Labour's strategy to protect women and girls 'seriously underfunded'

A landmark strategy to protect women and girls from violence and abuse “falls seriously short” of the funding required to realise the government’s ambitions, campaigners have said.

- Alexandra Topping

The government's plan to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG) was hailed as a “milestone” by women’s organisations.

It will focus on prevention and tackling harmful behaviours in boys by teaching pupils about healthy relationships and pornography and equipping teachers with the skills to intervene if they witness disturbing or worrying behaviour.

Presenting the strategy in the Commons yesterday, Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, who has played a key role in the policies, said it was backed by £1bn of funding and was “more than a document”.

“It is a call from a government that recognises this as a national emergency, a government that is willing to back up its words with action,” she said.

“Ending violence against women and girls is the work of us all ... It will take all of society to step up and end the epidemic of abuse and violence that shames our country.”