Violence against Women and Girls — [Sir Mark Hendrick in the Chair]

Thanking the hon. Member for securing the debate, Mr. Khan highlighted unique challenges faced by Muslim women experiencing gender-based violence, Islamophobia and discrimination, urging services to address these barriers and challenge harmful stereotypes.

Violence against women and girls is rising; every five days, a woman in the UK dies due to domestic abuse. Gloucester saw an increase of nearly 2,000 more domestic abuse-related crimes last year. Alex discusses local initiatives aimed at preventing violence and supporting victims, welcoming recent Government measures such as new protections for stalking and criminalising spiking.

Investment in frontline organisations is crucial. Alice highlights the work of local charities in Norwich and welcomes police commissioner's focus on reducing waits in the criminal justice system. She also calls for a holistic approach to tackle misogyny at its root, including online content regulation.

Paid tribute to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse, highlighting the importance of women sharing their stories about male violence. Mentioned various statistics and initiatives such as Operation Soteria and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, questioning whether funding will continue. Raised concerns over the normalisation of male violence in media and globally, urging the Minister to lead on better protection for survivors. The Minister and the hon. Member for Strangford may welcome the information that the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will hold specific hearings on violence against women and girls in Northern Ireland in the next few months.

Highlighted a case of a survivor named Anna who experienced severe abuse from her ex-partner, emphasizing the inadequacies in the criminal justice system's handling of domestic violence cases.

Focused on stalking as a form of violence and praised the Cheshire harm reduction unit for its collaborative approach to managing risks associated with stalking and supporting victims.

She emphasizes the high number of domestic violence cases in Knowsley, where more than 85% are female victims. She calls for interdepartmental collaboration to improve identification and support for abuse victims.

Highlights issues faced by Black and minoritised women in accessing support for reporting crimes and receiving help, citing SignHealth as a vital service that operates in British Sign Language. Calls for ringfencing of £178 million for specialist services.

Constituents have raised concerns about the family courts failing to understand their role in perpetuating abuse against violent partners, suggesting a need for greater understanding within the court system.

Congratulates Apsana Begum on securing the debate and highlights a new report by Imkaan and Women and Girls Network that received UK Research and Innovation funding. Calls for press standards to be changed so they do not sensationalise violence against women.

I addressed extreme attitudes among young men, citing Andrew Tate's influence and alarming statistics on young men's views towards rape and sexual consent, stressing the need for activism to address toxic masculinity.

Notes that there was a minimum of 2.2 million victims last year, emphasizing the issue's endemic nature. Mentions the closure of Vida Sheffield due to budgetary pressures from austerity measures.

As a former family lawyer, Helen Grant intervened to express her concern that some young people, as young as 13, view domestic abuse as normal. She agreed with Jim Shannon's stance on the importance of educating young individuals about respecting themselves and others.

I highlighted the tragic murder of Zara in Ilford and called for the recognition of violence against women and girls as a national emergency, urging action to tackle misogyny and rape culture.

Praised the initiative to address violence against women and girls, highlighting the importance of cross-governmental efforts. Acknowledged issues with legislative implementation and system inefficiencies, such as delays in executing domestic abuse protection orders. Emphasised the need for serious consideration of non-contact sexual offences and ongoing work on escalating violence evidence.

Concerned about the disclosure of addresses for women in refuges and the lack of funding for local specialist charities supporting victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence.

He thanked Apsana Begum for securing the debate and highlighted statistics on violence against women in Northern Ireland, including six murders of women last year, 33,071 incidents of domestic abuse, and 800 referrals to Women's Aid. He stressed the importance of supporting victims, strengthening children impacted by abuse, and educating future generations about respect and acceptance.

He argues that catcalling should be considered a form of sexual violence against women and girls, advocating for cultural and enforcement shifts. He supports the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 to combat such behaviour.

Sexual harassment and violence happen in the workplace, but protections are limited. The Worker Protection Act is a step forward but lacks robust enforcement mechanisms. Liz introduced a Bill to amend the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 to include clear duties for employers to protect workers from violence and harassment through risk assessments and policy development.

Mr. Taylor highlighted the underreported issue of stalking, which affects one in five women, causing fear and trauma. He criticised the legal framework for not adequately protecting victims and called for clearer legislation to address the severity of stalking crimes.

I discussed global statistics on domestic abuse and sexual harassment, noting 1 million VAWG-related crimes recorded by police in 2022-23. I highlighted initiatives like the Stand by Her programme to tackle social norms contributing to violence against women.

Notes the rise in violence against women on trains by 50%, calling for a more holistic system to deal with the problem, including increasing convictions and perception of safety.

The Member agreed with the need to understand better the situation in family courts, emphasizing the misuse of law by perpetrators to further victim suffering.

Steve Witherden supported Apsana Begum's efforts to tackle violence against women and girls, citing UN Women's report on global femicide trends. He emphasized the need for education in schools to raise awareness about domestic abuse, noting its severity compared to car accidents or house fires. He questioned the Government's commitment to prioritizing prevention work on domestic violence in educational settings.

Acknowledging the prevalence of misogynistic beliefs in Mansfield, I praised local initiatives like Safer Streets and emphasised the importance of listening to women's experiences while recognising men's responsibility in tackling this issue.

He shares personal testimonies from young women about their fears in public spaces, highlighting low conviction rates for rape in Dorset. He supports local organizations aiding domestic abuse survivors and calls for more perpetrator programmes.

He is concerned about the influence of social media influencers promoting misogynistic attitudes towards women, which distorts notions of consent. He also highlights issues faced by immigrant victims of domestic abuse due to immigration status restrictions on support.