Women’s Aid, a leading national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, has issued a powerful call for immediate and sustained government action to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG), coinciding with the news of MP Jess Phillips’ decision to step down from Parliament. Farah Nazeer, CEO of Women’s Aid, acknowledged Phillips’ "unwavering commitment" to safeguarding women and children, highlighting her crucial role in amplifying the voices and needs of survivors for many years. Nazeer’s statement underscored the persistent crisis of VAWG in the UK, revealing a system where vital survivor services are critically underfunded, forcing them to turn away a significant number of women and children desperately seeking help each year. The charity’s message is a stark reminder that despite legislative advancements and political commitments, the lives of countless women remain at risk due to systemic failures and insufficient resources.
A Champion’s Departure: Jess Phillips’ Enduring Legacy
Jess Phillips, the Labour Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley since 2015, announced her decision not to seek re-election, marking the impending end of a distinguished parliamentary career characterised by tenacious advocacy for women’s rights and an unwavering focus on tackling domestic abuse and sexual violence. Throughout her tenure, Phillips has been a prominent and often outspoken voice in Westminster, bringing the lived experiences of survivors directly into the legislative chambers. Her background as a former manager of a women’s refuge deeply informed her political work, providing her with invaluable first-hand insight into the challenges faced by those escaping abuse and the services that support them.
Phillips played a pivotal role in shaping and scrutinising the landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021, advocating for stronger protections and a more comprehensive response to domestic violence. She served as Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, a position from which she consistently pressed the government for greater accountability, increased funding for specialist services, and a more robust implementation of policies aimed at preventing and prosecuting VAWG. Her contributions extended beyond formal roles, as she frequently used parliamentary debates, media appearances, and her public platform to highlight individual cases, challenge prevailing attitudes, and push for a cultural shift in how society addresses violence against women. Women’s Aid’s commendation of her work reflects the widespread appreciation within the sector for her tireless efforts and her ability to translate complex issues into compelling calls for action. The charity expressed confidence that Phillips would continue to champion the cause of survivors in her future endeavours, underscoring the long-term impact of her dedication.
Women’s Aid’s Stark Warning: The VAWG Epidemic
Farah Nazeer’s statement from Women’s Aid unequivocally labels violence against women and girls as an "epidemic," a term that underscores the pervasive and systemic nature of the issue. This characterisation is not hyperbole but is supported by alarming statistics that reveal the grim reality faced by women across the UK. According to the Femicide Census, a collaboration between Women’s Aid and Nia, at least one woman a week is killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales. This figure represents only the most extreme outcome of domestic abuse, beneath which lies a vast landscape of daily violence, intimidation, and control.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) consistently illustrates the scale of VAWG. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) frequently reports that millions of adults experience domestic abuse each year. For instance, in the year ending March 2023, an estimated 2.1 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse. Women are disproportionately affected, with an estimated 1.4 million women experiencing domestic abuse compared with 750,000 men. Beyond physical violence, VAWG encompasses a spectrum of abuses, including sexual violence, stalking, harassment, forced marriage, honour-based abuse, and female genital mutilation. These forms of violence have profound and lasting impacts on survivors’ physical and mental health, economic stability, and overall well-being. Children living in households where domestic abuse occurs are also significantly affected, often experiencing trauma that can impact their development and future relationships. The cumulative effect of these abuses, coupled with the systemic challenges in addressing them, solidifies the notion of an ongoing public health and safety crisis that demands urgent, comprehensive intervention.
The Crisis in Survivor Services: Underfunding and Unmet Need
A central and deeply concerning aspect of Women’s Aid’s message is the critical underfunding of survivor services. Nazeer stated that these services are "so chronically underfunded that they are forced to turn away up to two-thirds of survivors every year – women and children desperately seeking support." This statistic highlights a profound gap between the demand for vital support and the capacity of the services available.
The consequences of this underfunding are severe and far-reaching. Specialist women’s services, including refuges, helplines, outreach programmes, and therapeutic support, are often the only lifeline for women and children fleeing abuse. When these services are forced to turn people away, survivors are left in dangerous situations, potentially returning to abusive homes, becoming homeless, or facing further exploitation. The "two-thirds" figure is not an anomaly; reports from various VAWG organisations consistently show high unmet demand. For example, Women’s Aid’s annual audit of refuge services often reveals that a significant proportion of refuge referral requests are declined, primarily due to a lack of space or capacity.
The funding landscape for these services is precarious, often relying on short-term grants, local authority commissioning, and charitable donations. This instability makes long-term planning impossible and leads to a constant struggle for survival for many organisations. Specialist services for Black and minoritised women, disabled women, and LGBTQ+ survivors are particularly vulnerable, despite these groups often facing additional barriers to accessing support and experiencing unique forms of abuse. The lack of sustainable, ring-fenced funding means that services cannot recruit and retain specialist staff, expand their reach, or innovate to meet evolving needs. This situation not only compromises the safety of individual survivors but also undermines the broader societal effort to tackle VAWG, as early intervention and comprehensive support are crucial for breaking cycles of abuse and promoting recovery.
Government Commitments Under Scrutiny
Women’s Aid’s call for the government to "deliver on its commitment to halve VAWG" directly references the UK government’s long-standing strategic goals. The "Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy," first launched in 2011 and updated several times, including in 2021, outlines an ambitious vision to reduce these forms of violence. A key objective articulated within these strategies has been the aspiration to halve the prevalence of VAWG, alongside improving support for survivors and bringing more perpetrators to justice.
While the government has introduced significant legislation, such as the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and allocated various funding pots, the pace and effectiveness of these measures are continually scrutinised by the VAWG sector. The Act itself introduced a statutory definition of domestic abuse, appointed a Domestic Abuse Commissioner, and placed duties on local authorities to provide safe accommodation for survivors. However, the implementation of these duties and the adequacy of the associated funding remain critical points of contention.
Organisations like Women’s Aid argue that the legislative framework, while welcome, is only as effective as the resources allocated to make it work on the ground. The chronic underfunding of services, as highlighted by Nazeer, directly undermines the government’s own commitments. There is a palpable disconnect between the aspirational targets outlined in strategy documents and the grim reality of services struggling to meet basic demand. The call to "echo Jess Phillips’ call for more urgent action" implies a recognition that current efforts are insufficient and that VAWG risks "slipping down the political agenda" in the face of competing priorities. This poses a significant challenge to the government, requiring it to demonstrate tangible progress towards its stated goals and to ensure that rhetorical commitments are matched by robust, long-term investment.
A Historical Perspective: Milestones in VAWG Advocacy
The struggle against violence against women and girls has a long and complex history in the UK, marked by significant milestones driven by grassroots activism and dedicated campaigners. The first women’s refuges emerged in the early 1970s, pioneering a movement that sought to provide safety and support to women fleeing domestic violence at a time when such issues were largely hidden and unacknowledged. The Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976 was a foundational piece of legislation, granting civil remedies to victims of domestic violence.
Subsequent decades saw incremental but vital progress. The 1990s brought increased awareness and the formalisation of multi-agency approaches to domestic abuse. The millennium ushered in a period of more comprehensive legislative reform, including the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004, which made common assault an arrestable offence in domestic settings and created the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult.
The 2010s saw a renewed focus, with the introduction of the first VAWG Strategy in 2011. This period also witnessed the rise of prominent parliamentary advocates like Jess Phillips, whose personal experiences and unwavering commitment helped to keep VAWG at the forefront of political discourse. The most recent landmark, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, represents the culmination of years of advocacy, aiming to provide enhanced protections and a more coordinated response. However, as Women’s Aid’s statement indicates, legislative progress alone is not enough; the historical timeline reveals a consistent pattern where policy commitments must be consistently matched with adequate funding and robust implementation to effect real change on the ground. The ongoing challenge is to ensure that the momentum generated by decades of campaigning translates into a sustained, well-resourced effort that truly eradicates the "epidemic" of VAWG.
Sector Reactions and Government Response
The sentiments expressed by Farah Nazeer of Women’s Aid are widely echoed across the violence against women and girls sector. Organisations such as Refuge, SafeLives, Imkaan, and Rape Crisis England & Wales would invariably concur with the urgency of addressing chronic underfunding and the critical need for sustainable, long-term investment in specialist support services. These charities frequently publish reports and campaign on the devastating impact of funding cuts and the increasing demand for their services. The departure of a vocal advocate like Jess Phillips from a direct parliamentary role is likely to be viewed with a degree of apprehension by these organisations, who rely on strong champions within Westminster to keep VAWG high on the political agenda.
A collective call for government accountability and a renewed commitment to the VAWG strategy would be a common theme. Many would point to the need for a cross-governmental approach, ensuring that housing, health, education, and justice systems are all adequately equipped and coordinated to respond effectively to VAWG.
In response to such calls, a typical government statement from a relevant department, such as the Home Office or the Ministry of Justice, would likely reiterate its unwavering commitment to tackling VAWG. Such a statement might highlight:
- The significant investment already made in tackling VAWG, often citing millions of pounds allocated to support services and prevention initiatives.
- The success of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and other legislative measures in strengthening protections for victims.
- Ongoing efforts to improve the criminal justice response, including increased prosecution rates and better support for victims navigating the legal system.
- Prevention initiatives aimed at challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours.
- The government’s determination to work collaboratively with the VAWG sector to achieve its strategic goals.
While acknowledging the vital work of charities, such a response might not directly address the "two-thirds" statistic or specific calls for increased funding, instead focusing on the broader framework of support and policy. The challenge for the government remains in demonstrating that its commitments translate into tangible improvements in service provision and a measurable reduction in the prevalence of VAWG.
The Path Forward: Sustained Action and Systemic Change
Jess Phillips’ departure from Parliament, coupled with Women’s Aid’s stark warning, underscores the urgent need for a renewed and intensified focus on eradicating violence against women and girls. The path forward requires not only a sustained financial commitment but also a systemic shift in how society and institutions address this pervasive issue.
Firstly, long-term, sustainable funding for specialist VAWG services is paramount. This means moving away from precarious, short-term grants towards multi-year funding settlements that allow organisations to plan, grow, and innovate. This funding must be ring-fenced and distributed equitably, ensuring that specialist services for diverse communities, including Black and minoritised women, disabled women, and LGBTQ+ individuals, receive adequate support tailored to their unique needs.
Secondly, robust implementation of existing legislation, particularly the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, is critical. This includes ensuring that local authorities fulfil their statutory duties to provide safe accommodation and support, and that the Domestic Abuse Commissioner is empowered with the resources and authority to drive accountability across the system.
Thirdly, a preventative approach is essential. This involves investing in education programmes that challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote healthy relationships from an early age. Public awareness campaigns must continue to destigmatise domestic abuse, encourage reporting, and foster a culture of intolerance towards all forms of VAWG.
Finally, a truly effective response requires a whole-system approach. This means better coordination and collaboration between the police, health services, social care, housing providers, and the justice system. Training for frontline professionals needs to be enhanced to ensure they can identify abuse, respond appropriately, and refer survivors to specialist support. The criminal justice system must improve its response to VAWG, ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice and that victims feel safe and supported throughout the process.
The "epidemic" of VAWG demands a response that is commensurate with its scale and severity. As Farah Nazeer and Jess Phillips have consistently highlighted, too many lives are at risk for this issue to recede from the political agenda. The legacy of advocates like Phillips, combined with the tireless work of organisations like Women’s Aid, must serve as a constant impetus for government and society to commit fully to the eradication of violence against women and girls, ensuring safety, justice, and support for every survivor.
