Key Takeaways:
- The UK government has defined violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a "national emergency" and aims to halve it within a decade.
- The definition of VAWG includes crimes such as domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence, and online and technology-facilitated abuse.
- Almost two in five victims of VAWG are adult men, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach to addressing the issue.
- The government’s strategy includes educational and preventative measures, as well as funding for victims, but critics argue that the plans lack ambition and investment.
- The strategy also includes a crackdown on online tools and AI, as well as training for teachers to spot early signs of misogyny in boys.
Introduction to the Issue
The UK government has defined violence against women and girls (VAWG) as a "national emergency" and has pledged to halve it within a decade. As part of this effort, the Home Office has been working with the Office for National Statistics to define a new measure of VAWG. The definition includes a range of crimes, including domestic abuse, stalking, sexual violence, and online and technology-facilitated abuse. According to government figures, the majority of VAWG crimes involve either sexual abuse, domestic abuse, or stalking, with 5.1 million victims in the year ending March 2025.
The Inclusion of Male Victims
Interestingly, almost two in five victims of VAWG are adult men, highlighting the need for a more inclusive approach to addressing the issue. The Police Foundation has described this as "counter-intuitive," but acknowledges that it would have been controversial to announce a policy that ignored male survivors of sexual crimes. Niki Scordi, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Woman’s Trust, notes that many women’s charities also support male victims of these sorts of crimes, and that efforts to educate and prevent abuse will help victims of all genders.
The Government’s Strategy
The government’s strategy includes a range of educational and preventative measures aimed at supporting men and boys, as well as funding for victims. The strategy also includes a crackdown on online tools and AI, as well as training for teachers to spot early signs of misogyny in boys. However, critics argue that the plans lack ambition and investment, and that it is unclear how the help for victims will be targeted. Domestic abuse charity Woman’s Trust has welcomed the approach, but notes that the plans as they stand "lack both ambition and investment."
The Data on VAWG
The data on VAWG is complex and multifaceted. The Crime Survey of England and Wales (CSEW) suggests that the number of sexual assault victims has remained relatively stable over the last twenty years, with 2.36% of people aged 16 or over experiencing sexual assault in 2024/25. The most common sexual assault experience was unwanted sexual touching, experienced by 3.6% of women and 0.6% of men aged 16 or over. The most serious offence of rape or attempted rape was experienced by 0.4% of women and 0.1% of men last year.
Criticisms of the Strategy
One significant criticism of the strategy is the fact that under-16s are not included in the CSEW, meaning that it is not possible to measure the government’s efforts to protect "girls." The Police Foundation has argued that excluding under-16s is a "glaring omission," and that it would not be impossible to start getting the data. Another criticism is the amount of money pledged to the various policies, with some arguing that the funding is insufficient or that it replaces existing projects. For example, £2m has been put towards a specialist police unit dedicated to investigating sexual violence, but this replaces a team that was closed down a few years ago.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the UK government’s strategy to address violence against women and girls is a complex and multifaceted issue. While the inclusion of male victims is a positive step, critics argue that the plans lack ambition and investment. The data on VAWG is complex and multifaceted, and there are significant criticisms of the strategy, including the exclusion of under-16s and the amount of funding pledged. Ultimately, addressing VAWG will require a comprehensive and inclusive approach that takes into account the experiences of all victims, regardless of gender or age.