The UK government’s long-awaited strategy to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) is nowhere to be seen, and it’s leaving advocates and survivors in the dark. This isn’t just a bureaucratic delay—it’s a matter of life and safety for countless women and girls. During a recent Liaison Committee session, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was pressed on the issue, but his response was as vague as it was concerning. Despite Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s weekend media tour teasing the strategy’s imminent release, Starmer couldn’t confirm when it would actually see the light of day. His promise of ‘very shortly in the future’ felt more like a journalist’s excuse for a missed deadline than a leader’s commitment to a critical issue.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While the government has pledged £53 million for perpetrator programs targeting high-risk offenders, there’s been no comparable financial commitment to support services for victims. Home Affairs Committee chair Karen Bradley bluntly pointed out this disparity, noting that three rape crisis centers have already closed due to funding uncertainty. ‘There’s a real disquiet in the sector that victims are being forgotten,’ she warned. Starmer insisted victims are ‘at the center’ of the strategy, but without concrete funding, those words ring hollow.
And this is the part most people miss: Behind the scenes, sources reveal that the sector is bracing for further cuts to vital services. One insider shared, ‘We’re deeply concerned that the government’s new strategy is sidelining us. Just as the strategy is supposedly due, we’re being told to expect more funding reductions. More services could be forced to close.’ This raises a troubling question: Is the government genuinely committed to protecting women and girls, or are they prioritizing cost-cutting over lives?
The delay and confusion aren’t just frustrating—they’re dangerous. Starmer’s personal commitment to this issue, dating back to his time as Director of Public Prosecutions, is commendable. But as Bradley implied, good intentions aren’t enough. The lack of a firm publication date, coupled with funding chaos, suggests a government out of touch with the urgency of the crisis. If Starmer truly believes this is a priority, he needs to prove it with action, not empty promises.
Here’s the bold question: Is the government’s VAWG strategy a genuine effort to protect women and girls, or is it a PR exercise that’s failing to address the root of the problem? Let’s discuss—what do you think? Are victims being forgotten in this strategy? And what should the government’s next steps be to regain trust and make a real impact?
