Austerity violence against women is emerging as a serious concern, warns a Council of Europe watchdog.
The UK’s ability to support women fleeing domestic abuse is strained. Budget cuts have weakened shelters. Police, healthcare, and justice systems now struggle to address violence against women and girls (VAWG).
A fresh 130‑page report by GREVIO, the Group of Experts on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, warns that austerity has caused “significant ramifications” for Istanbul Convention obligations. While the UK maintains a “solid policy agenda”, vital services and women’s rights groups are now “underfunded and understaffed”.
- Just 5,238 family shelter places are available nationwide.
- Istanbul Convention guidelines recommend 1 place per 10,000 people – the UK needs at least 6,800.
- Between April 2022 and March 2023, only 10,824 of 27,754 women referred to refuges were accepted. That leaves 16,930 with nowhere safe to go – an average of one woman turned away every two hours.
GREVIO stresses the “urgent need to increase shelter distribution” across all four UK nations and to maintain safety standards.
The watchdog highlights that austerity-related funding shortfalls have hit police, social services, healthcare, and courts. Consequences include long wait times for counselling, delayed police investigations, and lengthy court cases.
Rape victims face an average wait of over two years for trial, with sexual offence case backlogs hitting 11,918 – a new record, per charity Rape Crisis.
GREVIO points to a worrying trend: inadequate training of police, prosecutors, and judges is linked to low charging rates.
- Only 6% of adult rape investigations resulted in charges between October and December 2023.
- For stalking offences, just 6.6% of reports led to CPS charging, and 1.4% ended in conviction.
The experts demand more specialist professionals and reduced waiting times.
The report also highlights barriers faced by migrant women, women with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and older women. Alarmingly, asylum seekers have reported rape, sexual harassment, and assault in government accommodation, raising serious safety concerns.
The UK Government acknowledged the “intolerable” scale of VAWG. A new VAWG strategy is due later this year, aiming to halve violence within ten years, supported by an evidence-based “theory of change”.
Despite Brexit, the UK remains part of the 46‑nation Council of Europe, committed to human rights and the rule of law.
Key Points at a Glance
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Shelter shortfall | 5,238 places vs. 6,800 needed |
| Turned away | 16,930 women in 2022–23 |
| Rape case delays | Two-year wait on average |
| Low criminal charges | Rape: 6%, Stalking: 6.6%, Convictions: 1.4% |
| Vulnerable groups | Migrants, disabled, older, minorities affected |
| Asylum housing risks | Reports of sexual violence |
Austerity violence against women remains central to the UK’s struggle to support those at risk. As cuts bite deeper, GREVIO’s stark findings urge immediate action. A new Government strategy may help – but only time will tell if it proves transformative.
