Action Breaks Silence for women and girls
578. Debi Steven
Debi Steven, one of the world’s top self-defence instructors, is cofounder of Action Breaks Silence.
The charity promotes female empowerment with rights and self-defence training courses for women and girls at risk of gender-based violence in India and South Africa. Debi has reached over 29000 students and trained over 60 instructors since 2013. She recently piloted a preventative educational programme for boys to help them develop empathy and respect for the girls and women in their lives.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Debi’s service is reaching thousands of girls and boys across India and South Africa, spreading the life-saving message of respect and support for women and girls. I’m pleased to name her a Point of Light.”
Debi Steven said:
“I am extremely grateful to receive this Point of Light award on behalf of the entire Action Breaks Silence team. Our work is driven by our belief that women and girls should be able to live their lives free from fear of gender-based violence and our hope is that this award will help us to extend our reach to girls and women across London and the UK.”