Lobbying

Refuge works alongside MPs, ministers and policymakers to ensure policies and legislation give abused women and children the protection and services they deserve.

We lobby government to provide a national domestic violence strategy backed by funding to underpin what we call the three P's:

1 Protection:

Stronger measures under the Domestic Violence Bill will ensure fewer perpetrators go unpunished. The criminal justice system must implement the law and send out the message that domestic violence is criminal and will not be tolerated.

2 Provision:

Abused women need a range of services. For too many women the choice is between staying with a violent partner and becoming homeless. The government must channel additional funds into more services which recognise women's varied needs.

3 Prevention:

We must raise awareness among all ages that violence is unacceptable. Professionals in every field - teachers, health workers, legal professionals - must receive specific training to enable them to spot the signs of abuse and respond appropriately. If we do not understand the problem, we cannot challenge it.

Policy submissions

Refuge works to influence government policy, legislation and guidelines relating to domestic violence. We regularly respond to consultation documents.

View our responses in the Refuge policy page.

Women's National Commission

Refuge is an active member of the Women's National Commission (WNC) which aims to ensure women's views are taken into account by the government and heard in public debate.

MPs and ministers

Refuge meets regularly with MPs and ministers to raise awareness of domestic violence and ensure the needs of abused women and children are understood and addressed.

Sandra Horley OBE, Chief Executive of Refuge:

“Domestic violence is a major social problem. We all know a victim of domestic violence although we may not realise it - it could be our mother, sister, friend or colleague. At Refuge we see the black eyes, broken bones and the bruises. We know first hand the fear and terror experienced by women and children. Many women have nowhere to go, no one to turn to, no support.

Yet every woman and child has the right to live in safety and access help - whether that means a bed for a night, legal aid, counselling or support. Do we really want our children to grow up in a world where they witness their mothers being beaten and brutalised?

Refuge has waited 30 years for legislative change and real commitment to tackling this most abhorrent of crimes. Without a national strategy and funding to match women and children will remain at risk of violence and death."