Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy - 8 Can’t Wait
Specialist Support Urgently Needed for Women in Prison Who have Experienced Violence Against Women
Eight out of 10 women that Women in Prison work with have experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse. Imprisonment, based on control and disempowerment, re-victimises and re-traumatises women. The government has recognised that supporting women who have experienced gender-based violence is a route away from crime in their reducing reoffending pathway 8.
On 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the government launched its first national strategy to end violence against women and girls. Whilst we welcome this strategy and its cross governmental nature we are deeply disappointed that the strategy does not provide stronger guarantees of support for women with complex needs, including women in the criminal justice system. The most marginalised women are overlooked in this strategy, perpetuating their invisibility to policy makers and commissioners.
The strategy recognises that high numbers of women in prison have experienced gender-based violence but does not outline how their specific needs will be met. The strategy fails to make the connection to Pathway 8, the existing policy to support women in prison who have experienced violence. Eight out of 10 of the women we work with cannot wait any longer for Pathway 8 to be implemented – they need coherent, coordinated support and they need it now.
All women have a right to live a life free from violence, all women have this right regardless of any criminal convictions. Women in Prison will continue to call for the full realisation of this right by demanding that women receive support in custody, in prison, on release and in the community.
The national strategy can be downloaded here
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