In a significant move to combat violence against women and girls, the UK government has introduced a series of new measures, including a ban on harmful AI apps and efforts to prevent children from sharing explicit images. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips presented the long-awaited strategy, labeling it as a transformative shift in culture and the most extensive crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history.
The government has allocated £1 billion to support victims, with a focus on enhancing survivor assistance, addressing misogyny in educational settings, and empowering law enforcement and judicial systems to tackle offenders effectively. Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive societal approach to ensure the safety of women and girls, the strategy urges the public and various services to challenge harmful behaviors and attitudes.
The strategy aims to halve cases of violence against women and girls within a decade, with a particular focus on supporting survivors, enhancing education on consent and online safety in schools, and providing specialized assistance to young individuals. Notably, new laws will prohibit the use of ‘nudification’ tools that generate fake nude imagery without consent, especially targeting children.
Moreover, the government plans to bolster NHS support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse, investing up to £50 million in specialized services for child sex abuse victims. The strategy also includes the establishment of a nationwide referral service for women and girls affected by violence and enhanced training for healthcare professionals to identify signs of abuse.
Furthermore, the strategy outlines measures to improve the justice system, including the introduction of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) and strengthened Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs). Additionally, new legislation will criminalize online child sexual abuse facilitators and address the normalization of harmful content in pornography.
The comprehensive approach aims to create a safer environment for women and girls, with a commitment to providing robust support, ensuring accountability for offenders, and empowering victims to seek justice. Through coordinated efforts and legislative reforms, the government seeks to significantly reduce incidents of violence against women and girls and protect vulnerable individuals from harm.