Babies Must Be Recognised in the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy: Our Open Letter to Jess Phillips MP 

Every year, more than 50,000 babies are referred to children’s social care with domestic abuse as a factor. This is not just a statistic; it represents tens of thousands of the youngest members of our society growing up in homes where abuse can shape their earliest experiences.  

Why babies must be included 

Domestic abuse does not just begin when children are older. Research shows that:  

• 30% of domestic abuse begins or escalates during pregnancy  
• This rises to 40% in the first 1001 days of life (pregnancy through to age two)  
• By the time children start school, at least one child in every class will have been living with domestic abuse since birth 

Babies are uniquely vulnerable. Their brains and bodies are developing at an extraordinary speed, and exposure to abuse during this period can have devastating, lifelong consequences. Without early intervention, the ripple effects can include:  

• Delays in physical and cognitive development  
• Long-term impacts on emotional and physical health  
• Missed educational opportunities  
• The perpetuation of intergenerational cycles of abuse  

If the government is to succeed in its mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, it must begin by protecting those who are most vulnerable – babies in their earliest days of life.  

A call for urgent action  

In our open letter, we urge the government to ensure that support for families during pregnancy and early childhood is embedded in the VAWG Strategy. This is essential if the government’s wider ambitions, including the Best Start in Life Strategy, are to be realised.  

Babies deserve the best start in life. Protecting them from violence and harm is not only a moral imperative but also a vital step in breaking cycles of abuse and building a safer, healthier society for generations to come.  

Thank you to our co-signatories  

This letter was strengthened by the voices of leading organisations and individuals committed to the wellbeing of babies, children, and families. We would like to thank our co-signatories for standing with us:  

• We Are Amity CIC  
• Association for Video Interaction Guidance UK  
• Baby Bank Alliance  
• Better Start  
• Dr. Carmen Power, Doctor of Public Health and Psychology  
• Institute of Health Visiting  
• Make Birth Better CIC  
• Parent-Infant Foundation  
• Respect
• SafeLives  
• The Breastfeeding Network  
• The Drive Partnership
• The Foundation for Mother & Child Health
• The White Ribbon Alliance UK  

• WWIN (Wearside Women in Need)

• Words Matter

Our commitment  

At The For Baby’s Sake Trust, we will continue to advocate for the needs of babies and their families to be placed at the heart of national strategies on domestic abuse and violence against women and girls. With bold leadership and collaboration, we can ensure that every baby has the best start in life.