New report shows still no integrated Government strategy on violence against women
November 22, 2006 4:24 PM
The End Violence Against Women campaign has marked the Government with a score of 2 out of 10 for tackling violence against women
Jo Swinson is keeping up pressure on the Government to introduce a strategy to tackle violence against women, as a new report published by the End Violence Against Women Campaign criticises Labour's failure to make significant progress on the issue.
Jo highlighted violence against women at Prime Minister's Questions in January this year, calling for an integrated strategy to deal with the problem. To mark the publication of the new report, she has again raised the issue, sending a letter to the Prime Minister urging the Government to reform its approach to tackling violence against women.
Jo said:
"The last report by the End Violence Against Women Campaign in November 2005 gave the Government a score of 1 out of 10 for its work to tackle violence against women. This year's report gives a score of 2 out of 10. I am extremely concerned that the Government is not taking this issue more seriously.
"When addressing my Parliamentary Question earlier this year, the Prime Minister referred only to domestic violence, clearly missing the point that this is only part of the issue.
"Other forms of violence against women, such as, sexual harassment, female genital mutilation, 'honour' crimes and trafficking into forced prostitution, fall under the remit of a range of Government departments, which is why an integrated strategy is needed to stop violence against women. The End Violence Against Women Campaign report highlights a vital lack of information sharing between Government departments.
"I have written to the Prime Minister today, repeating this point and urging him to act on this dismal assessment of his policies.
"The report notes that the Scottish Executive is broadening its National Strategy on Domestic Abuse to one covering all forms of violence against women. The Prime Minister would be mindful to follow the Scottish example if he wants to avoid coming bottom of the class next year."
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