Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy

Baroness Sugg Excerpts

Wednesday 21st January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Cluny (Lab)]

The noble Baroness raises a very important issue and I am grateful for the opportunity to address it. We know that men and boys experience these types of behaviours. We also know that their experiences are unique. Indeed, one in five men experience domestic abuse. That is why we have produced the Men and Boys Explanatory Note, which details how the strategy reflects their unique needs. The strategy also recognises that these behaviours are disproportionately experienced by women and perpetrated by men. As the noble Baroness alluded to, the key to addressing both of these equally important matters is through education. That is why we have announced a £20 million funding package, to ensure that every secondary school has a credible package to offer.

[Baroness Sugg (Con)]

My Lords, I was very pleased to see reference to honour-based abuse in the violence against women and girls strategy, including a commitment to introduce a definition of it. Has there has been any progress on the Government introducing a definition in the Crime and Policing Bill that we are currently considering? I suggest that that is an excellent way to implement part of the strategy.

[Baroness Smith of Cluny (Lab)]

The noble Baroness raises an important issue. Honour-based abuse is directly addressed in the strategy, as the noble Baroness has observed. It is often hidden in nature. That means we must try harder to address the needs of victims and build trust with them. We have set out clear action within the strategy, which includes continuing to fund the Karma Nirvana national honour-based abuse helpline, and have committed, as the noble Baroness identified, to a statutory definition of honour-based abuse. The strategy, as with all matters contained within it, has a collaborative, adaptive approach, and that is why we will be engaging with stakeholders as we develop that.