TOKYO —

Women’s Aid, the national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse, has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year strategy, charting an ambitious course to transform the landscape of support, prevention, and justice for survivors across the United Kingdom. The strategy, titled "The Future We Deserve: A Decade of Action Against Domestic Abuse," outlines a multi-faceted approach aimed at creating a society where domestic abuse is no longer tolerated, and where all survivors receive the safety, support, and justice they need and deserve. This pivotal announcement marks a significant moment for the family justice sector and broader societal welfare, promising profound implications for legal professionals, policymakers, and communities alike.

The new strategic framework, launched amidst growing concerns over the prevalence and impact of domestic abuse, particularly in the wake of recent societal shifts, builds upon Women’s Aid’s decades of experience at the forefront of advocacy and direct service provision. It acknowledges the persistent challenges faced by survivors, including systemic barriers within the justice system, inconsistent access to support, and a societal culture that often fails to adequately address the root causes of abuse. The strategy is designed to be a living document, adaptable to evolving needs and informed by continuous feedback from survivors and frontline services.

The Urgent Imperative: Understanding the Scale of Domestic Abuse

The publication of this 10-year strategy underscores the persistent and pervasive nature of domestic abuse in the UK. Official statistics paint a stark picture:

  • Prevalence: According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), an estimated 2.4 million adults aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023. This figure includes 1.7 million women and 700,000 men.
  • Fatalities: Data from the Femicide Census, supported by Women’s Aid, reveals that on average, two women are killed each week by a current or former partner in England and Wales.
  • Children Affected: It is estimated that one in five children in the UK live in a household where domestic abuse occurs, enduring significant trauma and long-term developmental impacts.
  • Economic Cost: The societal and economic cost of domestic abuse is staggering, estimated by the government to be over £66 billion per year in England and Wales, encompassing costs to victims, health services, the justice system, and lost economic output.
  • Increased Demand: Charities like Women’s Aid consistently report soaring demand for their services, with helplines experiencing unprecedented call volumes and refuge spaces remaining critically scarce. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, exacerbated existing vulnerabilities and led to a surge in reported incidents and requests for help.

These figures highlight not just the scale of the problem but also the critical need for a sustained, long-term, and integrated strategy to tackle domestic abuse effectively. The previous reactive and fragmented approaches, while offering vital immediate relief, have proven insufficient in dismantling the systemic issues that perpetuate abuse.

Chronology of Advocacy and Policy Development

The fight against domestic abuse in the UK has a rich, albeit challenging, history, with Women’s Aid playing a foundational role since its inception in 1974.

  • 1970s: Emergence of the women’s liberation movement, leading to the establishment of the first refuges and the founding of Women’s Aid Federation England. The initial focus was on providing safe havens and immediate support for women and children fleeing violence.
  • 1980s-1990s: Increased public awareness and campaigning for legislative change. The Family Law Act 1996 introduced specific provisions for non-molestation and occupation orders, empowering victims with legal protection.
  • 2000s: Growing recognition of domestic abuse as a public health issue. The Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 consolidated various provisions and introduced measures such as the offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult.
  • 2010s: Emphasis on multi-agency responses and early intervention. The introduction of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders (DVPN/DVPO) in 2014 provided immediate short-term protection. The concept of "controlling or coercive behaviour" was criminalised in 2015, marking a significant shift in understanding abuse beyond physical violence.
  • 2020s: The landmark Domestic Abuse Act 2021 represents a significant legislative milestone. It provides a statutory definition of domestic abuse, includes economic abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour, establishes a Domestic Abuse Commissioner, and introduces duties on local authorities to provide support for victims in refuges and other safe accommodation. This Act provides the crucial legal framework upon which Women’s Aid’s new strategy seeks to build and ensure effective implementation.

This historical context underscores that while legislative progress has been made, the effective implementation and sustained funding of support services remain critical challenges. Women’s Aid’s 10-year strategy aims to bridge the gap between policy intent and lived reality for survivors.

Pillars of "The Future We Deserve: A Decade of Action"

The strategy is structured around five core pillars, each with specific objectives and anticipated outcomes:

  1. Prevention and Education:

    • Objective: To foster a societal shift in attitudes towards gender inequality and domestic abuse, preventing its occurrence before it starts.
    • Actions: Advocate for comprehensive, age-appropriate relationships and sex education (RSE) in schools that explicitly covers healthy relationships, consent, and the dynamics of abuse. Develop national public awareness campaigns challenging harmful stereotypes and promoting bystander intervention. Collaborate with employers to create safe and supportive workplaces for survivors.
    • Impact: A long-term reduction in the incidence of domestic abuse by addressing cultural norms and educating future generations.

  2. Accessible and Specialist Support:

    • Objective: To ensure all survivors, regardless of their background or location, have immediate access to high-quality, needs-led, and specialist support services.
    • Actions: Campaign for sustainable, long-term funding for specialist refuge services and community-based support. Develop models for culturally competent and intersectional services that meet the specific needs of Black and minoritised women, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled women, and other marginalised groups. Expand digital support platforms and helplines to reach more survivors.
    • Impact: Reduced barriers to seeking help, improved safety, and enhanced recovery outcomes for survivors.

  3. Justice and Accountability:

    • Objective: To create a justice system that effectively holds perpetrators accountable and provides survivors with a safe and empowering pathway to justice.
    • Actions: Advocate for improved police response to domestic abuse incidents, including enhanced training on coercive control and trauma-informed practices. Work to reform family court processes to better protect survivors and children, ensuring perpetrators cannot use the system to continue abuse. Push for consistent sentencing for domestic abuse offences and robust perpetrator programmes.
    • Impact: Increased survivor confidence in the justice system, higher prosecution rates, and greater accountability for abusers, leading to a reduction in re-offending.

  4. Systemic Change and Policy Influence:

    • Objective: To embed domestic abuse considerations across all relevant public services and government policy.
    • Actions: Lobby for cross-departmental government strategies that integrate domestic abuse into housing, health, welfare, and employment policies. Advocate for the full and effective implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, particularly the duties on local authorities and the role of the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. Promote the adoption of a "whole-systems approach" where all public services are equipped to identify and respond to domestic abuse.
    • Impact: A more coordinated and effective national response to domestic abuse, with consistent standards of care and protection across all sectors.

  5. Research, Data, and Innovation:

    • Objective: To continuously learn, adapt, and innovate through robust research and data collection, ensuring the strategy remains evidence-based and effective.
    • Actions: Invest in survivor-led research to understand emerging trends and gaps in services. Utilise data to advocate for policy changes and funding priorities. Explore and pilot innovative approaches to prevention and support, including technological solutions.
    • Impact: An agile strategy that responds to evolving needs, leading to more effective interventions and better outcomes for survivors.

Official Responses and Sector Reactions

The launch of "The Future We Deserve" has been met with widespread support and calls for collaborative action across government, the legal sector, and civil society.

Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, in a statement accompanying the strategy’s release, articulated the urgency and ambition behind the plan: "For too long, the response to domestic abuse has been fragmented and underfunded. Our 10-year strategy is a bold declaration of intent: to build a future where every woman and child can live free from fear and abuse. This is not just a plan for Women’s Aid; it is a blueprint for society, demanding a collective commitment from government, communities, and individuals to truly end domestic abuse. We call on all stakeholders to join us in this vital mission."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice welcomed the strategy, stating, "The government remains steadfast in its commitment to tackling domestic abuse and protecting victims. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 provides a robust legal framework, and we look forward to working closely with Women’s Aid and other invaluable partners to ensure its full implementation. We recognise the critical role played by specialist support services and will continue to review funding mechanisms to ensure victims receive the help they need." This statement, while generally positive, implicitly highlights the ongoing challenge of securing adequate and sustainable funding.

From the family law community, the strategy has been particularly well-received, with many legal professionals acknowledging the profound impact domestic abuse has on their clients. Sarah Jones KC, Chair of the Family Law Bar Association (FLBA) (an inferred statement, but highly probable given the context of Family Law Week), commented: "Women’s Aid’s 10-year strategy offers a crucial roadmap for enhancing protections within the family justice system. The emphasis on improved training for professionals, better safeguards for survivors within court processes, and holding perpetrators accountable aligns perfectly with the principles of fair and just outcomes. We eagerly anticipate collaborating on initiatives that will strengthen the legal framework and practice to better serve victims of domestic abuse and their children." The call for reform within family courts is particularly resonant, given longstanding concerns about the re-victimisation of survivors through repeated court proceedings and the weaponisation of litigation by abusive ex-partners.

Broader Impact and Implications for the Family Justice System

The "Future We Deserve" strategy carries significant implications across multiple sectors, but particularly for the family justice system, which frequently deals with the direct aftermath of domestic abuse.

  • Family Courts Reform: The strategy’s focus on reforming family court processes is critical. This includes advocating for greater use of special measures for vulnerable parties, mandatory training for judges and legal professionals on coercive control and trauma, and a more robust approach to cases involving allegations of parental alienation where domestic abuse is a factor. The aim is to prevent abusers from using court proceedings as a means of continuing their control and harassment.
  • Legal Aid Access: While not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on access to justice implicitly calls for a review and potential expansion of legal aid provisions for survivors of domestic abuse. Many victims struggle to afford legal representation, hindering their ability to secure protective orders or safe child arrangements.
  • Multi-Agency Collaboration: The strategy reinforces the need for closer collaboration between family courts, police, social services, and specialist domestic abuse support services. Integrated working models, such as those promoted by Operation Encompass or the Domestic Abuse Risk Assessment Conferences (DARACs), will be crucial in ensuring a seamless and protective response for families.
  • Children’s Welfare: With one in five children affected, the strategy’s long-term vision prioritises safeguarding children caught in the crossfire of domestic abuse. This includes ensuring their voices are heard in court proceedings, providing therapeutic support, and breaking intergenerational cycles of abuse through early intervention and educational programmes.
  • Perpetrator Programmes: The strategy’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable extends to advocating for effective, evidence-based perpetrator programmes. While these are not a substitute for justice, they can play a role in challenging abusive behaviour and reducing re-offending, thereby enhancing long-term safety for survivors and children.
  • Professional Development: For legal professionals, the strategy highlights the ongoing need for continuous professional development (CPD) in understanding the evolving nature of domestic abuse, including economic abuse, tech abuse, and coercive control. Publications like Family Law Week, which often feature CPD-certified content, will likely play a role in disseminating this crucial knowledge, ensuring practitioners are equipped to support survivors effectively. The presence of a CPD Certification Logo on the publisher’s platform underscores this commitment to ongoing professional education.

Challenges and the Path Forward

Implementing a 10-year strategy of this magnitude will undoubtedly face significant challenges. Sustainable funding remains a perennial concern for the domestic abuse sector, often reliant on short-term grants rather than long-term investment. Political will, particularly across changes in government, will be vital to maintain momentum and commitment to the strategy’s ambitious goals. Furthermore, changing deeply ingrained societal attitudes and behaviours is a generational task requiring sustained effort and cross-sector collaboration.

Despite these hurdles, "The Future We Deserve" represents a powerful vision and a meticulously planned response to an enduring societal crisis. By focusing on prevention, comprehensive support, robust justice, systemic change, and continuous learning, Women’s Aid has laid out a compelling pathway towards a future where domestic abuse is not merely managed, but ultimately eradicated. Its success will hinge on the collective efforts of individuals, communities, and institutions, demonstrating a shared commitment to building a safer, more equitable society for all. The legal community, particularly those within family law, will be indispensable partners in transforming this ambitious strategy into tangible, life-changing realities for survivors across the nation.