Domestic Abuse Act 2021
Five years on from the Domestic Abuse Act receiving Royal Assent, Women’s Aid bought together influential voices from across the sector, to reflect on the success of this legislation and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to end domestic abuse for good.
Women’s Aid brought together influential voices to reflect on it’s successes and acknowledge the work that still needs to be done.
The domestic abuse Act became law on 30th April 2021
Women’s Aid pays tribute to the many survivors, campaigners and domestic abuse organisations who made this law possible. Women’s Aid was proud to have campaigned alongside survivors and activists to secure many vital changes to the Act, which introduced a step-change in the national response to domestic abuse.
Key changes the Act introduced include:
- A legal definition of domestic abuse which recognises children as victims in their own right;
- A Domestic Abuse Commissioner to stand up for survivors and life-saving domestic abuse services;
- A legal duty on councils to fund support for survivors in ‘safe accommodation’
- New protections in the family and civil courts for survivors – including a ban on abusers from cross-examining their victims, and a guarantee that survivors can access special measures (including separate waiting rooms, entrances and exits and screens);
- New criminal offences – including post-separation coercive control, non-fatal strangulation, threats to disclose private sexual images;
- A ban on abusers using a defence of ‘rough sex’;
- A guarantee that all survivors will be in priority need for housing, and will keep a secure tenancy in social housing if they need to escape an abuser;
- A ban on GPs for charging for medical evidence of domestic abuse, including for legal aid;
- A duty on the government to issue a code of practice on how data is shared between the public services survivors’ report to (such as the police) and immigration enforcement.
Despite the work of dedicated organisations and campaigners, the Act failed to deliver equal protection and support for migrant women through the law. Five years on, women with No Recourse to Public Funds, and migrant women are still woefully under protected.
All survivors must have the right to seek support and safety and live a life free from abuse. We will continue to campaign for the law to protect all women and children from domestic abuse and provide safety from abusers regardless of immigration status.
The Domestic Abuse Act was a landmark piece of legislation, but there is still so much work to do to end domestic abuse for good. We continue to work with our member services and statutory agencies to ensure that this legislation translates to action and that the government is held accountable to their mission to halve violence against women and girls.
We want to see:
- A properly funded, nationwide support network for all survivors, including children
- Equal access to specialist services, whatever their postcode
- A clear separation between police and immigration enforcement, so migrant women can report abuse without fear.
- Systems and institutions that consistently protect every survivor, regardless of circumstance
Will you help us continue the work that began with the Domestic Abuse Act, and ensure it delivers safety and justice for every survivor?
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