Ministers ‘failing women’ on abuse

The report from the End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition said while there was good work in some areas of government, in others a pledge to prevent abuse against women and girls was “virtually meaningless”.

EVAW, whose members include Amnesty and Refuge, also commissioned a poll that found nearly nine out of 10 UK adults wanted “sexual consent and respectful relationships” to be taught in secondary schools.

The report comes in the wake of disturbing cases involving abuse against women and girls, including disgraced broadcasters Jimmy Savile and Stuart Hall, as well as grooming in Rochdale and Oxford and the murder of Tia Sharp.

EVAW co-chair Professor Liz Kelly said: “Following the Savile and Rochdale scandals, we are in a watershed moment for our understanding of the scale of abuse of women and girls. Our poll shows that, when asked, a large majority of people in the UK want schools to provide sex and relationships education that deals with consent and respect.

“The government has indicated resistance to this – it needs to catch up with public opinion.”

Professor Kelly called on the Government to commit to making sex and relationships education a statutory obligation in all schools.