The Government has released it's cross-sector strategy to build a safer society for women and girls.
In the last year, 1 in every 8 women was a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking. The government has declared it a national emergency to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
The strategy focuses on prevention and tackling the root cause of abuse to protect girls from violence and young boys from harmful misogynisitic influences.
Teachers, police, social services and healthcare professionals will all have a responsibility to identify and respond to abuse and harmful behaviour.
Read the full strategy
“VAWG isn’t just a criminal justice issue, it’s a public health emergency. When we strengthen healthcare systems to identify abuse early, support survivors, challenge perpetrators and address the trauma that fuels cycles of harm, we make communities safer. Ensuring health is not an add-on to prevention; it is a core part of the solution”
"For too long the scale of violence against women and girls has been treated as a fact of life in our country.
"I am determined our groundbreaking strategy will prevent women and girls from actually being harmed in the first place.
"But a strategy is just words. And we know words are not enough. What matters is action.
"Put together, from today, we will deploy the full power of the state to introduce the largest crackdown to stop violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history."
Featured Event:
Violence Against Women and Girls Conference: Delivering the National Strategy
Wed, 6 May 2026 | Virtual, Online
Through expert-led sessions, practical discussion, and shared learning, the conference will focus on the real-world challenges practitioners are facing now. We will explore the need for cultural change to be able to recognise and respond to abuse; challenging harmful behaviours and implementing trauma-informed approaches to support victims and survivors.
