Our response to government measures announced after the murder of Sarah Everard

Responding to government measures announced after the murder of Sarah Everard, chief executive at Women’s Aid, Farah Nazeer, said

“Violence against women and girls is a crisis of global proportions. The pandemic has shone a light on the fact that women are not safe at home, and – as the shocking murder of Sarah Everard has shown us – they are not safe in public either. Male violence against women is driven by sexism and women’s inequality in society.

From women experiencing coercive control in their relationships, to girls being sexually harassed in schools and on the street, to experiences of rape, forced marriage and so-called honour-based abuse, these crimes are driven by men’s power and control over women. Increasing street lighting does nothing to tackle the deep-seated attitudes that drive these forms of violence and abuse.

In addition, the wider discussions around the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill 2021 are focused on narrow criminal justice reforms which ignore the fact that only one in five victims of domestic abuse ever report to the police, and domestic abuse survivors need action on a far wider range of areas. We need systems change that puts prevention and early intervention first – so women get the help they need, when they need it, rather than waiting until they’ve experienced violence.

And, urgently, we need sustainable funding of specialist women’s services. The £165 million that the government has announced for domestic abuse support services in 2021-22 falls far short of the £393 million that Women’s Aid estimates is needed for domestic abuse alone. In addition, the government’s decision to separate domestic abuse from the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy will put women’s safety in reverse. It ignores the fact that women experience 91% of domestic violence crimes that cause injury, and men account for 92% of domestic abuse defendants. We need a joined-up, ambitious strategy that focuses on preventing all forms of male violence – including domestic abuse – and supporting all survivors.

Tinkering around the edges with street lights is an insult to women experiencing violence and abuse.”