The Guardian view on reducing violence against women: ministers must follow through on a bold promise | Editorial

"While many forms of crime have decreased over the past decade, sexual assault has not. In the year to March 2025, 1.9% of people in England and Wales experienced it, and 82% of victims were female. The prevalence of image-related offences has risen sharply. So has concern about the impact on young men of violent pornography and influencers. Given this grim backdrop, and the fiscal constraints under which the government has chosen to operate, it is no wonder that the promised VAWG strategy was delayed."

"This is a societal issue that does not sit neatly in one government department. Jess Phillips is the minister responsible at the Home Office. But education and justice reforms are also essential if aims are to be met. The hope is that this can be a successful example of cross-government working. The risk is that a complicated range of issues are bundled together in such a way that no one has ownership and can be held to account."

"Prevention is prominent in the strategy, with plans for new healthy relationships content in the schools curriculum and a referral pathway for boys with attitudes that are deemed harmful. Next year, a national summit on challenges facing men and boys is planned. Such initiatives could be worthwhile if they are well executed and are followed through. The sexualised aggression faced by female pupils and teachers is appalling, and Ofcom also has a role in ensuring that online harms are reduced."

Labour pledged to halve violence against women and girls in ten years but the VAWG strategy was delayed amid fiscal constraints. Sexual assault prevalence has not fallen; 1.9% of people in England and Wales experienced it in the year to March 2025 and 82% of victims were female. Image-related offences have risen, alongside concerns about violent pornography and influencers affecting young men. Responsibility spans multiple departments with Jess Phillips at the Home Office and justice and education reforms needed. The strategy emphasises prevention through school curriculum changes, referral pathways for boys, a planned summit, and continued focus on policing and prosecution. One prerequisite before launch was appointing a chair for the national inquiry into grooming gangs.

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