Women for Refugee Women, ‘Not In Our Name: A Practical Guide. How to talk about the weaponisation of violence against women and girls’, 2026

Women for Refugee Women, ‘Not In Our Name: A Practical Guide. How to talk about the weaponisation of violence against women and girls’, April 2026

Abstract

Violence against women and girls is a national emergency. Yet it is increasingly being used for political point-scoring. It is wielded as a weapon to target migrants, refugees, and people seeking asylum. In moments of national tragedy, misinformation and disinformation have been used to feed an anti-immigration rhetoric to divide communities and stoke further violence. This is not limited to isolated incidents – it is reinforced daily on social media, in the news, and even in Parliament. This stokes community division, fuels racism and anti-migrant rhetoric, and causes harm to us all.

Our response to politicians, activists, and journalists who weaponise VAWG to justify harm is clear: not in our name. We urgently need to tackle the disinformation, hostility and racism that put us all at risk. The Government, media, and public must act now to change the narrative. This guide is designed to help us do just that.

This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and tactics you need to communicate with the people in your life about this issue. We hope you find it useful.

Together, we are powerful and can create change.