The resignation of prominent Labour MP Jess Phillips has ignited a fresh wave of concern and appreciation within the women’s rights sector, with Women’s Aid CEO Farah Nazeer leading tributes to her "unwavering commitment" to safeguarding women and children. Nazeer’s statement, released as news of Phillips’ departure broke, underscored not only the significant impact of Phillips’ advocacy but also the persistent, dire challenges facing the fight against violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the United Kingdom. Her commentary serves as a stark reminder of the "epidemic" of VAWG and the critical underfunding plaguing survivor services, which are reportedly forced to turn away up to two-thirds of those desperately seeking help annually. This backdrop amplifies the urgency of Phillips’ long-standing call for more robust government action, warning against the risk of VAWG issues slipping down the political agenda.
A Decisive Voice for Survivors: Jess Phillips’ Enduring Legacy
Jess Phillips, Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley since 2015, has been an indefatigable and often visceral voice for victims and survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of VAWG throughout her political career. Before entering Parliament, Phillips worked for Women’s Aid as a senior victim support worker, giving her direct, frontline experience with the systemic failures and personal tragedies inherent in the VAWG landscape. This background profoundly shaped her parliamentary contributions, allowing her to speak with unparalleled authority and empathy on issues of gender-based violence.
Her advocacy has been multifaceted, ranging from powerful speeches in the House of Commons that frequently went viral, to spearheading legislative changes and maintaining a high public profile on these critical issues. One of her most poignant and impactful actions was in 2020, during International Women’s Day debates, when she read aloud the names of 118 women killed by men in the UK over the preceding year. This act, repeated in various forms, brought the stark reality of femicide directly into the parliamentary chamber, forcing politicians and the public alike to confront the human cost of unchecked violence. Phillips was also instrumental in advocating for and shaping the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, a piece of legislation designed to provide greater protections for victims and more robust powers for law enforcement. Her ability to translate complex policy issues into relatable, compelling narratives, often drawing on her pre-parliamentary experiences, cemented her status as a crucial amplifier for the needs of survivors. Farah Nazeer’s commendation of Phillips’ "crucial role in amplifying the needs of survivors for years" is a testament to this consistent and impactful work.
The Enduring Epidemic: Unpacking Violence Against Women and Girls in the UK
The stark reality articulated by Women’s Aid – that violence against women and girls remains an epidemic – is consistently supported by official statistics. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Home Office consistently paints a grim picture. In the year ending March 2023, the ONS reported that an estimated 2.1 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales, with women disproportionately affected. Specifically, 1.4 million women experienced domestic abuse in that period, compared to 758,000 men. This indicates that approximately 67% of domestic abuse victims are women.
The most severe manifestation of this violence, femicide, continues at an alarming rate. The "at least one woman a week killed by a current or former partner" statistic, cited by Nazeer, is a tragic constant. Reports from the Femicide Census, a collaborative project between Women’s Aid and Nia, reveal that on average, a woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK. This translates to over 100 women annually losing their lives to male violence, predominantly at the hands of current or former intimate partners. Beyond domestic homicide, women and girls face pervasive sexual violence, stalking, harassment, and online abuse. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) for the year ending March 2023 estimated 898,000 incidents of sexual assault, with women again being the overwhelming majority of victims. These figures underscore the systemic and pervasive nature of gender-based violence, highlighting why organisations like Women’s Aid refer to it as an epidemic rather than isolated incidents.
A Chronology of Advocacy and Policy: A Decades-Long Battle
The fight against VAWG has a long history in the UK, marked by both significant legislative gains and persistent challenges. The 1970s saw the emergence of the first women’s refuges, driven by grassroots activism. Key legislative milestones include the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976, which provided some legal protections, and the more comprehensive Family Law Act 1996. However, it was in the early 21st century that the issue gained more political traction.
- 2003: The government launched its first National Strategy for Domestic Violence, acknowledging the scale of the problem.
- 2004: The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act was passed, creating new offences and strengthening protections.
- 2010: The Coalition government published its "Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy," setting out a cross-government approach.
- 2015: Jess Phillips enters Parliament, quickly becoming a leading voice on VAWG, consistently using her platform to raise awareness and push for policy change. Her reading of femicide victims’ names became a recurring and powerful parliamentary moment.
- 2016-2020: Ongoing campaigns by women’s charities highlight the chronic underfunding of services and the devastating impact of austerity measures.
- 2021: The Domestic Abuse Act receives Royal Assent. This landmark legislation introduced a statutory definition of domestic abuse, established a new Domestic Abuse Commissioner, and placed a duty on local authorities to provide support to victims in refuges and other safe accommodation. Phillips was a vocal proponent and played a key role in its passage.
- 2021 (July): The government publishes its "Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy," outlining a national commitment to "halve incidents of common domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking" within the next decade. This strategy, developed in the wake of high-profile cases like the murder of Sarah Everard, aimed to shift the focus from response to prevention, support, and perpetrator management.
Despite these legislative and strategic efforts, the statistics indicate that the impact of these measures has yet to fully translate into a significant reduction in violence, or adequate support for all survivors.
The Funding Chasm: A System Under Strain
Central to Farah Nazeer’s statement is the critical issue of underfunding for survivor services, leading to the harrowing statistic that "they are forced to turn away up to two-thirds of survivors every year." This figure, frequently echoed by organisations like Women’s Aid and Refuge, represents a catastrophic failure of the support system. Specialist women’s services, including refuges, helplines, outreach programmes, and culturally specific support for Black and minoritised women, have faced chronic underfunding for over a decade.
According to a 2023 report by Women’s Aid, over a typical 24-hour period, 60% of referrals to refuges were declined, with the main reasons being a lack of space or an inability to meet complex support needs due to resource constraints. This translates to hundreds of women and children each day being denied safe haven from abuse. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline, a vital first point of contact for many, also faces immense pressure, with staff often unable to answer all calls due to high demand and limited resources.
The impact of this underfunding is multifaceted:
- Lack of Capacity: Refuges cannot expand their beds or staff to meet demand.
- Reduced Specialism: Services for particular groups, such as disabled women, LGBTQ+ survivors, or those with no recourse to public funds, are often the first to be cut or are never adequately funded, leaving vulnerable groups with even fewer options.
- Staff Burnout: Frontline workers operate under immense pressure, leading to high turnover and difficulty in retaining experienced staff.
- Prevention Deficit: Funds are disproportionately allocated to crisis response rather than crucial prevention work, which could reduce future demand.
- Geographic Disparities: Funding models often create a postcode lottery, with access to services varying significantly across different local authority areas.
The government’s Domestic Abuse Act 2021 placed a new statutory duty on local authorities to provide safe accommodation and support for victims of domestic abuse. While a welcome step, local authorities themselves face severe budgetary pressures, often struggling to secure sufficient, long-term funding from central government to meet this duty adequately. The result is a fragmented and precarious funding landscape, where services operate hand-to-mouth, making long-term planning and sustainability impossible.
Government’s Pledge and the Call for Urgent Action
The UK government has explicitly committed to "halve incidents of common domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking" within the next decade, a target set out in its 2021 VAWG Strategy. This ambitious goal reflects a stated recognition of the scale of the problem. The strategy outlines four pillars:
- Prioritising Prevention: Tackling the root causes of VAWG, including harmful attitudes and behaviours.
- Supporting Victims and Survivors: Ensuring adequate and accessible support services.
- Pursuing Perpetrators: Bringing offenders to justice and managing their risk.
- Strengthening the System: Improving coordination and accountability across agencies.
However, the efficacy of this strategy is directly challenged by the current state of service funding. Farah Nazeer’s call to "echo Jess’s call for more urgent action" is a direct appeal for the government to match its ambitious targets with commensurate investment and policy implementation. There is a palpable disconnect between the rhetoric of commitment and the reality on the ground for survivors and the services that support them. Advocates argue that without a substantial, ring-fenced, and long-term funding settlement for the VAWG sector, the goal of halving incidents of abuse will remain an aspiration rather than an achievable target. Furthermore, "urgent action" implies not just financial investment, but also a cohesive, cross-departmental approach that addresses issues ranging from education and housing to criminal justice and public health.
Reactions from the Sector and Broader Implications
Jess Phillips’ departure from her frontbench role and decision not to seek re-election represents a significant loss of a high-profile, influential voice within the VAWG advocacy landscape. Her unique blend of lived experience, political acumen, and unapologetic candour made her a formidable champion. While Nazeer expresses confidence that Phillips will "continue to champion this cause" in whatever she does next, her absence from the parliamentary arena will undoubtedly create a void.
Other women’s rights organisations have also expressed their gratitude and concern. Refuge, another leading charity, has consistently highlighted the funding crisis and the increasing demand for services. Their statements often align with Women’s Aid, underscoring the collective frustration within the sector regarding the government’s perceived inaction on funding. The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, established by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, has also repeatedly called for sustainable funding for the sector and improvements in the criminal justice system’s response to VAWG.
The broader implications of Phillips’ departure and the ongoing challenges are substantial:
- Maintaining Political Momentum: Without a figure like Phillips consistently raising the issue, there is a risk that VAWG could indeed "slip down the political agenda," especially amidst other pressing national and international crises.
- Advocacy Gap: While many dedicated MPs continue to champion VAWG causes, Phillips’ specific public profile and direct experience offered a distinct advantage in cutting through political noise.
- Impact on Survivors: The continued underfunding of services means that for many survivors, the system remains a lottery, often failing them at their most vulnerable. This can lead to prolonged abuse, increased risk of harm, and further trauma.
- Government Accountability: Charities will intensify their efforts to hold the government accountable for its stated commitments and strategy, demanding tangible progress and investment.
Conclusion: Sustained Commitment Required
Farah Nazeer’s statement following Jess Phillips’ resignation serves as a powerful microcosm of the current state of VAWG advocacy in the UK. It encapsulates both profound gratitude for a dedicated champion and an urgent, unvarnished assessment of a crisis far from resolved. The "epidemic" of violence, coupled with the critical underfunding of vital survivor services, creates a precarious environment where too many lives remain at risk.
As Jess Phillips transitions from parliamentary life, the onus falls even more heavily on the government to demonstrate unwavering commitment to its pledge to halve VAWG. This demands not just strategic documents and legislative frameworks, but a concrete, substantial, and sustained financial investment in the frontline services that provide a lifeline to millions. The collective voice of women’s rights organisations, amplified by figures like Jess Phillips, will continue to demand that this critical issue remains at the forefront of the national conscience and political agenda, ensuring that the promise of safety and support for women and children becomes a reality, not just an aspiration.
