A ground-breaking report into violence against women and girls in the BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) sector was launched at the House of Lords yesterday (6).

Commissioned and funded by the GMSP Foundation and developed by Sisters for Change, ‘Unequal Regard, Unequal Protection’ assesses the Government’s responses to violence against some of the most vulnerable women and girls in England.

In the UK, two women are killed by a partner or an ex-partner every week.

1.2 million females in England and Wales have experienced domestic abuse and the picture is still worse for BAME women, who experience even higher rates of domestic homicide.

BAME women are three times more likely to commit suicide and 40 per cent live in poverty, whilst many have experienced racism and discrimination.

Most BAME women prefer to receive support from specialist services that understand the complexity of their needs and circumstances and yet the services in this sector have been decimated due to national and local budget cuts.

Sonal Sachdev Patel, CEO of GMSP Foundation said: “This report is a much-needed analysis of the drivers and impact of policies that have left the BAME sector so vulnerable. It has the potential to be a real game-changer and we are hopeful that it will receive the political support it needs in order to do this.”

The formal launch of the report took place at the House of Lords on yesterday at an event hosted by Lord Dolar Popat.