Each year more women suffer rape or attempted rape than have a stroke, and the level of domestic abuse in the population exceeds that of diabetes by many times. Violence against women and children can take many forms including:
• domestic violence
• rape and sexual violence
• sexual harassment
• female genital mutilation (FGM)
• forced marriage
• crimes in the name of honour
• human trafficking
• sexual exploitation
• child sexual abuse
People may be victims of more than one of these forms as they don’t always take place in isolation. Abuse may be current or it may have happened many years ago.
The Coalition Government is determined to prevent violence against women and children happening or recurring, to protect and support its victims; and to bring offenders to justice.
This report sets out the findings of research carried out as part of the Victims of Violence & Abuse Prevention Programme. The Delphi Consultation Reports seek to identify areas of consensus among experts on the effectiveness of treatment and care of people affected by child sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault.
"The coalition government has launched a strategic vision outlining how they plan to tackle violence against women and girls through: prevening violence from happening by challenging the attitudes and behaviours which foster it and intervening early where possible to prevent it; providing adequate support where violence does occur; working in partnership to obtain the best outcome for victims and their families; taking action to reduce the risk to women and girls who are victims of these crimes and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
The document sets out how the Department of Health in partnership with others will take action in response to the report of the independent Taskforce on the Health Aspects of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is reviewing how the guidance for dealing with forced marriage is being implemented. To take part, please complete their questionnaire
Taskforce on health aspects of violence against women and children – final report published
