The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mrs Theresa May)
On Saturday 8 March, to coincide with international women’s day, the Government are publishing an updated violence against women and girls action plan. A copy will be placed in the House Library.
Last year around 1.2 million women suffered domestic abuse and around 330,000 were sexually assaulted. This is wholly unacceptable. We are determined, not just to reduce, but to end violence against women and girls.
In November 2010, we set out our strategy to end violence against women and girls. Our key themes of prevention, provision of good-quality services, improved partnership working, better justice outcomes and risk reduction remain as relevant today as when we first agreed our approach.
This third revision of the action plan updates the efforts underpinning that strategy, and sets out significant progress since the last report was published a year ago. We are also aware of emerging issues and new challenges and the updated plan includes a renewed focus on early intervention, supporting effective local approaches, driving a culture change and measuring outcomes.
We are proud of the progress this Government have made in protecting the lives of women and girls, but there is still much more to do. This action plan confirms our ongoing commitment to stop the violence and abuse which blights the lives of too many women and girls.