Justin Welby offered his support to Mothers' Union as it marched on Downing Street presenting a petition to change attitudes towards gender-based violence.
More than 4,500 people signed the petition which hopes to push to government to reconsider the current child maintenance system.
One in three applicants to the child maintenance service has experienced domestic abuse, according to Mothers' Union.
Well done @MothersUnion for highlighting and seeking to end gender-based violence #MU16Days #ItsNotOk https://t.co/vyqay8ypqt
— Justin Welby ن (@JustinWelby) November 26, 2016
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rt Rev Justin Welby, a Patron of the Mothers' Union, said: "Violence because of gender, most often against women, is brutal, traditional and wrong."
He is speaking as a new campaign, '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence' is launched to highlight violence and persecution around the world in various forms from controlling behaviour by a partner to using rape as a weapon of war.
He went on: "Well done to the Mother's Union for highlighting gender-based violence in our society, and seeking to tackle it through positive, practical measures.
"I encourage every one of four million members of the Mothers' Union to be active in challenging leaders at all levels of community and government to ensure their laws protect victims, prohibit violence and prosecute perpetrators.
"This 16 Days of Activism could, with prayer and reflection, prompt change of hearts and minds around the world."
