Violence against Women and Girls

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 April 2016.

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Photo of James Berry James Berry Conservative, Kingston and Surbiton 12:00, 11 April 2016

What steps the Government have taken to tackle violence against women and girls.

Photo of Theresa May Theresa May The Secretary of State for the Home Department

Our new violence against women and girls strategy, published last month, sets out an ambitious programme of reform, backed by increased funding of £80 million, to make tackling these crimes everybody’s business, to ensure victims get the support they need and to bring more perpetrators to justice. We have also introduced a new domestic abuse offence to capture coercive control, and we have consulted on new measures to protect victims of stalking.

Photo of James Berry James Berry Conservative, Kingston and Surbiton

Last month, True Honour, an honour-based violence charity led by my constituent Sarbjit Athwal, and of which I am proud to be a trustee, was recognised with charity status. Will my right hon. Friend update the House on her Department’s progress in tackling honour-based violence?

Photo of Theresa May Theresa May The Secretary of State for the Home Department

First, I commend True Honour, the charity in my hon. Friend’s constituency, and Sarbjit Athwal for the work they do in this area. It is an incredibly important issue. Of course, the Government have already significantly strengthened the law on forced marriage and female genital mutilation. We have issued a range of materials to support professionals, including new statutory multi-agency FGM guidance, and our forced marriage and FGM units are carrying out ongoing outreach programmes. It is very important that we help people to identify where young people may be subject either to forced marriage or to female genital mutilation and to take appropriate action.