Agrees that perhaps one of the best examples of a cross-party approach is the support for the Istanbul convention.

Considers that not enough resources are being invested in shelters and refuges for women; mentions that domestic violence affects children's education.

Highlights the need for Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets to take responsibility for abuse regulation.

My hon. Friend is right. Having worked in the creative industries on some of the issues surrounding the prevention and addressing of abuse online, I experienced the complexity of reaching agreement. The more we work together with other Governments and lead on that, the more that will help us to move forward on the complex issue of policy and regulation.

The hon. Lady is making a very powerful speech on this incredibly important subject. She is right to mention local councils. Stafford Borough Council has worked with Staffordshire Women’s Aid to create a new women’s refuge in Stafford. Does the hon. Lady agree that this is a fine example of partnership working, which in this case is under the inspirational leadership of Dickie James?

A very powerful point is being made. The work of women’s refuges was mentioned, and I want to highlight the fact that the Government are providing £20 million for women’s refuges to help them with their valuable work.

Supporting those services absolutely has to be a priority for any Government so that we can ensure we provide support for women at their most vulnerable moments. I welcome the Government’s moves this week on the new measures to support victims of stalking. There was also the announcement of new funding and guidelines.

Maria Miller acknowledges the work of civil society organisations in combating gender-based violence and recognises the UK Government's record, particularly highlighting the Prime Minister's commitment. She discusses the Government’s strategy to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice through new offences and cultural change. She also mentions the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the funding boost for tackling violence against women in Africa. Furthermore, she emphasises the importance of compulsory sex and relationship education in schools.

Grady supports Maria Miller's call to action but specifically highlights the importance of ratifying the Istanbul convention to demonstrate global leadership. He also draws attention to the severe situation in South Sudan, where 70% of women in Juba have experienced sexual assault during the conflict.

Brake welcomes measures introduced by the Government regarding FGM but seeks evidence of an increased level of prosecutions based on NHS data collection. He questions Maria Miller about this aspect, and she acknowledges it in her response.

Shared a personal story of being raped at the age of 14, highlighting how common it is for survivors to feel shame and guilt. Emphasised that rape is not about sex but about power and control, and stressed the importance of women standing up for each other.

Expressed gratitude towards Michelle Thomson for her courageous speech and acknowledged its significant impact on all present in the debate.

It is an unbelievable thing to follow the hon. Member for Edinburgh West, who has just shared a horrific event from 37 years ago. As the mother of two daughters, I find it very hard to comprehend the impact of such an incident on a 14-year-old and the sense of shame and blame. This House is at its best when it speaks to the nation about violence against women. We are discussing rape being used as a weapon of war and violence happening on our streets. Sadly, we have to accept that women and children who live with gender-based inequality and daily threats of violence are robbed of basic life chances and opportunities. One third of women report experiencing physical or sexual violence. The law against coercive control is important but often not recognised by those affected. I welcome the Government’s work on a vital strategy to end violence against women, including £80 million of funding with £20 million for women’s refuges. Human trafficking is widely accepted as a form of violence directed against women; victims are often women sold a lie and forced into dangerous servitude. The Government are doing excellent work to increase the rate of detection and liberate modern slaves from their abusers. There are new stalking offences, with prosecutions rising dramatically. I thank my hon. Friend for his work on that terrible crime. The consultation responses show a lack of understanding of stalking among professionals and a continued failure to take it seriously. We must get proper prosecutions on FGM. The UK’s contribution to women’s rights organisations is critical to ensure an international and coordinated effort to deal with crimes against women.

My hon. Friend is so right about FGM. The issue has slightly gone off the burner in the last few months, and it must come back again. Does she agree that it is absolutely vital that we get proper prosecutions? Does she also agree on the importance of the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014, which is being implemented by the Government?

Shared personal story of surviving a violent assault by a stranger. Noted that while justice was served in her case, the aftermath left lasting psychological impacts. Discussed the economic impact on GDP due to violence against women, citing research by Nata Duvvury. Highlighted statistics on domestic violence and fatal male violence, emphasising the need for joined-up thinking, education, support for victims, and resources for organisations helping survivors.

Praised speeches regarding violence against women and girls. Addressed stalking as a form of violent crime, noting its devastating impact on careers and mental health. Mentioned the case of Dr Ellie Aston to illustrate the severe consequences for victims. Welcomed government actions such as recognising stalking as an offence and introducing stalker protection orders but called for more serious sentences in extreme cases.

Welcomed contributions from colleagues, emphasising that violence against women encompasses various forms including domestic violence, sexual violence, and trafficking. She called on the Government to follow UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's advice to break silence and act against gender-based violence. The 2030 agenda for sustainable development includes a target for ending violence against women but requires adequate funding. Crawley recognised local efforts such as those by her colleague Alison Thewliss on the rape clause campaign, and invited all Members to support ratifying the Istanbul convention which aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women.

Welcomed the activities of the Maryhill Women's Centre in his constituency during the 16 days of activism, highlighting the centre’s work supporting women affected by gender-based violence. He welcomed Crawley’s remarks about the importance of local initiatives and raising awareness.

Ms Phillips shared a harrowing account of a young girl's experience with sexual harassment at school, illustrating the need for preventive education. She also mentioned that experts in various fields unanimously agreed on the necessity of mandatory sex and relationship education to combat violence against women and girls.

Ms Debbonaire echoed Ms Phillips' sentiments, calling for high-quality perpetrator programmes alongside sex and relationships education. She also advocated for the ratification of the Istanbul convention to further address violence against women.

I am honoured to follow the powerful speech from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley and thank the Backbench Business Committee for granting a debate on violence against women and girls, once seen as taboo. The fact that we can now discuss this subject openly is progress. Violence against women and girls has devastating impacts not only on victims but also on their families, criminal justice system, health service, local authorities and police services. Avon and Somerset Police reports it as one of the fastest-growing categories of crime. Local charities like Taunton Women’s Aid and Stand Against Violence are doing excellent work in my constituency. The Government's £80 million violence against women and girls strategy since 2016 has been a step forward, including new stalking civil protection orders and legislation on coercive control. However, with 1.3 million women experiencing domestic abuse annually and 400,000 sexual assaults last year, there is still much work to be done.

I thank Seema Malhotra for bringing this debate. I commend the speeches of Michelle Thomson and Tracy Brabin for sharing personal experiences bravely. In Sierra Leone, which faced an Ebola epidemic taking 11,000 lives, FGM was banned but has since been lifted post-Ebola declaration. Globally, 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM; it is often seen as a rite of passage and control over younger members of the community. A law to ban FGM below age 18 with consent requirements in Sierra Leone is being considered but may be difficult to enforce outside major cities.

In the UK, young girls are taken during 'cutting season' to their home countries for FGM and returned to the UK, a practice that must be stopped.

Expressed concerns about the increasing violence against women in Afghanistan despite legislative protections, and highlighted issues of cyber-harassment and threats to women's rights activists. Cited Amnesty International reports on worsening conditions for women post-withdrawal of international forces. Discussed statistics from Afghan Attorney General’s Office showing increased cases of violence against women since 2015. Mentioned the rise in cyber-violence, including threats of rape and sexually explicit images online.

Commended contributions to the debate on violence against women, emphasising the need for education and awareness in small businesses regarding domestic abuse. Cited statistics from the British Crime Survey indicating that 81% of victims of domestic violence are women. Highlighted the importance of early intervention in cases of stalking and the impact of domestic violence on mental health.

Raised concerns about the lack of access to counselling services for victims of rape in Slough, noting that women have to travel to Wycombe or Reading and face long waiting lists of up to 20 months.

The right hon. Lady's compassionate approach towards the subject of violence against women should be considered by all, and I hope that the Minister and Government will respond positively to her wise words. In 2014-15, there was an increase in the number of women (from 454 to 533) and children (226) referred to Women’s Aid refuges. Some societies worldwide have high rates of abuse, such as south Sudan where up to 70% of women experience sexual violence. We should speak for our women at home and abroad on International Women's Day. I met Michelle Akintoye from Britafrique who organised an event involving speakers and attendees discussing violence against children in London. Shockingly, one in four women will face domestic violence throughout their lives. Our role as Members of Parliament is to address this issue beyond the 16 days of action, by educating future generations about the abhorrence of such violence and encouraging them to seek help without shame. I urge the Minister: how are we training young people to value each other? We must tackle these questions today for a better quality of life for all in the UK.

The debate marks the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The hon. Member recognises violence against women as a global human rights abuse rooted in gender inequality, with one in three women experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence in their lifetime. She pays tribute to colleagues for breaking the silence on this issue and hopes that their openness will help other women recover from such experiences and prevent future generations from suffering similarly. The hon. Member highlights her private Member’s Bill aimed at ratifying the Istanbul convention, which would require the Government to set a timeline for ratification and strengthen reporting requirements. She emphasises the importance of the Istanbul convention in preventing and combating violence against women across Europe. Furthermore, she discusses the impact of domestic abuse on housing stability and the need for affordable homes for victims and their children.

Sarah Champion echoed the cross-party nature of addressing violence against women and girls, citing statistics such as 3 million annual victims in the UK. She highlighted the impact on children and mental health care needs. She praised speeches about online abuse and sexual harassment, acknowledging the work done by the Women and Equalities Committee. Champion also mentioned the importance of proper sex education to prevent abuse. She emphasised that survivors often have to change their lives after violence and called for recognition of female genital mutilation as child abuse. She criticised the Government's lack of action on ratifying the Istanbul convention, which sets standards for tackling domestic abuse. Sarah highlighted discrepancies in official crime statistics and advocated for accurate data collection. She also stressed the need for specialist services due to budget cuts impacting local authorities. Champion called for mapping out existing provision across the country and correlating it with a needs assessment. She urged the Government to introduce statutory sex and relationships education to prevent normalisation of violence among young people.

Paid tribute to several Members who spoke about their personal experiences of violence and abuse, highlighting the bravery and impact of their contributions. Emphasised the importance of cross-party collaboration in tackling violence against women and girls. Noted that while progress has been made since 2010, there is still a long way to go. Announced new measures including civil stalking protection orders and a £15 million VAWG transformation fund. Highlighted the funding for rape support centres, national helplines, refuges, and improvements in data collection and training for domestic homicide reviews.

Asked a question regarding the Minister's willingness to give way during her speech. Received an immediate negative response from the Minister due to time constraints.

Thanked the Minister, shadow minister, and other Members for their contributions. Acknowledged progress but also highlighted areas where improvements are needed, such as compulsory relationship and sex education in schools and the ratification of the Istanbul convention. Emphasised the need for a Government commitment to these issues.