The Government has published a new strategy aimed at reducing violence against women and girls. Its long-term goal is to significantly reduce abuse over the next 10 years. The strategy recognises that violence affects every part of a survivor’s life and that change must happen across many systems, not just the criminal justice system.
We will be taking time in coming weeks to fully digest the strategy but wanted to share what we understand about it:
A focus on prevention
The strategy says more needs to be done to stop abuse before it starts. This includes:
• Teaching young people about healthy relationships, respect and consent
• Challenging harmful attitudes, misogyny and abuse early
• Better training for professionals to recognise signs of abuse sooner
The aim is to reduce the number of people harmed in the first place.
2. Holding perpetrators responsible
There is a stronger focus on shifting responsibility away from survivors and onto perpetrators. This includes:
• More work to change harmful behaviour
• Programmes aimed at stopping repeat abuse
• Stronger consequences for those who cause harm
The intention is to make communities safer and reduce repeat offending.
3. Support for survivors
The strategy recognises that survivors need support beyond crisis moments. It talks about:
• Better access to trauma-informed health support
• Improved housing and safety options
• More joined-up services so survivors don’t have to repeat their story
Survivors should be able to access help that supports healing, not just survival.
4. A whole-system approach
The strategy says violence cannot be addressed by one service alone. Health, housing, social care, police, education and community organisations all have a role to play. When systems work together, survivors are more likely to get the right support at the right time.
5. What this means for migrant survivors
The strategy acknowledges that some women face extra barriers to safety, including migrant women and those experiencing racism, poverty or discrimination. There is an opportunity for these barriers to be addressed across services so that no one is denied safety because of their background or status.
A message to survivors
Ending violence against women and girls is possible, but only when survivor voices are listened to and trusted. Survivor-led and community-based services play a vital role in safety, healing and long-term change. Nothing about survivors should be decided without survivors.
You deserve safety, dignity and support — and your experiences matter!
