Leading women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) has welcomed the announcement that the Government will be investing £5 million into Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) pilots – with the aim to improve support for domestic abuse victims – calling it a major step forward in supporting survivors.
The initiative aligns closely with the recommendations set out in SIGBI’s influential Court Report, which was referenced in Parliament by Jess Phillips (MP) during discussions surrounding the launch of the Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy.
SIGBI’s court report highlighted significant gaps in support for survivors navigating the justice system, including inconsistencies in the presence and training of support staff.
The Government’s decision to pilot expanded liaison provision – similar in function to Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) – reflects key recommendations in the report and represents a major step toward strengthening victim engagement and safety.
Gillie O’Rourke, SIGBI’s President, said: “We conducted various independent reviews across England assessing court provision for victims of abuse, the majority of whom are women. From this, we provided recommendations to help build public trust in the UK justice system. The main recommendation spanned the role of IDVAs and their value to victims, their families and the criminal justice system.
“There is substantial research, statistics and information available which backs this up, however, the challenges facing the current services are significant. They include very high caseloads involving complex client needs, increasing demand for service because of the backlog of court cases in the criminal justice system and ‘burn out’ issues for advisors who suffer trauma as part of their involvement.
“Therefore, as an organisation with long-standing experience supporting victims of domestic abuse and campaigning against Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), we welcome the Government’s investment into the CPS to pilot initiatives and, ultimately, ensure more victims’ voices are heard.”
Alongside SIGBI’s national advocacy, it’s Tunbridge Wells and District club has driven change at both a local and legislative level. Its 2021 candlelit vigil at the Town Hall – organised in the same year as the tragic murder of Sarah Everard – aimed to raise awareness of gender-based violence and led to a subsequent survey on women’s and girls’ safety.
This drew the attention of then‑MP Greg Clark. The collaboration led directly to the drafting of the Protection from Sex‑Based Harassment in Public Bill, introduced in June 2022, with the club’s findings helping shape its provisions.
Although the Bill passed into law, its enactment was delayed. Newly elected MP Mike Martin intervened through Parliamentary Questions and an amendment to push for commencement, and the Government has now confirmed the Act will come into force on 1 April 2026.
SIGBI, which has consultancy status at the UN, delivers real influence from grassroots to Parliament and contributes to a wider movement driving tangible change for women and girls.
If you would like to support real-world change and be part of a wider global movement, please get involved here: https://sigbi.org/