The Government has announced a package of new measures worth £20 million aimed at protecting girls from violence and steering boys away from misogynistic influences, as part of wider efforts to prevent abuse and address the root causes of harmful behaviours among young people.
The measures form part of the forthcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, described by officials as a major cross‑government initiative to reduce violence and improve early intervention. Recent statistics indicate the scale of the challenge, with nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships reporting abuse, and more than 40% of young men expressing positive views of influencer Andrew Tate.
The programme will equip teachers and families with new tools to identify harmful attitudes, promote healthy relationships, and support young people to recognise positive role models. Training will help school staff discuss issues such as consent, image-sharing, and online harms, with experts piloting new approaches and research commissioned to identify the most effective teaching methods.
All secondary schools in England will be required to provide strengthened education on respectful and healthy relationships, with the Government aiming for full access for every pupil by the end of the current Parliament.
Schools will identify and refer high‑risk individuals for targeted support designed to challenge misogynistic influences and harmful behaviours. A dedicated funding pot will examine how to prevent the most serious forms of sexual behaviour, and a new helpline will be launched to support young people concerned about their own actions or attitudes.
In response to several high‑profile cases involving the deaths of teenage girls, the Government will introduce new guidance for police and social services on responding to harmful teenage relationships. The domestic abuse legal framework will also be reviewed to ensure it adequately reflects the experiences of adolescents.
A broader programme of research will look at how schools, police and social care currently respond to teenage relationship abuse, identifying areas where change may be needed.
The measures will also support children who display harmful behaviour towards siblings, parents or caregivers, who will be enrolled in behaviour‑change programmes aimed at preventing escalation.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented:
“Every parent should be able to trust that their daughter is safe at school, online and in her relationships. But too often toxic ideas are taking hold early and going unchallenged. This government is stepping in sooner – backing teachers, calling out misogyny, and intervening when warning signs appear – to stop harm before it starts.
“This is about protecting girls and driving forward education and conversation with boys and young men, which is a responsibility we owe to the next generation, and one this government will deliver.”
Last year, one in eight women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking. The Government has previously declared violence against women and girls a national emergency, with a stated ambition to reduce such violence by half within a decade.
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