At Advance we have been working for over 25 years to support women and girls to lead safe, violence-free, and equal lives.
Join us in calling politicians to commit to our pledges to support women and girls locally and nationally. You can see our current campaigns on the drop-down list.
#NotGoingBackToSchool
Parents want the best for their child. They want to keep them safe, give them the best start in life, and make sure that they have everything they need to be happy and healthy. For many parents though, there are factors which make things tough for their family. Poverty, discrimination, bullying, and caring responsibilities all play a role in the complex web of disadvantage experienced by families and can all lead to a child’s persistent absence from school.
And this can lead to children missing school and – for parents – a criminal conviction.
Over 21,000 prosecutions and 18,000 convictions for truancy were recorded in 2023 and 70% were against women [1].
Ways to support our campaign
Advance campaigns
Her Justice
‘Her Story, Her Justice’ examines how the criminal justice system fails to respond to survivors of domestic abuse and details how the system could work better to secure more arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of perpetrators.
We have created a short film based on the real stories and lived experiences of young survivors and our front-line advocates supporting them.
We have also created a series of free interactive toolkits to help young women and girls spot the ‘red flags’ of an abusive relationship for different audiences: 12-16 years; 16-25 years; and parents/carers.
Advance 2024 Manifesto
For too long, women and girls have suffered from the impacts of abuse and trauma. This new government must develop tangible plans to tackle the deep-rooted and systemic misogyny in our society and build a long-term and sustainable plan for a safe, just, and equal work for women and girls.
We will continue to campaign on our manifesto for women and girls:
1. Women in the Criminal Justice System
It is essential that the next government prioritises measures for these women, including support which can help them address the underlying drivers of offending. This should be in safe spaces in the community, with expert key workers who can provide support with mental health needs, substance use, housing, and family care.
2. Survivors of Domestic Abuse
We need to see urgent and radical movement from the next government to ensure no more women die at the hands of a perpetrator. We’re calling on the leaders of all parties to commit to providing adequate funding for community-based support and truly deliver a coordinated response throughout all our public services.
3. Girls and Young Women Under 25
We must see adequate investment in services which build girls’ trust and allow them to seek their own empowerment. Alongside this, there needs to be urgent changes in schools and youth services. We are failing young women by not acting earlier to tackle the root causes of male violence.
4. Women's Mental Health
All parties must develop specific plans to improve the mental health of women and girls, particularly those who have had experience of domestic abuse or the criminal justice system. Without effective funding and planning more women and girls will pay the ultimate price.
[1]Where the status, age, and sex of the defendant is known. Ministry of Justice (2024) Offence by Outcome data tool: December 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6646118dbd01f5ed32793d44/outcomes-by-offence-2023.xlsx. Accessed 21 August 2024.
