The Government’s strategy for tacking violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a ‘missed opportunity to act boldly, a charity supporting victims of domestic violence argues.

The Government published the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy last month.

The aim of the strategy is to increase support for victims and survivors, increase the number of perpetrators brought to justice and reduce the prevalence of violence against women and girls in the long term.

The charity Refuge welcomed the launch of the strategy, but criticised it for what they called its ‘minimal funding commitments and some glaring omissions.’

Refuge’s director of communications and external relations, Lisa King, criticised the Government’s decision to keep the VAWG strategy and the Domestic Abuse Strategy separate.

‘This separation could spell disaster for ensuring a cohesive response to domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls, leading to a piece-meal approach, with reduced impact,’ she wrote on the charity’s website.

Citing research by Women’s Aid, Ms King said that the VAWG strategy required £393m to be effective. She described the current strategy as a ‘sticking plaster approach’.

She also called for wholesale reform of the criminal justice system.

‘We are disappointed with the missed opportunities in the VAWG strategy, and urge the government to demonstrate its commitment to ending violence against women and girls in forthcoming legislation,’ Ms King said.

‘The Online Safety Bill, the Domestic Abuse strategy, the implementation of both the VAWG strategy and the Domestic Abuse Act should serve as real tests of intention.’