Progress on Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on progress, but also to recognise the work that still lies ahead.
In Jersey, preventing violence against women and girls is not simply an aspiration. It is one of the Government’s core strategic priorities.
When we accepted the recommendations of the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce, we made a clear commitment that these recommendations would guide government action. They would not sit on a shelf or remain an ambition for the future. They would become a programme of real and measurable change.
The Taskforce set out 76 actions designed to strengthen protection for victims, improve our justice system, and ensure that prevention and education are at the heart of our approach.
I am pleased to report that significant progress has already been made.
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36 actions have been completed
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33 are currently underway
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2 required no further work
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5 are still to begin
Delivering this programme has required collaboration across the Island. Government departments, specialist services, the police, schools and community organisations have all played an important role in moving this work forward.
A number of key steps have already been taken.
Strengthening the law
The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs has lodged a package of five important laws designed to strengthen protections for victims and ensure that our justice system keeps pace with modern forms of abuse.
These include:
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A new Harassment and Stalking Law
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New offences for intimate image abuse
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Emergency barring orders that do not require a criminal conviction
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A specific offence of strangulation
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Stronger laws covering threats of sexual harm
These laws will be debated in the States Assembly shortly and represent a significant step forward in protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable.
Improving the criminal justice response
We also commissioned an independent review into how Jersey’s criminal justice system handles cases involving domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences.
The review, led by Eleanor Laws KC, was published last month. Importantly, every part of the criminal justice system has accepted the recommendations and work to implement them has already begun.
Removing financial barriers to safety
For some victims, the ability to leave an abusive situation can be limited by financial pressures.
The Minister for Social Security has therefore introduced new exceptional financial support for victim-survivors who previously would not have qualified for Income Support. This change will help ensure that financial barriers do not prevent someone from seeking safety.
Strengthening partnership and coordination
We have also established the multi-agency Domestic Abuse and Sexual Harms Partnership, which now leads and coordinates Jersey’s island-wide response.
This partnership brings together the professionals and organisations working closest to these issues and ensures that our response is joined up, accountable and effective.
Education and prevention
Prevention must begin early. Our schools are continuing to strengthen how they teach about healthy relationships, respect and safeguarding, supported by improved resources for teachers.
At the same time, training is underway across government and community services to tackle newer forms of abuse, including economic abuse and technology-facilitated abuse.
Through a two-year programme delivered by Refuge, staff across government, specialist agencies, the police, schools and community services are being upskilled to recognise and respond to these emerging risks.
Reviewing the family courts
Most recently, we commissioned an independent review of how the Family Courts handle cases involving domestic abuse allegations.
The reviewer visited Jersey last week and has already begun meeting with key stakeholders as part of this important work.
Continuing the work
Before the pre-election period begins, we will publish an annual progress report providing a fuller update on what has been delivered and what still remains to be done.
While progress is real, we recognise that there is still much more to do.
Preventing violence against women and girls is not only a government priority. It is a community priority and a societal responsibility.
Every step we take brings us closer to an Island where women and girls are safe, supported and empowered.
That is the Jersey we are working to build.
And it is work that must continue.
The full speech By Jersey’s Chief Minister Deputy Lyndon Farnham given to the International Women’s Day event hosted by local abuse charity Freeda
Chief Minister, Freeda – 6th March 2026
Good MorningIt’s always a pleasure to begin the day in a room full of people who care deeply about the wellbeing and safety of our community.
Your commitment is exactly what drives progress in Jersey, and it’s what has driven our work on preventing violence against women and girls.
When we accepted the recommendations of the VAWG Taskforce, we made a deliberate decision: these recommendations would become one of this Government’s Core Strategic Priorities.
Not an add‑on,
not an aspiration,
A top priority for government action.
The Taskforce gave us 76 actions to deliver. And today, I’m pleased to share that:
- 36 actions are now complete,
- 33 are actively underway,
- 2 require no further work, and
- 5 are still to begin.
This has not been simple work. Much of it has been detailed, complex, and required strong collaboration – between government, specialist services, the police, our schools, and the wider community.
And I want to acknowledge that many of you in this room have played a part in that.
Let me highlight a few of the key steps forward.
We have taken major legislative action.
The Minister for Justice and Home Affairs has lodged a package of five important laws – all designed to better protect victims and survivors and ensure our justice system is fit for purpose.
These include
A new Harassment and Stalking Law,
New offences for intimate image abuse,
Emergency barring orders that do not require a conviction,
A specific offence of strangulation, and
Strengthened laws covering threats of sexual harm.
All five will be debated during next week’s States sitting.
We commissioned an independent review of how the criminal justice system handles domestic abuse, rape, and sexual offences.
Led by Eleanor Laws KC, this review was published last month. I’m encouraged that every part of the criminal justice system has accepted its recommendations, and that work to implement them is already beginning.
We have reduced financial barriers for victims seeking safety. The Minister for Social Security has introduced new, exceptional support for victim‑survivors who previously would not have been eligible for income support.
This policy change will make a meaningful difference in enabling people to leave abusive situations.
We have established the multi‑agency Domestic Abuse and Sexual Harms Partnership.
This group now leads, coordinates, and oversees our island‑wide response – bringing together professionals who are closest to this work and ensuring whole‑system accountability.
We have strengthened the way our schools teach about healthy relationships, respect, and safeguarding, together with resources to support teachers in delivering this crucial education.
Training is underway to tackle newer forms of abuse, economic abuse and technology‑facilitated abuse.
Thanks to a two‑year programme delivered by Refuge, staff across government, community services, specialist agencies, the police, and schools are being upskilled to recognise and respond to these growing forms of harm.
And most recently, we commissioned an independent review of how the Family Courts handle cases involving domestic abuse allegations.
The reviewer visited the island last week and has already begun meeting with key stakeholders.
Before the pre‑election period, we will be publishing an annual progress report setting out the fuller picture of the work underway and the work still to come.
I want to close by saying this:
Progress is real, but so is the scale of what remains.
We cannot, and will not, take our foot off the pedal.
Every action we take brings us closer to an island where women and girls are safe, supported, and empowered.
And that is not just a government priority, it is a community priority and societal necessity
Thank you, every one of you, for your commitment, for your partnership, and for continuing this work alongside us.
Let’s keep it going.
Thank you.