Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Starts Here

On White Ribbon Day, we reaffirm our commitment to making Jersey a safer and more respectful community for everyone. Violence against women and girls is a serious issue that often remains hidden. While Jersey is a safe place, some Islanders feel unsafe in their own homes. This is unacceptable, and we are determined to change it.

Two years ago, the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce published its report. Since then, Jersey has worked to implement the VAWG taskforce recommendations and strengthen protections for victims. This progress reflects the dedication of a specila group of dedicated people including Freeda, Kate Wright, government departments, specialist services, the justice system, and many others, but it also requires the support of the whole community. Every one of us has a role to play in challenging harmful attitudes and behaviours.

Progress So Far

• Twenty-nine recommendations have been completed.
• Financial support introduced for victims of domestic abuse with less than five years’ residency.
• Awareness campaigns delivered on coercive control and street harassment.
• Training provided to professionals across public services, family courts, and health care settings.
• Improvements made to education in schools, including a toolkit for teachers.

Further legislative changes will be lodged before the end of this year:

• A new harassment and stalking law creating several new offences and additional protections for victims.
• New offences relating to intimate image abuse, including those involving artificial intelligence generated content.
• Amendments to the domestic abuse law to strengthen protections for victims.
• New offences addressing sexual and sex-based harassment in public spaces.
• A new offence of strangulation.

What Comes Next

Our work does not stop here. In the coming year, we will:

• Publish the independent review of the criminal justice system in relation to domestic abuse and sexual offences.
• Complete the development of a centralised dataset on violence against women and girls to inform future policy.
• Continue embedding this work into the Building a Safer Community framework to ensure a coordinated and sustainable approach.
• Extend the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence to Jersey.
• Strengthen education and awareness programmes for young people and families.

This is a long-term commitment. Together, we can make Jersey a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued.

Deputy Lyndon Farnham – Chief Minister of Jersey