Hackney Council is set to review its commissioning practices for services addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG), aiming to align them with statutory guidance.
The decision follows a motion considered at the Hackney Council meeting on Wednesday, 23 July 2025, where councillors also committed to preventing the erosion of vital services and ensuring comprehensive education on healthy relationships in all Hackney schools.
The council also resolved to collaborate with survivors, local specialists, and 'by and for' services to better understand the impact of VAWG and domestic abuse within the borough, as they develop the next strategy to tackle these issues. The motion notes that 'By and for' services are run by and for the women they represent, making them uniquely placed to foster trust and meet the specific needs of survivors.
The motion was put forth by the Labour Group, with joint amendments submitted by the Green and Hackney Independent Socialist Groups. However, these amendments were not accepted by the proposer. The key points of the amendments included:
- The need to remove barriers that prevent migrant women and children from accessing support, including those with No Recourse to Public Funds, and recognise the additional risks they face in seeking help.
- Intersectionality and systems of multiple oppression significantly impacts women and girls experiencing violence, as their diverse identities and backgrounds shape their unique experiences and needs.
- Misogyny and hate towards women in society as well as structural issues like the role of housing, austerity and poverty, and cuts to local government services is creating an environment where violence towards women and girls is more likely to occur.
- That the Metropolitan police has been described as institutionally misogynist in a review by Baroness Casey, and there is a need to address this at the institution's core to improve outcomes for women and girls.
- Campaign against the erosion of vital services which safeguarding the lives of vulnerable women and children and oppose any cuts from national government to budgets that help provide those vital services.
- Ensure comprehensive education on healthy relationships is available in all Hackney schools as this is mandatory by law.
- Continue to support initiatives for men who have used abuse against women, especially intimate partners and are willing to address their behaviours.
