The Respect Manifesto
Stopping Domestic Abuse
At Respect, our vision is a world where everyone is free from domestic abuse. Where it is never ok to control, harm or cause fear. Where those who perpetrate domestic abuse are stopped, held to account and given the chance to change.
The 2024 General Election presents us with a timely opportunity to realise that vision, to ensure political parties are prioritising an informed and sustainable approach to ending domestic abuse. We challenge the new government to make a clear pledge: to stop perpetrators, hold them to account and prevent them from causing any more harm.
Read our Manifesto Read an accessible version Our asks on a page
Our asks
Our Manifesto calls on political parties and candidates to commit to 4 key asks:
- Fund specialist service provision in every local area
- Prioritise data and evidence
- Make justice work
- Focus on prevention
Why we need change
- 2.4 million adults experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in 2022, and 20% of children in the UK have lived with an adult perpetrating domestic abuse
- Perpetrators can abuse knowing their behaviour is likely to go unchallenged. They are not being held to account or given the chance to change their behaviour, which means many move from partner to partner, creating new victims with each new relationship
- Less than 24% of domestic abuse crime is reported to the police
- Over 50% of survivors who wanted their perpetrator to receive support to change their behaviour. Only 7% got that support
- Current responses are fragmented and uncoordinated, leaving survivors navigating a disjointed system – and – in the worst cases – missing opportunities to save lives.
- 52% of domestic homicide victims had been in contact with the police before they were killed
- 78% of domestic homicide victims had been to physical health services such as GPs or hospitals prior to the homicide
- The true cost of domestic abuse – £78 billion a year – dwarfs current funding
We need investment now to save lives and resources in the long run.
Show your support
Help us amplify the Respect Manifesto!
- Share it on social media
- Sign our pledge form as either an individual or organisation
Respect Manifesto
Respect Manifesto: Accessible word doc version
Respect Manifesto: Our asks on a page