Watchdog slams UK for response to domestic abuse

• The Council of Europe has criticised the UK for not having enough spaces in women’s shelters, saying that vital services are underfunded and understaffed due to cost-cutting measures.
• A report by the Council of Europe found that austerity has weakened crucial services and women’s rights organisations, hindering the UK's ability to meet its obligations under the Istanbul Convention.
• Data indicates there are only 5,238 family places in UK shelters, falling short of the required 6,800 based on the UK population of 68 million, leading to women fleeing domestic abuse being turned away.
• The council said that insufficient training of police, prosecutors, and judges is linked to critically low charging rates for violence against women.
• The UK government said it plans to publish a new strategy to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.

IN FULL

Austerity has hit the UK’s ability to tackle violence against women, European watchdog warns