Lucas calls on Parliament for cross-party action on gender violence

Caroline Lucas MP takes charity campaign to Commons on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

CAROLINE LUCAS, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion has called on the Government today to develop the UK-wide strategy to end violence against women and girls.

In an Early Day Motion (EDM) Caroline also called for the recording and publishing of gender-specific violent crime data to be made a requirement for police, health and social services – the lack of which she said “seriously obscures the extent to which women and girls are subjected to gendered violence”.

The EDM, which coincides with International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, is backed by national charity For Our Daughters, and has gained cross-bench support.

At least three to four women and girls die each week in the UK as a result of male violence – topping the annual death rate of troop losses in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Caroline who is Patron of For Our Daughters, said: “Far more needs to be done to tackle the high rates of violence against women and girls in our society. It’s critical that agencies are coordinated in their efforts to eliminate gender violence. It’s crucial also that all Parties work together on this issue. This must be a priority – the Government must act now to develop a more comprehensive UK-wide coordinated response to reduce and then end violence against women and girls. Urgent change is needed, as well as greater public awareness, to protect future generations.”

Jean Calder, Director of For Our Daughters, added: “In our view, there’s no greater threat to the nation than this violence at its heart. There can be no real possibility of real peace, justice or freedom within it until it is addressed. We want all parties to make this issue central to their manifestos and planning for future government. We know this is an intractable problem, but so too was sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. A time came when politicians called time on that conflict. We want Parliament to do the same in respect of homicide and sexist violence against women and girls.”