On 18th December 2025, Government published the long-awaited policy paper/strategy on tackling violence against women and girls “Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy”.
The publication of the Government’s VAWG strategy had previously been delayed on three occasions this year. The strategy itself will come under increasing scrutiny in the coming weeks and months, initial responses from the ACDS, Bar Council, and Domestic Abuse Commissioner have supported the strategies focus on prevention. Some voices, however, have noted the limited extent of ‘hard’ commitments within the strategy and have questioned whether sufficient resources will be made available.
On behalf of the Government, it is said:
The next generation of girls will be better protected from violence and young boys steered away from harmful misogynistic influences, under sweeping new measures announced by the Prime Minister.
The plans unveiled today will focus on prevention and tackling the root causes of abuse, and come as the latest stats show that nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships are a victim of relationship abuse and over 40% of young men hold a positive view of Andrew Tate.
Under the £20 million package, teachers and families will be empowered to address these harmful attitudes and behaviours head on, with young people taught to identify positive role models and challenge unhealthy myths about women and relationships.
This is just one part of the government’s strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, deploying the full power of the state in the largest crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history.
Teachers will get specialist training on how to talk to pupils about issues like consent and the dangers of sharing intimate images, with experts brought in to pilot new approaches. This will be backed by pioneering research identifying the most effective way of teaching young people these crucial lessons.
Building on changes already announced to arm children against disinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories on social media, all secondary schools in England will be required to have a strong offer to educate students about healthy and respectful relationships, with every child getting access to this by the end of this Parliament.
Tackling the most worrying attitudes as early as possible, schools will also send high-risk individuals to get the extra care and support they need, focused on challenging deep-rooted misogynist influences. We will move quickly to deliver what works – a specific pot of money will be used to look specifically at how to prevent the most harmful sexual behaviours. A new helpline will be launched to help young people concerned about their behaviours to get the help they need.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged. This government is stepping in sooner – backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear – to stop harm before it starts.
This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:
“For too long the scale of violence against women and girls has been treated as a fact of life in our country.
I am determined our groundbreaking strategy will prevent women and girls from actually being harmed in the first place.
But a strategy is just words. And we know words are not enough. What matters is action.
Put together, from today, we will deploy the full power of the state to introduce the largest crackdown to stop violence perpetrated against women and girls in British history.”
To read more click here.
Access the full policy paper here.
Original reporting by Family Law Week