Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls 2024-12-18
2024-12-18
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP highlighted the ongoing issue of violence against women and girls, exacerbated by online abuse and misinformation.
Violence against women and girls remains a serious issue, worsened by online abuse, misinformation and a harmful rhetoric that risks increasing violence. In my constituency of Burton and Uttoxeter, the Sexual Abuse Rape Advice Centre provides vital support to survivors, while working to challenge those attitudes and promote cultural change. Given the crucial role of charities like SARAC, what steps is the Minister taking to support such organisations, and will she visit SARAC with me so she can see its amazing work?
At these questions I always end up halfway around the country, but I would be delighted to come. Having worked in this sector, I know that we will not tackle violence against women and girls without a strong and sustainable model that ensures our specialist services are protected.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps being taken to support organisations like SARAC beyond an invitation to visit.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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The MP raised the issue of ultra-realistic deepfake porn being used to target women, highlighting a commitment in the Government's manifesto to criminalise it.
Ultra-realistic deepfake porn is increasingly being used to target women, and I know the Government agree because they committed to criminalising it in their manifesto. For the sake of victims, intimate image abuse needs to be tackled without delay, so why on earth did the Government not back Baroness Owen's Bill in the House of Lords to ban it last Friday? The Minister is a great talker; she talks a good game, but for the sake of women, when will she deliver?
As somebody who went into the Home Office and found a load of things that were said at this Dispatch Box dwindling and left undone for three years, I take umbrage. The Government will do exactly what we said we will do and will ban deepfakes in this Session.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP discussed the various forms of violence against women, including online abuse and the use of generative AI to create fake intimate images.
Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker. Violence against women and girls takes many forms—verbal, physical, emotional, financial—and at all ages, but one of the most insidious forms is online abuse. With technology developing faster than legislation can respond, the ways it is being used, such as deepfakes, are also developing faster than legislation can respond, and the use of generative AI to create fake intimate images leaves many women vulnerable. I know the Minister cares deeply about this, so can she tell us what steps the Government will take to ensure that it is tackled properly? Will she work with Cabinet colleagues to create a new online crime agency to deal with that threat?
Funnily enough, I am meeting Cabinet Office colleagues later today to talk exactly about how we ensure the violence against women and girls strategy is across different Departments. Without doubt, one of the most important pillars of that strategy is how we will deal with the online harms. We all wait with bated breath to see how the legislation and the new regulations play out, but we will not draw the line at the legislation that already exists, and where we need to adapt, we will.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not confirm whether a new online crime agency would be created or provide specific steps other than meeting with colleagues.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP expressed concern about violence against women and girls, highlighting the need for a sustainable model to protect specialist services.
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle violence against women and girls.
Merry Christmas, Mr Speaker. The Government are relentless in our efforts to halve violence against women and girls. In just five and a half months in office, we have launched domestic abuse protection orders in selected areas, outlined new measures enhancing our response to stalking, and announced £30 million in extra funding for victims of domestic abuse and their families in safe accommodation services—and that is simply the beginning.
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