In the last year, domestic abusers have been controlling the money and belongings of 4.1 million UK women. Join us in raising awareness about economic abuse and sign our petition to show your support for victim-survivors this Economic Abuse Awareness Day.
Economic abuse is a devastating form of domestic abuse. It involves a current or ex-partner controlling a victim-survivor’s money and belongings with long-lasting and damaging effects.
In the last 12 months, nearly one million UK women were prevented from leaving a dangerous partner because of economic abuse.
Alarmingly, despite the devastating impact of this type of abuse, over 40% of victim-survivors did not seek any help, information, or advice. That’s why we’re raising awareness of how to spot the signs of economic abuse and what support is available.
This Economic Abuse Awareness Day, join us in raising awareness of economic abuse and calling for action to stop economic abuse.
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Abusers are trapping victim-survivors by controlling their access to money and creating economic instability to make it harder for them to flee.
Even when survivors manage to leave, the abuser’s ongoing economic abuse and its harmful impact mean many are forced to return to the abuser or face homelessness and destitution.
This Economic Abuse Awareness Day, we’re asking you to stand in support of victim-survivors and join us in telling abusers there’s no excuse for economic abuse.
Together, we can help break the cycle of economic abuse so victim-survivors get the support they need and abusers are stopped in their tracks.
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A photo of a model is used to protect Anastasia’s* identity
Anastasia* was with her abusive partner for over a decade. He controlled her entire life, including what she ate and her access to money and essential items. She lived in constant fear because of his threats to harm her and her children. Even after they separated, the abuse continued.
“I had no control over my own life. He made me go to bed with my kids at 7:30pm. He never bought any food for me and the kids. My sister used to make my clothes. He took my possessions and clothing and sold them behind my back. He made constant threats to harm me and my kids. I was living in fear all the time.
“It’s really difficult to describe. To be so completely powerless. I can’t explain what it’s like, it’s overwhelming. You start to go through periods of depression. Not being able to provide for your children, relying on someone else; even buying stuff like sanitary towels or things like food.
“Now I’m barely surviving. I lost my house and have since had to move over 30 times. I have developed multiple long-term health conditions and have complex PTSD. This abuse tore my family apart and I have no economic or housing stability.”
If someone you care about is being abused, or you think they might be, we have shared some signs to look out for and what you can do to help:
Our new research, conducted by Ipsos UK and supported by the VISION consortium, uncovers how domestic abusers are controlling the money and belongings of UK women to trap them.
The survey found that one in seven UK women experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner — equivalent to 4.1 million women. Shockingly, Black, Asian and racially minoritised women were over twice as likely to experience economic abuse than White women; while disabled women were just under twice as likely to experience economic abuse than non-disabled women.
Read our latest research report, ‘Measuring economic abuse’, below:
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