Empowering Women Victims of Abuse in the UK: Evaluating Support Systems and Barriers to Justice
- 16 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Simona Maciute,
London Metropolitan University.
This dissertation examines the experiences of women victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence in the United Kingdom, focusing on the effectiveness of support systems and the barriers women face when seeking justice. The study explores how legal frameworks, criminal justice responses, and support services influence victims’ access to protection, recovery, and empowerment. Using a desk-based literature review methodology, the research analyses academic literature, government reports, legislation, and publications from UK support organisations to evaluate current responses to violence against women.
The findings show that although the UK has introduced important legal developments, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and protections under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, significant gaps remain between policy and practice. Many women continue to experience barriers such as fear of reporting, lack of trust in the criminal justice system, delays in legal processes, insufficient evidence, and secondary victimisation. The research also highlights concerns regarding sexism and misogyny within policing and wider criminal justice institutions, which may reduce victims’ confidence in seeking support and justice.
The dissertation further demonstrates that support organisations such as Women’s Aid, Refuge, and SafeLives play a vital role in assisting survivors through counselling, refuge accommodation, advocacy, and safety planning. However, funding pressures, unequal access to services, and reliance on third-sector organisations create inconsistencies in support provision across the UK, particularly for minority ethnic women and migrant victims. Overall, the study concludes that while progress has been made in recognising domestic abuse and improving support for victims, further improvements are needed to strengthen the criminal justice response, improve access to support services, and ensure that all women receive fair protection, support, and access to justice.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21568836