Refuge responds to Online Safety Bill committee appointment

Ruth Davison Refuge CEO said:

“With online abuse becoming increasingly common, and voices from all sectors of society urging action, Refuge welcomes the appointment of this joint committee to scrutinise the draft Online Safety Bill. This is an important next step in ensuring we address the harm being caused to domestic abuse survivors, which is ever more commonly being perpetrated online. At Refuge we know that online platforms are commonly weaponised by perpetrators of domestic abuse and cases of tech abuse are ever present across our frontline services. The Online Safety Bill presents an opportunity to meaningfully address online violence against women and girls, and it is vital the Bill secures basic protections for survivors of tech abuse.

Refuge looks forward to working with the government and the committee to ensure that the Bill is as transformative for women and girls as it has the potential to be.”

ENDS

For more information contact press@refuge.org.uk.

About Refuge:

Refuge supports more than 7,000 women and children on any given day, and runs the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is the gateway to accessing specialist support across the country. More than one in four women in England and Wales experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime, and two women a week are killed by a current or former partner.

Please signpost to Refuge’s National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247, available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for free, confidential specialist support. Or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk to fill in a webform and request a safe time to be contacted or to access live chat (live chat available 3pm-10pm, Monday to Friday). For real time automated guidance on how to secure your personal devices Refuge also has a Tech Safety Tool.