Government launches new strategy to 'end violence' against women and girls » Communities » 24dash.com

An ambitious strategy aiming to bring an end to violence against women and girls was set out by the Government today.
 
As well as measures to further protect victims and tackle perpetrators, 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 (PSHE) education, so attitudes which condone and perpetuate violence against women are addressed before they become entrenched in young people.
 
An awareness-raising marketing campaign to change behaviour will start in the New Year with a high profile drive to tackle violence in teenagers’ relationships.
 
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:

• More than £13 million of funding to help support victims of sexual and domestic violence.
• Development of a national communications strategy designed to address attitudes towards VAWG among all members of the public.
• Increased investment delivering a four-fold increase in Family Intervention Projects to support 10,000 families a year.
• The Training and Development Agency for Schools will address violence against women in the review of professional standards for teachers in 2010, to help ensure teachers have the skills they need to tackle violence against women and girls.
• 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 and give victims space to apply for longer-term protection.
• A Health Taskforce examining the role of the NHS in response to victims of violence against women and girls will publish recommendations in the new year.
• Development of a series of short films on violence against women and girls for patients on the NHS Choices website to supplement existing material on recognising domestic violence and seeking support.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Violence against women and girls is an obscenity. That is why we are taking action to bring perpetrators to justice and protect and support victims, but also to challenge the attitude that attacks on women and girls are in any way acceptable.

"A fair and responsible Britain has no place for violence of any sort."
 
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.”
 
Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality said: “Tackling violence against women and girls is one of the Government’s top priorities.

"Since 1997 we’ve introduced specialist domestic violence courts; given more money for rape crisis centres; and toughened the law. This has contributed to a 64 per cent decrease in incidents of domestic violence, and a 50 per cent increase in rape convictions over the last ten years.
 
“But there is more to do, and it’s vital that we have a co-ordinated cross-government approach to combating all forms of violence against women and girls. The ‘Together We Can End Violence Against Women and Girls’ strategy provides this, and its focus on prevention is critical to long-term change. 
 
“We have to work to change attitudes in order to eliminate violence against women and girls and to make it clear beyond doubt that any form of violence against women is unacceptable.”
 
Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls said: "Violence against women and girls is unacceptable and we must do everything we can, together with the wider community, to stop it.
 
“We are committed to getting the message across in schools that VAWG should not be tolerated. From 2011, gender equality and preventing violence in relationships will be included in the statutory PSHE curriculum.

"We are also asking the Training and Development Agency for Schools to make sure that gender awareness and VAWG is included in a review of Professional Standards for Teachers in 2010. This will help to ensure that teachers have the skills and experience to tackle these issues effectively.
 
“However, we know that schools are only part of the solution. We need to make sure that the most troubled families get the support they need to stop problems from escalating. That is why we are increasing investment in Family Intervention Projects and from 2012, 10,000 families per year with complex needs will get help to tackle difficult issues such as domestic violence.

"Over 400 FIP workers have already been trained to identify and respond to domestic violence and a recent evaluation showed that they are helping to significantly improve the lives of vulnerable families, including reducing incidences of domestic violence.”
 
Professor Liz Kelly, Chair of the End Violence Against Women Coalition said: "We are delighted that the government is launching an integrated strategy on all forms of violence against women, including rape, domestic violence, trafficking and forced marriage. We welcome the focus on stopping violence before it starts through education and public campaigns.
 
“When consulted on the strategy, women stressed the importance of women-only services and places where they could seek support in confidence. So it's vital that the strategy sustains and extends frontline women's services, particularly as the vast majority of women still do not report to the police."
 
Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of Refuge, said: “Refuge is pleased that the Government’s new strategy focuses on preventing violence against women and girls.  This huge social issue will only end when people are educated about why it happens and where they can get help.
 
“Prevention will help in the long-term, but in the meantime there is an urgent need for services for abused women and children.  Whilst we acknowledge that additional funding has been pledged, much more will be needed if we are to reach every single woman and girl.

"As it stands, one third of local authorities still provide no domestic violence services whatsoever.”