Government strategy on violence against women and girls
In December 2025 the government published Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls. This new and updated strategy sets out the government’s plans to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade. It is long-awaited and much anticipated across the sector, and we welcome its ambitious measures to prevent harm, pursue perpetrators, and provide support for victims. However, after many months of delay, the strategy’s success will depend on how quickly it can deliver lasting improvements.
Early action to tackle misogyny
Early action to tackle misogyny
Taking early action to tackle the root causes of VAWG is the starting point for the government’s ambitions, with a focus on supporting children to better understand misogynistic attitudes, challenge harmful behaviours, and navigate relationships with kindness and respect.
This preventive focus is important, and something our Lifting Limits Programme champions. Research shows that children as young as two can internalise harmful gendered stereotypes, influencing their sense of self and how they move through the world – in their studies, at work, and in their relationships with others.
We welcome the government’s commitment to ensure that every secondary school in England will have a credible offer for educating students about healthy relationships by 2029. But, we challenge them to go further, and think about how support for children whilst they are still at primary school can support their goals.
Criminal justice responses
Against a backdrop of worryingly low prosecution rates for VAWG, it is encouraging to see a renewed focus on holding perpetrators to account for their crimes.
However, whilst the strategy highlights the importance of a ‘whole system’ approach to tackling VAWG, it remains unclear how existing challenges in the criminal justice system will be addressed. The devastating impacts of the courts backlogs on victims of crime, in particular victims of rape and serious sexual offences, are well evidenced. Genuine, system-wide change is essential to ensure that victims and survivors get justice, and criminals are punished.
Support for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation
Support for survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation
£50 million investment has been committed to transform support for victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation, with an offer of holistic, child-centred support available in every NHS region in England. This is a big step in the right direction. We have long called for greater investment in trauma-informed therapeutic services for young victims, and an end to the current postcode lottery in support.
This announcement comes after a period of declining funding for specialist child sexual abuse services, which we know are at a critical point. Recent research shows that almost two thirds of services are struggling to maintain capacity and meet demand and three in four are facing funding uncertainty.
As the government rightly puts a spotlight on the importance of tackling this devastating form of harm, ensuring the right support is available for all young victims is more important than ever.
The experiences of boys and men
It is positive to see the strategy’s focus on boys and men. Through our direct work with young victims of abuse and domestic violence, we know how often boys’ victimisation can be sidelined, and the impacts of harmful expectations of masculinity on their ability to seek help.
We strongly welcome government’s intentions to prioritise boys and young men, both as victims in their own right, and to help them play a role in tackling VAWG. We look forward to working with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Victims as they prepare for a national summit for men and boys in 2026.
Delivering real change
This strategy acknowledges the horrifying scale of VAWG, its far-reaching impact across all aspects of our society, and the vital need for action. We welcome the government’s efforts, and hope that it will be similarly bold in the strategy’s delivery. We will keep monitoring progress and hold the government to account to make sure all young people feel the impact of the strategy on their lives as soon as possible.
