CROSS GOVERNMENT PLAN TO TACKLE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS LAUNCHES

 

Action plan

Earlier this year,  the government launched an action plan to tackle all aspects of violence against women and girls, including 88 cross-government actions to combat this important issue.

• 'No level of violence against women and girls is acceptable in modern Britain or anywhere else in the world.' - Theresa May, Home Secretary

In the last year alone, there were over 1 million female victims of domestic abuse in England and Wales. Around 400,000 women are sexually assaulted and 80,000 women are raped each year. In the UK, more than one in four women will experience domestic abuse since the age of 16 years old, often with years of psychological abuse.

Key Statistics

• at least 1 in 4 women in the UK will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime (British Crime Survey [BCS] 2010/11)
• domestic violence accounts for 18% of all violent incidents (crime in England and Wales 2010/11), 7 per cent of women and 5 per cent of men reported having experienced any domestic violence in 2010/11
• in the 2010/11 BCS, 73 per cent of incidents of domestic violence were experienced by repeat victims, and of the victims interviewed, just under half were victimised more than once, and nearly a quarter were victimised three or more times
• every year around 400,000 women are sexually assaulted and 80,000 women raped (BCS 2010/11)
• domestically, the cost of providing public services (including health, legal and social services) to victims and the lost economic output of women affected runs to billions of pounds. An indicative figure for the minimum and overlapping cost of violence against women and girls is £36.7 billion annually
• in January to December 2010 the forced marriage unit received 1735 reports relating to possible forced marriage, and provided direct support in 469 assistance and immigration cases
• approximately 66,000 women with female genital mutilation are living in England and Wales (Forward)

International work

The action plan recognises that violence against women and girls occurs in all countries and is an issue which crosses borders. The Home Office:

• supports innovative new projects in poorest countries
• works with international organisations and governments overseas to globally promote women's rights and reduce the impact of conflict on women and girls

Working in partnership

The Home Office points out that we all have to work together to achieve our goal of ending violence against women and girls. "It is not a task for central government alone. We will need to work with families and communities to change attitudes. Local authorities, police and crime commissioners, voluntary and community organisations, community safety partnerships, the NHS and more will need to work together to meet the needs of their local communities.

Read the strategic vision and action plan to end violence against women and girls.

Help

If you have experienced violence visit Directgov (Opens in a new window), which has information and support.
If you are in immediate danger dial 999.

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• Action plan

.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE (non-emergency) 101 In an Emergency Dial 999. If you have information about crime contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.