Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation, has shared five key measures of success for the Government’s upcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy.
Originally expected in Spring 2025, the long-awaited strategy will set out how the Government intends to deliver on its manifesto commitment to halve VAWG within the next decade.
The strategy’s impact will depend on robust implementation and sustainable funding for survivor support services. To assess whether the strategy will achieve meaningful change, Refuge will be evaluating it against five key areas:
Sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse services
To ensure every survivor can access lifesaving support, the Government must commit £502 million per year in sustainable funding for specialist domestic abuse services ¹.
New YouGov data commissioned by Refuge last month revealed that only one in six UK adults (16%) believe current Government spending is sufficient to meet its own target of halving VAWG. Nearly half of respondents (49%) said the Government is underinvesting, while 35% said they are unsure ².
Despite immense demand, specialist services have faced years of severe underfunding, leaving many at breaking point. Without increased funding, survivors will not be able to access the vital support they need, leaving them at serious risk.
Stronger prevention and regulation of technology-facilitated abuse
Referrals to Refuge’s Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment Team rose by 62% in the first nine months of 2025 compared with the same period last year. By the end of September, the team had already received more referrals than in the whole of 2024.
To counter the growing threat of tech-facilitated abuse, the Government must establish a coordinated national response, including enhanced online safety regulation and improved education for children and young people. Following the recent publication of Ofcom’s VAWG guidance, Refuge is also urging for this to be upgraded to a legally enforceable Code of Practice.
Effective police accountability and culture change
To rebuild women’s confidence in policing, Refuge has long called for all police officers and staff accused of VAWG to be suspended pending investigation, and for officers to undergo regular re-vetting. However, these critical measures have yet to be introduced.
The Government must fully implement its commitments to immediately suspend any police officer accused of VAWG, while also strengthening vetting and misconduct procedures and ensuring all officers receive mandatory, high-quality training to improve police responses to VAWG ³.
Protection and safety for migrant survivors
Migrant survivors face heightened risks of abuse, exploitation and coercion. The Government must introduce a clear firewall between police and immigration enforcement, ensuring survivors can report abuse and access support without fear of detention or deportation.
In addition, existing safety and protection schemes must be expanded to include all migrant survivors, regardless of their visa or immigration status.
Cross-Government leadership, accountability and evaluation
For the VAWG strategy to be truly effective, every Government department must play an active, coordinated role in tackling VAWG, supported by adequate funding.
Crucially, a transparent accountability framework is needed to track progress, measure outcomes, and ensure each department delivers on its responsibilities. Without a cross-Government approach, the strategy cannot achieve its goal of driving long-term, systemic change.
Ahead of the publication of the Government’s VAWG Strategy, Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: “Amid the epidemic of VAWG, survivors have been waiting far too long for meaningful action. The VAWG Strategy is not only long overdue – it is a defining test of this Government’s legacy in creating lasting change for women.
“At a time when specialist support services are facing immense demand, Refuge has been waiting with bated breath to see how the Government intends to honour its pledge to halve VAWG within the decade. After nearly 18 months of anticipation – and with services stretched to breaking point – the strategy will reveal whether the Government is prepared to deliver on what services and survivors have been calling for: a society where women and girls can live free from fear.
“We keenly await the publication of the VAWG Strategy and hope it will mark a genuine turning point for survivors. Tackling VAWG demands bold action, and the Government must seize this moment. Women and girls’ futures depend on it.”
