Violence Against Women and Girls definitions and language

Across the Surrey partnership Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is defined as the act of gender-based violence and or abuse which results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, emotional, and/ or psychological harm, distress or suffering of women and girls, regardless of whether this occurs in public or private life. VAWG is a human rights violation and in Surrey we recognise VAWG as a national threat.

Forms of Violence Against Woman and Girls

• Femicide
• Domestic abuse
• Coercive control
• Sexual violence
• Sexual abuse
• Sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Stalking
• Online and/or digital abuse including image based sexual abuse
• Harmful practices- female genital mutilation, forced marriage, so called honour based abuse
• Child abuse
• Child sexual abuse and exploitation

We recognise that although women and girls are disproportionately impacted by these forms of abuse, people of all gender identities can be affected. We acknowledge that men perpetrate the vast majority of crimes against women and girls and it is male violence we are tackling, however, we also recognise that men and boys can be victims and survivors too.

So-called Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage

Common definition of Honour Based Abuse across agencies; "A crime or incident which has, or may have been, committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and/ or community".

Forced marriage is where one or both people do not or in cases of people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, cannot consent to the marriage as they are pressurised, or abuse is used, to force them to do so.

Stalking and Harassment

When someone repeatedly and obsessively behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened. Unwanted behaviour that violates your dignity, creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Sexual Exploitation

The abuse of power to exploit another's vulnerability. Coercing, manipulating, intimidating and/or grooming an individual for sexual acts. This also includes child sexual exploitation. Abusers exploit the needs of their victim, such as provide gifts, a perceived relationship, money, food, which can later be used as leverage to trap victims.

Sexual Violence

Any unwanted sexual act or activity, this also includes any sexual act or activity that included, pressure, intimidation, manipulation, bullying, threats, deception or force. Sexual violence can take many forms including rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse.

Female Genital Mutilation

Female genitals are deliberately cut, injured or changed, but there's no medical reason for this to be done.

Domestic Abuse

Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality.

Online and Digital Abuse

This includes, stalking and monitoring of social media profiles, emails, messages and calls. Sharing of intimate images without consent. Recording or taking intimate pictures without consent. Monitoring location through GPS spyware and/or social media. Using intimate images or recordings to blackmail and/or threaten victims.