Section: Care & Support
New Strategy to End Violence Against Women
An ambitious strategy aiming to bring an end to violence against women and girls was set out by the Government. 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.
