8 December 2009
Drive against Domestic Violence
Margaret Moran MP lends her whole-hearted support to a new government strategy where every school pupil in England will be taught that domestic violence against women and girls is unacceptable.
From 2011 children will be taught compulsory lessons from primary school age on how to prevent violent relationships. Younger children are to be taught how to prevent bullying as part of this initiative. These lessons on gender equality will fall within the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum.
Margaret Moran has worked with senior government ministers and officials to secure legislation on domestic violence and over the past 5 years has persistently lobbied for primary school awareness on this issue.
“I welcome this new strategy and I know that it will do much to create awareness and change attitudes in order to prevent violence.
However, currently there is still a lack of training and coordination between the various services and more needs to be done to help identify vulnerable children suffering from and witnessing domestic violence. I’m encouraged that in the New Year there will be a high profile drive to tackle violence in teenagers’ relationships.”
Latest government research indicates that up to one million women experience at least one incident of domestic abuse every year and domestic attacks result in the death of at least one woman every week, on average, in England and Wales.
Harriet Harman, minister for women and equality, said tackling violence against women and girls was one of the government’s top priorities and prevention was critical to long-term change.
According to the British Crime Survey, domestic violence has fallen by almost two thirds since 1997.
Related news stories
- August 27 Christmas
- August 27 New Law for Domestic Violence victims
- December 1 16 days of action against violence against women
- August 27 Government resolves ‘a dangerous dilemma’ as victims of Domestic Violence become special exceptions when applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain
- August 27 How ‘KIDSPEAK’ uses ICT to give a voice to children affected by domestic violence
