Landmark summit sees London’s health partners adopt a public health approach to tackling VAWG

• NHS London, the new Integrated Care Boards and Directors of Public Health, together with local authority community safety and safeguarding leads commit to tackling violence against women and girls by signing up to six pledges, following call to action by Mayor of London.
• Partnership commitments are first of their kind in England and Wales and part of Mayor of London’s public health approach to ending violence against women and girls.
• New agreements follow a British Medical Association survey which found 91 per cent of female doctors working in the NHS, reported sexism at work.

A landmark summit has been held in central London today at which London’s health partners have renewed their commitment to the Mayor of London’s public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

NHS London, the new Integrated Care Boards and Directors of Public Health, together with local authority community safety and safeguarding leads have today signed up to a number of pledges to tackle misogyny, sexual harassment and violence against women and girls through their services and in health environments to help prevent VAWG across the capital.

At City Hall, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, the Violence Reduction Unit and the GLA continue to support the mayor’s vision of a safer London by putting health at the heart of policy.

The pledges by leading London health and relevant local authority departments will help ensure that tackling VAWG is made an integral part of every aspect of the service they provide to Londoners and come after a survey carried out by the British Medical Association found that 91 per cent of female doctors working in the NHS, reported sexism at work, 31 per cent had experienced unwanted physical contact and 56 per cent unwanted verbal comments^[1]. A recent Trade Union Poll also found too many women still suffer from sexual harassment and misogynistic behaviour at work with two in three women aged between 25 and 34 experiencing sexual harassment, bullying or verbal abuse^[2].

Just this week, new research published in the British Journal of Surgery found that over two thirds of female registered surgeons had been the target of sexual harassment from colleagues, and 90 per cent had witnessed some form of sexual misconduct while at work^[3].

The pledges are the first of their kind in England and Wales and part of the Mayor’s refreshed strategy to tackle violence against women and girls^[4]. The strategy recognises that more robust policing or the threat of the criminal justice system alone cannot prevent violence against women and girls. A more innovative approach is needed - one that seeks to understand the underlying drivers of harassment, abuse or violence against women and girls and brings public sector agencies together with communities to address them.

That’s why it champions a public health approach* following the one pioneered by London’s Violence Reduction Unit, which was set up by the Mayor in 2019**. The Mayor’s strategy encourages everyone in society to play their part in challenging and ending VAWG and addressing the attitudes and behaviours that allow VAWG to persist in our society. 

The six core pledges are:

• Recognise all forms of violence against women and girls in everything we do - Develop strategies and policies to identify how each respective organisation tackles all VAWG in all areas of business.
• Embed action to end perpetration of VAWG - Address offender behaviour, supporting them to change, while ensuring the safety of the victim is at the heart of any action.  
• Work together to actively tackle VAWG - Create a culture across all partners where all staff are confident to identify and respond to VAWG whether it’s dealing with a staff issue or supporting a patient.
• Strengthen workplace safety - Acknowledge and address the role of power dynamics within work environments and providing protection and support for staff who are experiencing or have experienced VAWG.
• Promote a collaborative learning environment - Understand the gaps in knowledge within our services and listening to experiences of colleagues to provide effective staff training focused on providing bespoke support to the needs of individual.
• Ensure an anti-misogynistic environment - Develop a shared understanding of what misogyny is, identifying structural barriers and working to address them, and through training with a focus on allyship to ensure there is no space for misogyny in the workplace. 

The summit is just one part of the Mayor’s work to tackle VAWG, backed with a record £117m in Mayoral funding and Government funds secured by MOPAC. The funding is backing projects and services to save lives; including programmes to intervene and address the behaviour of perpetrators; providing safe accommodation for victims and survivors of domestic abuse; the provision of specialist support services for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse across the city; dedicated grant funding for small grassroots organisations working with survivors from minoritised communities; and the #HaveAWord campaign to challenge misogynistic attitudes and behaviours. The funding is also addressing waiting lists and keep doors open for vital specialist support services for victims, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.  

It places a stronger emphasis on partnership working, prevention and education across a wide range of services in London and targets the behaviour of those who perpetrate abuse and make sure they are the focus for change. It also recognises that violence against women and girls often starts with words, and we all have a responsibility to challenge the behaviour that can lead to violence and women feeling unsafe.

Deputy Mayor for policing and crime, Sophie Linden, said: “I want every woman and girl to feel safe in our city so I’m pleased that London’s health partners and London Councils have signed up to these innovative partnership pledges which represent a step-change in our collective approach to tackling violence against women and girls. 

“By empowering health providers to use their services to root out behaviours and attitudes which can be drivers of VAWG, we can make a real difference and I encourage health partners across the UK to follow our lead. 

“Sexism and misogyny can take many forms and can often be hidden in plain sight with too many women afraid to speak out for fear of the consequences. Today’s summit demonstrates the joint determination of all of London’s health partners to do everything we can to tackle all forms of sexual harassment, misogyny and violence against women and girls and build a safer London for everyone.”

Lib Peck, Director of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), said: “We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls throughout society and to do that, we must disrupt the drivers and underlying causes wherever they occur, including misogynistic behaviour and harmful attitudes.

“That’s why London’s VRU was set up by the Mayor, to lead an approach to tackling violence that is rooted in prevention, early intervention and bringing about systemic and cultural change.

“We’ve invested in programmes to support boys and young men in school, built around healthy relationships and developing inclusive, nurturing environments. We also recognise structural misogyny and we’re determined to create the conditions for all of our organisations to be truly safe spaces, providing positive opportunities for women and enabling them to thrive.”

Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director for Public Health, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, said: “The criminal justice system alone cannot prevent violence against women and girls. We need a more creative approach that looks at the root cause of harassment, abuse and violence, and brings public sector agencies together with communities to address them. By taking part in this summit, we’re sending a clear message that violence against women and girls is all our business. We need to learn from each other, use our existing networks, and share what works best, because only together can we create a safer and healthier environment for women and girls in London.”

Andrew Blake-Herbert, CELC Health Lead, said: "London boroughs are committed to working closely with health partners across London to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms. We welcome the shared commitment to taking a public health approach to tackling VAWG.  

“Today’s summit has highlighted the real ambition to embed practices and education within our organisations that take steps to eliminate VAWG across our capital, ensuring London is a city of safety for all people. London boroughs stand ready to meet this challenge.”

Zina Etheridge, CEO, NHS North East London, said: “These six pledges represent an important step in tackling violence against women and girls, and reinforce our ongoing commitment to ensuring our communities are safer for everyone. We will continue to work with our partners in north east London, and more widely across the capital, to make sure that our residents who are victims of VAWG are recognised, listened to and able to thrive.”