In the UK, 1 in 4 women experience domestic abuse. Despite this, the current approach to tackling domestic abuse and VAWG remains disjointed and inadequate.
Survivors of domestic abuse continue to experience barriers to accessing support and
justice from all areas of the system, including but not limited to, the criminal and civil
justice system, housing, education and health. Meanwhile, the demand for specialised services to aid survivors continues to escalate within an uncertain funding landscape.
We are asking for political parties to:
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1. Improve the system for survivors of domestic abuse
It is essential that survivors of domestic abuse have access to the legal, civil and economic support they need to enable them to recover and rebuild their lives. But right now, many survivors of domestic abuse are unable to access that support.
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2. Invest in specialist domestic abuse services
Domestic abuse services are a lifeline for survivors, providing holistic, specialist support on both a short- and long-term basis. However, insufficient and short-term contracts, gaps in funding for specialist support, and recruitment and retention challenges exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis mean that service provision is inconsistent across the country.
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3. Make the country safer for women and girls
A woman’s right to live safely and free from violence is a fundamental human right. However, this has been threatened by violence and abuse towards women perpetrated by police officers and the rise of misogyny, both online and amongst young people.
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Your vote matters, but your safety does too.
Refuge believes it’s crucial for survivors of domestic abuse to have a voice in the country’s governance just like everyone else. Survivors have the right to vote for representatives they believe will best serve their interests. However, registering to vote safely can be challenging for survivors who need to maintain anonymity and protect confidential information.
To address this, we’ve developed a guide to emphasise the importance of keeping voting information private, outline your rights, and provide easy steps to safeguard your identity while registering to vote.
Four questions to ask your local candidate this election
You can help calling on all candidates to commit to prioritising tackling domestic abuse by speaking to your local candidates if they door-knock or by attending a hustings or local debate and raising the issue of domestic abuse.
VAWG sector’s manifesto calls on political parties to end violence against women and girls for good
Before the upcoming general election, the End Violence Against Women Coalition and 70 other prominent organisations dedicated to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) have released a joint manifesto. The manifesto urges all political parties to adopt its recommendations to combat this abuse.
Joint VAWG Sector General Election Manifesto
Ahead of the next general election, a coalition of over 70 leading organisations working to end violence against women and girls (VAWG) have signed this joint manifesto calling on all political parties to adopt its priorities for ending this abuse. The manifesto sets out our priorities for the next government, calling for a comprehensive, whole-society approach to tackling VAWG that looks beyond the criminal justice system and centres those who face the greatest barriers to support and protection.
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