Bailiwick develops new strategy to tackle violence against women and girls
- Home Affairs is developing a Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy for Guernsey and Alderney with stakeholder consultation planned over coming months
- The new strategy builds on the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Strategy (2022-2025), which established Willow House Sexual Assault Referral Centre and introduced Independent Sexual Violence Advocates
- A new Domestic Abuse Law has been introduced and will be complemented by the proposed Protection from Harm Law, 2026, which introduces offences including strangulation, stalking, spiking and female genital mutilation
- The strategy will focus on improving data collection, strengthening prevention through education, and modernising victim-centred legislation and justice processes
- Deputy Munazza Malik says women and girls are disproportionately victims of these forms of violence nationally and locally, though the entire community should benefit from the work
Home Affairs is developing a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy for Guernsey and Alderney, with consultation planned over the coming months to help shape its priorities and objectives.
The new strategy will build on work delivered through the Committee's Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Strategy (2022-2025), which strengthened the islands' response to domestic abuse, sexual violence and wider forms of harm.
Key achievements from that work include the establishment of Willow House, the Bailiwick's Sexual Assault Referral Centre, and the introduction of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates (ISVAs).
The introduction of a new Domestic Abuse Law represented a major legislative milestone which will be further complemented by the proposed Protection from Harm (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2026. This introduces new offences including strangulation, stalking, spiking and female genital mutilation.
Alongside legal reforms, investment has continued in specialist domestic abuse services, victim support, family contact services and refuge provision, supported by strengthened partnership working across public services.
While significant progress has been made, the Committee recognises that more needs to be done.
Deputy Munazza Malik, Home Affairs, Violence Against Women & Girls Lead, said: "Tackling sexual violence, domestic abuse, and all other forms of abuse remains a priority for the Committee, and I would like to assure victims of these offences and the wider community that funding and operational focus will remain on this issue.
"The previous strategy allowed this Committee and its predecessor to make significant headway with legislative reform, enhancing policing powers and victim protections, and making system wide improvements, but there is still much more to do.
"The development of a general VAWG strategy allows us to refresh our thinking and review what has already been achieved and clearly identify what our efforts should be focused on next to have the largest impact."
Deputy Malik added: "In the coming months we will be conducting a period of consultation with key stakeholders about what has already been achieved, and what we should be doing next.
"VAWG, sexual abuse, and domestic abuse are all issues which affect many parts of Government business and affect many islanders' lives in different ways. As such we want to ensure the voices of as many parts of the States and the community are heard when developing our plan for the coming years."
Addressing why the strategy focuses specifically on women and girls, she said: "I also want to pre-empt questions we will receive about why this strategy is focused on violence against women and girls, when of course men and boys can be the victim of domestic abuse and sexual violence as well.
"Anyone who is the victim of any offence should be heard and treated the same - with fairness and empathy - but in this case the statistics do not lie. Nationally and locally, women and girls are disproportionately victim to these forms of violence, and our key objective with this work is to make as much change as possible, where it will make the biggest difference, and as such we want to be looking where the problem is largest - with women and girls being victim to unacceptable, horrendous behaviours.
"That isn't to say men won't be listened to and won't experience positive change from this work. My hope is that the entire community will benefit."
The development of a dedicated VAWG Strategy reflects a commitment to preventing violence before it occurs, improving support for victims and survivors and ensuring that services, legislation and the criminal and family justice responses continue to evolve in line with emerging risks and best practice.
The Strategy is expected to focus on key areas including improving data collection and analysis to better understand the experiences of victims and the effectiveness of services, and strengthening prevention and early intervention through education, awareness raising and work with schools and the wider community.
It will continue to modernise legislation and justice processes to ensure that they are victim-centred and fit for purpose.
The Committee also intends to explore how the principles of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention) can help inform and strengthen the approach taken locally.
The Convention is widely recognised as the leading international framework for preventing violence against women and girls and would formally recognise violence against women as both a human rights issue and a form of discrimination.
A range of jurisdictions have adopted violence against women and girls strategies in recent years.
The Committee is reviewing examples of good practice to ensure that the approach taken reflects local needs while building on the strong foundations already in place. The aim is to create a coordinated framework that supports continued progress and helps make the islands an even safer place for women and girls.
People who have ideas about what the Bailiwick's VAWG strategy should address can email [email protected] with their thoughts. Organisations and groups with an interest in this area will be contacted for consultation in due course.
Q&A
Q: What is the Committee for Home Affairs developing?
A: A Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy for Guernsey and Alderney, with consultation planned with key stakeholders over the coming months.
Q: What were the key achievements of the previous strategy?
A: The establishment of Willow House Sexual Assault Referral Centre, introduction of Independent Sexual Violence Advocates, a new Domestic Abuse Law, and the proposed Protection from Harm Law introducing offences including strangulation, stalking, spiking and female genital mutilation.
Q: How can the public contribute to the new strategy?
A: Members of the public can email [email protected] with their ideas about what the Bailiwick's VAWG strategy should address. Organisations and groups with an interest will be contacted for consultation in due course.
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