The strategy aims to halve VAWG in the next decade with:
- Preventative education in schools starting at primary age and mandatory sex education for teens.
- Better community support for victims to access lifesaving support when needed.
- Tackling online abuse with more funding to police and banning nudification apps.
- Funding for rape centres and secure housing for victims.
- A better understanding of the impact of all types of domestic abuse and women entering the criminal justice system.
Anawim CEO, Joy Doal says:
Anawim welcomes the long-awaited, cross-Government strategy and funding that will look at preventative measures, support for services in communities, police funding and training and tackling cyber abuse. We know this is an ambitious plan, but are encouraged VAWG is being treated as the emergency it is.
Whilst the actions against perpetrators of abuse and harm are welcomed, we badly need major and wide-ranging improvements to our criminal justice system to improve rehabilitation and bring about positive change. Increased length of sentences and more young people criminalised will do nothing in the long run unless there is real sustained behaviour change which punishment alone cannot offer.
With the experience and expertise that women’s centres have built up over years of supporting women who are survivors of abuse, we are best placed to offer courses in school, colleges and places of work. So, fund us to deliver this.
There are still many points where girls fall through the gaps, girls who have additional needs/SEN, are neurodivergent, happen to be from racially minoritised communities, are refugees/seeking asylum, or have been sexually abused or exploited, still find themselves marginalised, criminalised and unfairly labelled as difficult rather than as victims of abuse who have experienced trauma. We need circles of support around these young people that bring together their care givers, social workers and teachers to stop them becoming excluded.