research shows one in five women do not feel safe in
their community
- Only 60% of women believe that claims of sexual abuse will
be taken seriously by legal and law enforcement systems
- Only 59% of women trust their legal systems to treat
psychological abuse as a crime
- More than half of women report that they, or someone close
to them, have been a victim of abuse
- Avon's #EmbraceTheChange
campaign aims to reach 100 million women and men to raise awareness
of non-physical forms of abuse
LONDON, Nov. 22, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) released new
research showing the extent to which women around the world feel
unsafe within their communities and unprotected by their legal
institutions. The research, commissioned by the Avon Foundation for
Women, surveyed 14,400 women in 15 countries to better understand
experiences of violence, and how supported women feel if they, or
someone they know, is a victim of abuse.
One in five women do not feel safe
The findings show
one in five women globally do not feel safe in their community,
rising to 47% in South Africa and
51% in Turkey. The research shows
that women also feel unprotected by their societies. Only 60% of
women believe that claims of sexual abuse will be taken seriously
(falling to 48% in Peru), and only
58% trust their legal systems to protect victims of physical or
sexual abuse (falling to 45% in Turkey). 59% of women in Argentina and 58% in South Africa trust their legal system to treat
physical abuse as a crime.
Non-physical forms of abuse are less well understood
Rates of trust were lower for non-physical forms of abuse, with 59%
of women globally trusting their legal systems to treat
psychological abuse as a crime, and 55% believing that financial
abuse would be treated as such. Only 27% of women in the
Russian Federation and 38% in
Turkey believe that psychological
abuse would be considered criminal, compared to 87% in the Philippines and 77% in Colombia.
Avon's #EmbraceTheChange
campaign is working to change this
Ahead of the UN's 16 Days
of Activism against gender-based violence starting on 25 November,
Avon is launching a new campaign
to draw attention to the unspoken violence devastating women's
lives around the world. #EmbraceTheChange is a global awareness
campaign that will shine a light on the different forms of
non-physical abuse experienced by women around the world, including
cyber-bullying, coercive control, emotional abuse and street
harassment.
Working with Avon's network of
6 million Representatives and using newly created social media
content, local charity partnerships and events, #EmbraceTheChange
will reach 100 million women and men to raise awareness of the ways
in which abuse takes place, and where victims can get the support
they need. The films will be played across Avon's channels over the months of November
and December, and supported by partner organisations, including
Women's Aid, Vital Voices and La Casa del Encuentro.
Jan Zijderveld, CEO of Avon
Products Inc. said: "Avon
has a long history of empowering women, and we've been tackling
violence against women and supporting front-line services for over
a decade. The alarming findings of the Avon Foundation's research
show that there is still much to do. Avon's new #EmbraceTheChange campaign
challenges everyone to think about their behaviour and spread the
word about what is wrong, and how we can all help change it.
Awareness is a critical first step towards creating a world where
women can live free from the fear of violence. Reaching men and
women is vital, and we'll be sharing this campaign across our
community of 6 million Representatives, and their social networks
globally."
Other key findings
- 82% of women globally consider whistling, shouting and sexual
comments to constitute abuse.
- Only 40% of British women and 54% of Polish women would know
where to seek support for abuse.
- 38% of Filipino women believe it is a wife's duty to give her
partner sex when he wants it, compared to 9% globally. Only 79% of
Filipino women think it is acceptable to use contraception.
- Only 64% of women in Brazil,
62% in Argentina and 61% in
South Africa trust the legal
enforcement system in their country to treat sexual abuse as a
crime.
- 44% of women in Peru do not
believe claims of sexual abuse will be taken seriously by the legal
and law enforcement system.
- Only 88% of women in Italy
think that pressuring a woman to have sex constitutes abuse.
To view the #EmbraceTheChange films, visit YouTube.
Find out more about Avon's
promise to help end violence against women and girls:
www.avoncompany.com/corporate-responsibility/womens-causes/violence-against-women-and-girls-promise/
About Avon Products Inc.
Avon is the
Company that for 130 years has proudly stood for beauty,
innovation, optimism and, above all, for
women. Avon products include well-recognised and beloved
brands such as ANEW, Avon Color, Avon Care, Skin-So-Soft, and
Advance Techniques sold through approximately 6 million active
independent Avon Sales Representatives. Learn more
about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com.
About the Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon
Foundation for Women is committed to supporting issues that matter
most to women. Since its inception in 1955, the Avon Foundation has
promoted or aided charitable, scientific, educational, and
humanitarian activities, with a special emphasis on activities that
improve the lives of women and their families. Through 2017, Avon
Products, Inc. and the Avon Foundation for Women have contributed
over $1 billion in over 50 countries to support its efforts to
eradicate breast cancer and to help end violence against women and
girls worldwide. Today, Avon
global cause programs focus on breast health awareness and
prevention through the Avon Breast Cancer Promise, and to help end
violence through the Avon Promise to Help End Violence Against
Women and Girls. Visit www.avonfoundation.org for more
information.
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SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.