19 Dec 2025
On the last day of parliament for 2025, the Government published their long-awaited Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy.
Our initial thoughts are below, and we look forward to analysing in more depth in the New Year.
We are pleased to see a commitment in the VAWG Strategy to transforming the way public services interact with and respond to those facing multiple disadvantage, including an investment of £55.8 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in a new multiple disadvantage programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions.
We know that violence against women and girls often results in, and exacerbates, further unmet needs, due to trauma, exploitation and abuse. These needs then compound one another, creating cycles of harm that are difficult to break without specialised age, gender, trauma, and culturally responsive support for tackling these multiple unmet needs.
The response to women’s unmet needs can only be met through a joined up approach to their care. We look forward to seeing gender-specific commitments to tackle multiple disadvantage from across government departments to be illustrated in forthcoming strategies, including the Women’s Justice Board Strategy.
The commitments in this Strategy must reach far beyond London and serve women and girls’ experiences of VAWG across the UK by taking account of different types and accessibility of support in different areas of the country. Whilst it is positive to see a commitment for a call for evidence across a network of rural stakeholders to understand barriers, availability, and gaps in support, we are also keen to see commitments regarding how this will inform future combined authorities and their approaches to tackling VAWG across their region.
Our 2023 project in the North East, Transforming Services for Women’s Futures, highlights the need for a regional approach in the VAWG Strategy. The project sought to understand how public services could be redesigned post-pandemic to better support women and girls with multiple unmet needs. Our research found:
Without a focus on regionality, areas that don’t receive more support and funding will be left behind in providing support to women experience multiple unmet needs, including VAWG.
We are disappointed not to have seen stronger measures in the Strategy to tackle the criminalisation of women and girls who experience VAWG, including an understanding of the specific needs of young women in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS), and commitments to improve access to specialist VAWG support for women and girls in the CJS. Nearly 70% of women in prison have reported experiencing domestic abuse, showing a clear correlation between the experience and trauma of VAWG, and further unmet needs that result in women’s criminalisation.
Along with sector colleagues, we attended a roundtable discussion with the Home Office as part of their development of the VAWG Strategy, which focused on the needs of criminalised women and girls who experience VAWG. We highlighted that women and girls continue to enter the criminal justice system for offences which are driven by a complicated combination of needs, often stemming from complex trauma, abuse, and disadvantage. We also mentioned that young women in contact with the CJS have distinct experiences of VAWG, that require age specific support. In combination with gender inequality, other forms of oppression including racism both drive and magnify these needs, with Black, Asian and minoritised women and girls facing harsher treatment across a number of systems, from education to healthcare to criminal justice.
The upcoming Women’s Justice Board Strategy and work of the Girls in Youth Justice Board must build on the VAWG Strategy, and include commitments for all women and girls who experience VAWG and are at risk of criminalisation, including specific recommendations considering race, age, and gender.
Indy Cross, Chief Executive of Agenda Alliance, responds:
'We are glad to see the long-awaited VAWG Strategy specifically reference the multiple unmet needs that women and girls experiencing violence and abuse face, through a commitment to a cross-government approach and significant investment into a new multiple disadvantage programme. We know that violence against women and girls is not - and has never been - a singular issue, and cannot be challenged without sustained investment into anti-poverty and homelessness initiatives, drug and alcohol support and treatment, and mental health services.
Whilst the strategy made reference to the criminalisation of women and girls who experience abuse, our fear is that its measures do not go far enough in recognising and responding to the specific needs of women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system - the majority of whom are survivors of abuse. Further, we know that racially minoritised and migratised women are both overrepresented in the criminal justice system and at greater risk of violence and abuse. Any initiative to counter violence against women and girls must be underpinned by this.
In the implementation of this strategy, we must see clear alignment with the upcoming Women’s Justice Board Strategy, sustained and meaningful engagement with the voluntary sector providing services and support to women and girls at risk of criminalisation, a tailored approach for young women and girls, and collaboration with organisations led by-and-for racially minoritised women and girls.'
The Women’s Justice Reimagined partnership calls on the Women’s Justice Board to address deep disparities within the criminal justice system for Black, Asian, racially minoritised and migrant women.
The Transforming Together Network has published a report offering a model for locally led and collaborative systems chance for women experiencing multiple unmet needs.
We respond to Susannah Hancock's independent review into the placement and care of girls in custody.
