New measures to protect women and girls from crimes committed overseas will be included in legislation on domestic abuse, the government has said.
The new legislation would allow the UK to ratify the Council of Europe’s convention on preventing and combating violence against women, known as the Istanbul Convention.
Laws to be included in the bill will allow certain offences committed by British citizens anywhere in the world to be prosecuted in UK courts.
Amber Rudd, the home secretary, said: “These measures will help us bring justice to women who experience these abhorrent crimes anywhere in the world and shows perpetrators there is nowhere to hide.”
David Lidington, lord chancellor and justice secretary, said the government was determined to prosecute those who commit these “deplorable” crimes and increase the number of convictions.
An estimated 2 million people suffer domestic abuse every year in England and Wales.
On average, two women in England and Wales are killed by their current or former partner every week. The number of prosecutions relating to violence against women and girls in England and Wales reached a record level in 2015-16, rising by almost 10% to 117,568.
While the UK already complies with most aspects of the Istanbul Convention, legislation is required for extra-territorial jurisdiction to cover offences committed by British citizens overseas. This will be included in a domestic abuse bill, ministers said.
Theresa May announced her intention to introduce a draft domestic abuse bill earlier this year to give victims the confidence to contact police knowing the justice system was on their side.
The Queen’s speech set out how a draft bill will establish a domestic violence and abuse commissioner and define domestic abuse in law.
It also outlined measures to ensure that if abusive behaviour involves a child, a court can impose a sentence that reflects the devastating life-long impact that abuse can have on him or her.
May has claimed a strong record on tackling domestic violence. As home secretary, she introduced laws criminalising coercive control, domestic violence protection orders and a disclosure scheme allowing people to ask police whether their partner has a history of abuse offences.
Liz Truss, then justice secretary, said in February that domestic violence victims would no longer face the threat of being interrogated by their former partners in court.
