Policy paper

Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy

This strategy sets out the government’s vision and actions for meeting its ambition to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

• From: Home Office
• Published: 18 December 2025
• Last updated: 18 December 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6142-3, E03514542 12/25, CP 1450-I

PDF, 2.52 MB, 91 pages

Order a copy

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Freedom from violence and abuse volume 2: action plan

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6142-3, E03514542 12/25, CP 1450-II

PDF, 1.97 MB, 50 pages

Order a copy

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Freedom from violence and abuse: executive summary (Welsh)

PDF, 1.37 MB, 13 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

What works to reduce violence against women and girls: a summary of the evidence

PDF, 1.06 MB, 78 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Freedom from violence and abuse: men and boys explanatory note

PDF, 628 KB, 30 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

The publication of ‘Freedom from violence and abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls’ is the first step in a truly transformational approach to addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) that:

• prioritises prevention and tackling the root causes of VAWG
• relentlessly pursues perpetrators
• supports victims and survivors of violence and abuse

It explains that we must take a ‘whole of society’ approach to tackle VAWG, working across government, public services, and wider society to make lasting, meaningful change.

It is informed by the best available evidence on what works to address VAWG and the views and experience of delivery partners and experts in the VAWG sector.

We are aware that this publication may have accessibility issues. We are reviewing it so that we can fix these.

Read more about our accessible documents policy.

Published 18 December 2025

Last updated 18 December 2025 + show all updates

1. 18 December 2025

   Added a summary of the evidence.

2. 18 December 2025

   First published.