Press Release

6 March 2020

Refuge joins the Duchess of Cornwall’s call

Refuge joins the Duchess of Cornwall’s call for domestic abuse to be recognised as #EveryonesProblem
  • Domestic abuse is the biggest issue facing women and children in the country today – almost one in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime
  • The Duchess of Cornwall shines a spotlight on this insidious issue giving a keynote speech about the devastating impact of domestic abuse on hundreds of thousands of women’s lives
  • Duchess of Cornwall shares her first ever hashtag #EveryonesProblem @ClarenceHouse

Today, as celebrations begin ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, the Duchess of Cornwall will give a speech to mark the tenth anniversary of the Women of the World Festival. Her Royal Highness will use the keynote speech to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is the biggest issue affecting women and children in the country today. It is staggering to learn that almost one woman in three will experience domestic abuse at some time in her life – a figure which has recently increased from one in four women.

In her address the Duchess of Cornwall will use her very first hashtag #EveryonesProblem via the @ClarenceHouse twitter feed. The Duchess of Cornwall is expected to speak about the threat of coercive control, and that she finds it almost impossible to think that any friend of (hers) might be living under that horrific threat, without knowing it, but that is the power of coercive control and violence in the home. (check against speech).

Sandra Horley, CBE, chief executive of national domestic abuse charity Refuge says: “Refuge is delighted that Her Royal Highness has chosen to raise awareness of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is a life and death issue – two women are killed every week in England and Wales alone. We all know someone who has or is experiencing domestic abuse – although we may not realise it. Domestic abuse affects us all – loved ones experiencing abuse, family, friends, colleagues, everyone around them. We applaud the Duchess of Cornwall’s #EveryonesProblem hashtag – domestic abuse is not an individual problem but a societal problem. Refuge hopes that today we can bring this issue from the shadows and into the light – women’s lives depend on it.”

The Duchess of Cornwall’s speech comes just after the Government reintroduced the Domestic Abuse Bill on Tuesday 3 March and ahead of International Women’s Day 8 March 2020. Refuge hopes that #EveryonesProblem will be shared and retweeted far and wide from 10.45am Friday 6 March 2020. Refuge is urging women affected by domestic abuse to contact the Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge 0808 2000 247 or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

For more information, please email press@refuge.org.uk or call 0207 395 7731.