Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) refers to acts of violence and/or abuse that disproportionately affects women and girls and is recognised as a function of gender inequality. These acts can be perpetrated by anyone, not just partners in a domestic relationship, but also family members, friends, acquaintances and strangers.
Our VAWG Strategy: Birmingham’s Commitment to Safety, Equality and Change (2025–2030)
For the full Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy report, please follow this link
Birmingham is committed to becoming a city where violence against women and girls is never tolerated and where every woman and girl can live free from fear, harassment, and abuse. Birmingham City Council’s VAWG strategy sets out how the city, its partners, and its communities will work together to prevent violence, protect survivors, and hold perpetrators to account.
Why VAWG Matters
Violence Against Women and Girls is a profound violation of human rights and remains one of the most significant public safety and equality issues in Birmingham and the UK. It covers a wide range of crimes, including, but not limited to sexual violence, domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, honour-based abuses (such as FGM and forced marriage), revenge porn, and sexual exploitation.
Although Birmingham has seen recent reductions in reported VAWG offences, these crimes still cause the highest levels of harm and impact thousands of women and girls every year.
Our Vision
We aim to create a Birmingham where:
- Violence against women and girls is prevented before it happens
- Survivors receive high‑quality, trauma‑informed support
- Perpetrators are consistently challenged and held accountable
- Communities, organisations and services work together to drive long‑term cultural change
The Birmingham VAWG Strategy is built around four core pillars:
1. Prevention & Cultural Change
- Tackling the root causes of violence, including misogyny and harmful gender norms
- Delivering education in schools and communities on healthy relationships and consent
- Citywide awareness campaigns to challenge harmful attitudes
2. Protection & Support for Survivors
- Access to trauma‑informed, culturally sensitive, specialist support
- Clear pathways so survivors do not have to repeat their story
- Strengthened multi‑agency working across health, police, housing and community organisations
3. Pursuing Perpetrators & Increasing Accountability
- Improving investigations and prosecutions
- Using protective orders such as SPOs, FMPOs and FGMPOs
- Disrupting high‑harm and repeat offenders
4. Stronger Systems & Partnership Working
- Coordinated Community Response across statutory and community partners
- Better data sharing, improved monitoring, and survivor‑led oversight
- Ensuring resources and funding are used effectively and sustainably
What We Know About VAWG in Birmingham
- Over 21,000 VAWG offences were recorded in the most recent year analysed (2024).
- Young women and girls (15–18) are disproportionately affected by sexual violence.
- High‑risk periods include weekday afternoons (15:00–17:00) and the Night‑Time Economy.
- Specific harms, including FGM, forced marriage, and modern slavery, disproportionately affect minoritised communities.
How Survivors and Communities Shape Our Work
The strategy is built around survivor voice. Lived experience informs our priorities, our services, and how we measure progress. Survivors consistently tell us they want:
- Professionals who understand VAWG and avoid victim‑blaming
- Simple pathways that don’t require telling their story repeatedly
- Public awareness campaigns that challenge myths and harmful behaviours
Our Collective Responsibility
Ending violence against women and girls is everybody’s business. The strategy sets out how the Council, emergency services, schools, health partners, specialist organisations, faith groups, businesses, and residents will work together to build a safer Birmingham for all women and girls.