“No woman or girl should ever feel unsafe," says Dudley MP, at launch of government plan to cut violence and abuse
New telephone helplines aimed at young people concerned about their own behaviour will form part of a new government strategy halve violence against women and girls.
Dudley MP Sonia Kumar said violence against females had become a 'national emergency', and was glad the Government was tackling the problem.
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She said one in eight women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
The Government's 10-year plan also includes extra teaching on healthy relationships and consent in schools, as well as equipping families, teachers and communities to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours at an early stage.
Support programmes will also be targeted at young people displaying harmful behaviour, to prevent it escalating into serious harm.
Education, policing, social care and health services would be brought together to to ensure a co-ordinated response, Miss Kumar added.
"The strategy represents a bold and necessary commitment, recognising violence against women and girls as a national emergency requiring urgent and coordinated action," Miss Kumar said.
!Violence against women and girls is unacceptable, and for too long it has been treated as though it were inevitable.
“No woman or girl should ever feel unsafe walking down her street, at school, in the workplace, or at home. This strategy represents a significant shift towards prevention as well as protection/”
