Bernie Ryan, CEO of the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, responds to the Ministry of Justice announcement: “We welcome the government’s decision to criminalise the depiction of strangulation in pornography. In April 2024, the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) held discussions with Baroness Bertin where we discussed the risks associated with strangulation. It is encouraging to see […]

The depiction of strangulation in pornography will be banned in a move to protect women from violence, the Government has announced. Pornography depicting any act of strangulation to be made illegal through Crime and Policing Bill Follows acceptance of Independent Porn Review recommendation Protection of women and girls vital to Government’s Plan for Change Recognising […]

OBE Nour Al-Houda Balich Norris Campaigner at SecureLife and Advocate for Raneem’s Law For services to Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls Solihull Lorna Norgrove Trustee and Co-Founder, Linda Norgrove Foundation. For services to Women and Children Abroad and in Scotland Isle of Lewis MBE Jane Kenyon Founder, Girls Out Loud. For services to Gender […]

This panel will discuss the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment on the term “sex” and its implications for lesbians, the journey to this decision, and what lies ahead. On 16 April 2025, a judgment from the UK Supreme Court stated that the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological […]

IFAS requested data from the Home Office in 2023 pertaining to the number of strangulation and suffocation offences recorded by the police in the first year of strangulation and suffocation becoming a standalone offence (7th June 2022 – 6th June 2023). This request was made via the Freedom of Information (FOI) process. Following the same […]

Conclusions and Recommendations Based on findings and in a spirit of cooperation and dialogue, the Special Rapporteur provides the following recommendations to the Government of the UK: Fully incorporate the Istanbul Convention into domestic law by lifting the reservations on Articles 44 and 59 and enacting comprehensive legislation to ensure consistent, nationwide compliance, and repeal the […]

Victims of rape and serious sexual assaults who face their cases being dropped by prosecutors will, for the first time, be given the right to have it reviewed by a different prosecutor, as part of the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls and its Plan for Change. New pilot to empower victims […]

Children and vulnerable people being criminally exploited by gangs will be better protected under new measures, as part of the government’s Plan for Change. A new criminal offence of ‘coerced internal concealment’, to be introduced as an amendment to the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will crack down on anyone, including gang leaders who force […]

We are extremely concerned about the government’s sentencing review announcement which we believe will put stalking victims at risk. While we recognise the immense pressures on prison capacity and the intention underpinning the sentencing reforms, the safety and well-being of victims of stalking cannot be sidelined in this process.  Under the proposed ‘earned progression’ model, […]