The National Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Multiple Disadvantage has today published its final report, Breaking Down The Barriers, which warns of devastating consequences for women and their families because they are not able to get the support they need. 

Time and again the signs of abuse are not picked up by professionals. Too often women are bounced around or even turned away from services. Mothers are particularly let down, with the fear of losing their children preventing them from accessing help. 

I-SPHERE’s Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick is one of the commissioners behind the report and the commissioners have today written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent action including through the appointment of a Secretary of State for Women and Equalities to drive change.

The Commission is chaired by Baroness Hilary Armstrong, and along with Suzanne, is formed of: Dame Gill Morgan, former Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government; Vivienne Evans, Chief Executive of Adfam; Marai Larasi, Executive Director of Imkaan; Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the South East of England; Dominic Williamson, Executive Director of Strategy and Policy at St Mungo’s.

Read the executive summary, the full report and the press release.