The government has finally released its long-delayed Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy, a cornerstone of Labour's manifesto pledge to halve such violence within ten years. The publication follows three separate postponements and launches alongside a budget-style media campaign.
Minister Takes Responsibility for Delay
In the House of Commons on Monday, Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and VAWG, stated the repeated delays were her fault. She argued that earlier drafts lacked sufficient ambition. "I could have done it more quickly, and then it would not have been as good," Phillips told MPs, emphasising her drive for a robust final plan.
The strategy's rollout has been preceded by several announcements, including extra Home Office funding for abuse victims, specialist NHS support, and the introduction of dedicated rape and sexual offence teams in all police forces.
Core Focus on Prevention in Education
A key overnight briefing detailed plans to tackle misogynist behaviour in schools across England. This includes educating boys on the difference between pornography and real life. Minister Phillips highlighted this preventative aspect as critically important, telling Times Radio she was "sick of just trying to put nicer plasters onto ever growing scars."
She stressed that while other parts of the strategy deal with consequences, the school measures aim to stop problems at their root. The government is promoting the strategy throughout the week, with Phillips due to make a formal statement to MPs after 11.30am today.
Funding Concerns Threaten Strategy's Success
Despite the fanfare, immediate concerns have been raised about the plan's financial backbone. Claire Waxman, the incoming victims’ commissioner for England and Wales, welcomed many measures but issued a stark warning about potential underfunding.
She stated that "early indications around funding are deeply concerning," noting that initiatives in schools and the NHS will likely increase disclosures and referrals to already overstretched services. Waxman cautioned that without clear, sustainable investment, the strategy risks becoming "less than the sum of its parts"—a mere wish-list rather than a transformative framework.
Her statement underscored that victim services must form the backbone of the plan, not be treated as an optional extra. The success of the entire strategy, she concluded, hinges on adequately resourcing delivery partners.
The publication comes on a busy political day, which also includes Ministry of Justice figures on court backlogs, a Bank of England interest rate decision, and numerous written ministerial statements.
