Tackling Violence Against Women
Issue- Alan Johnson today publishes a cross-government strategy on tackling violence against women and girls.
Key points
- Violence against women and girls is an obscenity. We are taking action to bring perpetrators to justice and protect and support victims, and also to challenge the attitude that attacks on women and girls are in any way acceptable.
- Since 1997 we have introduced the Domestic Violence Act; specialist training and support including domestic violence courts, domestic violence advisers; and bringing together the Police and other agencies at a local level to help protect vulnerable people. According to the British Crime Survey, domestic violence has fallen by almost two thirds since 1997.
- But it is unacceptable that every year a million women suffer from domestic violence. Through this strategy we set out how we believe together we can end violence against women and girls - with renewed focus on protection and support, and a new focus on prevention.
- As part of our action, from 2011, preventing violence in relationships will be included in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. This is important because attitudes which condone and perpetuate violence against women must be addressed before they become entrenched. An awareness-raising campaign to change behaviour will also start in the New Year with a high profile drive to tackle violence in teenagers' relationships.
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