By Deirdre Kehoe, CEO of LMK.
23 October 2025
I had the privilege of attending the EVAW conference yesterday, where organisations working to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) came together under this year’s inspiring theme: “A Different World is Possible.”
It was powerful to be in a room with colleagues from across the sector – including EVAW, Tender, Make It Mandatory, Everyone’s Invited, Split Banana, Milk Honey Bees and so many other impactful organisations – all committed to building a future free from VAWG.
One of the standout moments for me was hearing directly from young people, including LMK’s brilliant Youth Advisory Board members Frankie and Emily, who took part in the youth panel. They spoke passionately about the importance of relationship education in preventing VAWG, and the need to start these conversations early – creating space for boys and girls to learn together about consent, respect and online safety.
Their contributions were a powerful reminder that genuine progress happens when young people are not just consulted, but truly listened to and empowered to lead.
Key themes that came through strongly across the conference included:
- The importance of embedding relationship and consent education early, ensuring inclusive, open discussions from a young age.
- Recognition that online and offline behaviour are deeply connected – and that tackling harmful content also means challenging the beliefs and norms that drive it.
- The call for a truly intersectional approach to ending VAWG, with strategies that centre racism and recognise the diverse experiences of women and girls.
As the Government prepares its next VAWG strategy, it’s clear that these conversations must continue to place youth voice and intersectionality at the heart of our collective vision.
I left the conference feeling inspired and hopeful – reminded that a different world isn’t just possible, it’s already being imagined and shaped by the young people leading this movement.