Together we can end violence against women and girls – Government strategy outlined

Posted on November 25, 2009
Filed Under 16 Days 2009 2008, England, Government, Publication, Violence Against Women | Comments Off

An ambitious strategy aiming to bring an end to violence against women and girls was set out by the government today – 25th November 2009.

Young people at heart of ambitious cross-government strategy

The Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy signals a new focus on preventing violence from happening. From 2011, preventing violence in relationships will be included in personal, social, health and economic education in schools. This will ensure that attitudes which condone and perpetuate violence against women are addressed before they become entrenched in young people.

Protection, provision and prevention

The strategy sets out a range of actions for the police, local authorities, the NHS and government departments across three key areas: protection, provision, and prevention.

These include:
* funding (over £13m) to help support victims of sexual and domestic violence
* increased investment delivering a four-fold increase in family intervention projects to support 10,000 families a year
* development of a dedicated stalking and harassment helpline so emerging violence can be nipped in the bud
* a new online directory of services for victims of violence against women and funding for new 24-hour sexual violence helpline
* the piloting of domestic violence protection orders (or ‘Go’ orders) to exclude perpetrators from their homes

Lasting impact

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: ‘Violence against women and girls ruins lives, breaks up families and has a lasting impact across the generations.

‘Much has been done over recent years to increase protection for women and to prosecute their attackers. However, this is a complex problem which demands an even broader response to stop violence from happening in the first place.

‘Changing attitudes that tolerate violence against women and girls will take time but is essential if we are to eradicate this blight on women’s lives.’

Detailed reviews

The strategy draws on the initial findings of a number of detailed reviews, including:
* the End Violence Against Women and Girls Consultation
* Womens National Commission focus groups

We have also developed a tool to aid those who work in this field. The violence against women and girls ready reckoner (http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/domesticviolence/domesticviolence072.htm) is available on the Crime Reduction website.

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news/violence-against-women-and-girls

Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls: a Strategy

This cross-government strategy sets out a coordinated approach to ending violence against women and girls. It includes a range of actions for the police, councils, the NHS and government departments across three areas: prevention, provision and protection. It was informed by your views, gathered in a public consultation, which ran over three months between March and May 2009.

The prevention work addresses social attitudes and myths about violence, changing attitudes over the long-term and stopping violence happening in the first place. Part of this work will include an awareness raising campaign for teenagers aged 13 – 18.

The provision work focuses on ensuring women and girls have access to the right help and support for example counselling and access to specialist services, when violence does occur.

The protection work looks at how we can provide end-to-end support for all victims through the criminal and civil justice systems, from reporting the crime to going to court. It will also focus on bringing more offenders to justice by improving reporting and conviction rates, as well as working to rehabilitate offenders and manage the risk they may present to women and girls.

We have also developed a tool to aid those who work in this field. The violence against women and girls ready reckoner is available on the Crime Reduction website.

Also available below is:

Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls: a Strategy (PDF file – 1mb – Warning: large file)
This cross-government strategy sets out a range of actions for the police, councils, the NHS and other government departments across three key areas: prevention, provision and protection.

Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls: Annexes to the Strategy (PDF file – 630kb)
These annexes accompany the strategy document Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls

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