News

We are pleased to see the release of the Government’s much anticipated Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy. While its timing may feel like an early Christmas present, we also believe the Government has aimed to publish a thoughtful and dedicated strategy that will long outlast the holiday season. Although we will take time for a more detailed analysis in the New Year, there are a number of strengths in the strategy worth highlighting now.

Victim and survivor support, prevention, and early intervention

The Marie Collins Foundation has been advocating on behalf of victims and survivors of Technology-Facilitated Child Sexual Abuse (TACSA) for almost 15 years. We have also been calling for a preventative approach to addressing violence and harm. It is therefore encouraging that the strategy places victim and survivor support as a central pillar. Prevention and early intervention are also important areas of focus. We welcome the attention on these topics, alongside targeted action to pursue perpetrators of violence and abuse.

We agree that these pillars can only succeed in halving violence against women and girls within 10 years through a cross-government, whole-system approach.

Delivery must be practical, measurable, and accountable

We are keen to examine the detail within the strategy and the accompanying action plan to understand how the pillars will be turned into clear, practical steps. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation throughout the life of the strategy will be crucial to effective delivery - and to ensuring it leads to real protection and meaningful impact for women and girls.

Online and technology-enabled abuse must stay central

We also agree that the strategy must be a living document, “dynamic and agile”, so it can be improved over time and adapt to new and emerging VAWG issues. The strategy’s recognition of how VAWG can happen online and through technology is positive. It is important that this focus is not lost or reduced, as we fully expect online harms and violence to continue evolving.

With this in mind, we especially welcome the ban on nudification apps. We have advocated for a ban on these apps throughout the Independent Pornography Review, and we are glad to see the Government take this important action now.

Recognising male victimhood, while addressing harmful attitudes and behaviours

We also appreciated the acknowledgement that boys and men can be victims of violence and abuse. This can be especially relevant in online spaces. The issue of men and boys as victims is important and should not be treated as an afterthought within a VAWG strategy, but it is welcome to see a balanced recognition of male victimhood.

Equally, it is helpful that the strategy seeks to address harmful attitudes and behaviours among men and boys that can contribute to VAWG. We appreciate that the strategy avoids blaming men and boys as a group, and instead focuses on education, intervention, and encouraging healthier versions of masculinity.

Our commitment

There is much to applaud in the new VAWG strategy, and we look forward to reviewing it in more detail. MCF remains committed to working with the Government to ensure that victims’ and survivors’ voices are heard in places of power, and that their experiences can inform improvements in law and policy for the future.