Yves Saint Laurent Beauty has announced local partnership with Blijf Groep as part of the global program to combat intimate partner violence: Abuse is Not Love. The brand will be supporting the education and training programs of its non-profit partner. IPV is a major societal issue: approximately 1 in 3 women will experience intimate partner violence in their lifetime and only a small proportion of survivors will obtain 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 behaviors by an intimate partner. Globally, more than 600 million women are living in a country where intimate partner violence is not considered a crime. Intimate Partner Violence affects individuals from all socioeconomic, religious, and cultural groups;however, women are most at risk, with the highest rates seen among young adults aged 16-24. In the Netherlands, 200.000 women are victim of severe domestic violence and more than 63.000 cases are reported to the police yearly. 

Intimate partner violence prevalence rates have increased by 30 to 60 percent as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many women have been living in lockdown with an abusive partner and have been unable to seek support from expert organizations, friends, loved ones and colleagues. In the Netherlands, 3% of the women has avoided their own home for fear of violence from a partner. 

Research shows that IPV comes with key warning signs. If these signs can be detected earlier, we may be able to recognize it better and seek or offer help. YSL Beauty aims to do its part in raising awareness of these common signs.

Abuse is Not Love is built around three key pillars: funding academic research on the topic to develop thought-leadership around youth and prevention; educating at least 2 million people on the common signs of IPV through international partnerships; and training YSL Beauty employees and beauty advisors on intimate partner violence in the workplace.  Through these partnerships, YSL Beauty aims to raise awareness of the seriousness of IPV in order to contribute to meaningful change. By 2030, YSL’s objective is to educate two million people around the world on IPV through its partnership with local non-profits.

As we began to engage, we really wanted to take action in a concrete, immediate and significant way.  Besides supporting our partners, what we can do, is offer our voice and our large and international audience to do our small part in helping to prevent intimate partner violence. We will use our voice to amplify the actions of Blijf Groep so that more people are aware of their services. says Stephan Bezy, International General Manager, Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.