Bringing an end to violence against women and girls

From 2011, as well as measures to further protect victims and tackle perpetrators, preventing violence in relationships will be included in personal, social, health and economic education. This will help address attitudes that condone and perpetuate violence against women before they become entrenched in young people.

The strategy sets out a range of actions for NHS staff, local authorities, the police, and government departments across three key areas - Protection, Provision and Prevention. These include:

• contributing £1.6 million to support the roll-out of Sexual Assault Referral Centres
• guidance on violence against women and girls services for PCTs
• including violence against women and girls in the NHS Operating Framework funding of more than £13 million to help support victims of sexual and domestic violence. This will supplement existing material on recognising domestic violence and seeking support
• a series of short films on violence against women and girls on the NHS Choices website, for patients.

A Health Taskforce examining the role of the NHS in response to victims of violence against women and girls will publish recommendations in the New Year.

Confronting the issue of female genital mutilation

The Female Genital Mutilation National Clinical Group (FGM NCG) is holding its second national conference on
20 January in London.

The main theme will be around the issues of safeguarding women and children in the UK who are at risk of FGM.

A DVD will also be launched to educate nurses, midwives and doctors on how to perform a deinfibulation, commonly known as a reversal procedure.

Christine Beasley will speak at the event, along with a range of guest speakers and the group’s two patrons, crime author Baroness Ruth Rendell and General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives Professor Cathy Warwick CBE.

The conference is open to all of those who are involved in delivering care to this group of women and in the safeguarding of women and children.

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