Broadcaster and ex-Lioness Eni Aluko has been announced as a new celebrity ambassador for Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse service provider.
As a former footballer, Eni is all too aware of the abuse faced by women in the public eye. This summer’s men’s World Cup also drew public attention to the relationship between football and reported incidents of domestic abuse. It was a stark reminder of the scale of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and the reality that, for far too many women, abuse is a daily reality.
Drawing on her own experience of online abuse and the misogynistic and racist backlash she has faced for speaking out, Eni brings a powerful understanding of the barriers survivors face and a deep commitment to tackling violence against women and girls.
Having previously collaborated with Refuge on its Tech Summit, Eni will now work more closely with the charity across its work to tackle domestic abuse. Her deep understanding of technology-facilitated abuse, one of the most dangerously under-reported forms of VAWG, will bring valuable insight as she joins the organisation in challenging harmful attitudes, raising awareness and driving change.
Around 1 in 4 women in England and Wales experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and every 5 days, 1 woman is killed by a partner or ex-partner. However, these figures are likely to represent only the tip of the iceberg as domestic abuse remains severely under-reported.
Refuge supports tens of thousands of survivors every year through its emergency accommodation, dedicated Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment Team, community services, and National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Eni Aluko said:
“I’m incredibly excited to build on my previous work with Refuge by joining the charity as an ambassador. As a Black woman in the public eye, I know all too well the cost of a culture which minimises and trivialises women’s experiences of abuse. Pervasive misogyny means that victim-blaming, ostracisation, and professional penalisation are just some of the consequences faced by the women who challenge abusive individuals.
“Tackling domestic abuse requires us to confront the underlying inequalities that have allowed this injustice to persist for far too long. That is why I’m proud to be joining Refuge and using my voice and platform to stand alongside survivors and help drive the change we urgently need, both online and offline.”
Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“We’re so pleased to welcome Eni Aluko as one of our brilliant celebrity ambassadors. As a committed supporter of Refuge, Eni has done a vast amount of work with us already, using her voice and platform to raise awareness of tech-facilitated abuse and the devastating impact it has on survivors.
“Eni’s voice, experience and influence will be a powerful addition to our work as we continue to challenge harmful attitudes and confront the misogyny that allows violence against women and girls to persist. Her unique perspective, shaped by her experiences in football, gender-based violence and online abuse, will be invaluable as we work to reach new audiences and drive meaningful change. Together, we can inspire action and help create a future where every woman and girl can live with freedom, dignity and safety.”
