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Yves Saint Laurent is committed to funding academic research, training its staff and educating 2 million people about violence against intimate partners through partnerships with nonprofits by 2030

Ahead of the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, 2020 Yves Saint Laurent beauty launched Abuse is Not Love, a new global program to combat violence against intimate partners (IPV) by supporting its nonprofit partners' prevention programs.

IPA is an important societal problem: Approximately every third woman will experience violence against intimate partners in her lifetime, and only a small proportion of survivors will experience justice.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is one of the most common forms of violence against women and includes physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse, as well as controlling the behavior of an intimate partner. In the US, UK and France, a woman is killed by her partner every three days.

More than 600 million women worldwide live in a country where violence against intimate partners is not considered a criminal offense. Violence against intimate partners affects people from all socio-economic, religious and cultural groups. However, women are most at risk, with the highest rates occurring in young adults ages 16 to 24.

The prevalence rate of violence by intimate partners has increased by 30 to 60 percent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many women lived with an abusive partner and could not seek support from expert organizations, friends, relatives and colleagues.

Research shows that IPV carries important warning signs. If these signs can be seen earlier, we may be able to identify them better and seek or offer help. YSL Beauty would like to do its part to raise awareness of these common symbols.

Abuse is not love is based on three pillars: Funding academic research on the subject to develop thought leadership on youth and prevention; Educating 2 million people about the common signs of IPA through international partnerships and training YSL Beauty staff and beauty consultants on violence against intimate partners in the workplace.

“Supporting women, especially with regard to their independence, is central to the behavior of the brand. Violence by intimate partners hinders the safety, well-being and independence of women, ”says Stephan Bezy, International General Manager of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. "It was therefore very natural to work on a topic that contradicted our core values ​​and beliefs."

Abuse Is Not Love was launched as a global program with three key partnerships in 2020: En Avant Toute (s) in France, Aid to Women in the UK and It's On Us in the US. Further partnerships will follow in other countries in 2021.

Through these partnerships, YSL Beauty aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of IPV in order to contribute to meaningful change. By 2030, YSL aims to educate two million people around the world about IPA by partnering with local nonprofits.

Dr. Beth Livingston, a US-based gender and diversity scientist who did research on the Abuse Is Not Love program, said, “I knew I wanted to be part of this initiative when I saw that YSL Beauty wasn't just a strong stand, but also a commitment to driving measurable change through its partnerships with leading NGOs around the world. The data on this issue is clear: IPA is a dangerous problem that affects women (and men) in all facets of their lives, including the workplace, and I believe YSL Beauty’s efforts will help provide vital resources and resources to those in need To convey awareness. ”

The YSL Beauty ambassadors have expressed their enthusiasm and support for the program.

“I am a vocal advocate of women's rights and today 600 million women around the world live in a country where violence against intimate partners is not considered a crime. This is a subject that deserves attention and it is time to take action. I am proud to support my YSL Beauty family in this important initiative. “- Dua Lipa, YSL Beauty Ambassador, Libre.

"Abuse is not love is a much-needed initiative that remains true to the spirit of Yves Saint Laurent of promoting freedom and equality for women. Today, I am more proud than ever to be part of the YSL Beauty family and I am delighted looking forward to working together on this project to combat this abuse. "- Zoë Kravitz, YSL Beauty Ambassador