Every parent wants their child to grow up safe and supported. But right now, too many families are fighting a tide of harmful influences online and in real life. Every day, police record 200 rapes. One in eight women experiences domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking in a single year. Behind these shocking statistics lies a trail of devastation for women and girls in communities across the country. That’s why this Government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency — and why we will deploy the full power of the state in the largest crackdown on violence against women and girls in British history.
A strategy only matters if it changes what happens in classrooms, living rooms and on the phones in our children’s hands. And this one will. That means tackling harmful attitudes early — in school corridors, at the kitchen table and in the online spaces where children spend their time — before they harden into behaviours that ruin lives. The picture is bleak: nearly 40% of teenagers in relationships report abuse. Almost half of secondary teachers have heard misogynistic comments in class. More than 40% of young men say they hold a positive view of Andrew Tate.
Parents know how fast these ideas spread through group chats and algorithms. I know that struggle too. I’m a mum to two teenage boys. I’ve had those moments where you wonder what they’re seeing online, who they’re listening to and how to keep them grounded. This isn’t about demonising boys; it’s about giving them the tools to make better choices and helping them call out harm when they see it. That makes life safer for girls, and healthier for boys too.
We are putting prevention first. Teachers across the country are already doing vital work to shape young people’s values and challenge harmful attitudes. But we know they need better backing to tackle the scale of what they’re facing. Teachers will get enhanced training and practical materials to challenge misogyny and teach about online safety and healthy relationships confidently, and with the focus it requires. Three different pilots, backed by £11 million, will introduce interventions to tackle misogyny and draw on sector experts and organisations to deliver lessons on consent and respect, designed for real classrooms. From 2026, we’ll test what works before rolling out across England. We are updating the curriculum so children can spot disinformation and conspiracy theories online — because the line between a “joke” on a video and a harmful belief is thinner than many adults think. Schools are already leading the way in building respectful relationships and positive cultures. Now we’re giving them the resources and support to go further.
When behaviour crosses a line, we’ll act early. Schools will step in quickly when they see worrying signs. For children displaying problematic attitudes, early intervention programmes will help them identify healthy and unhealthy beliefs about relationships. These will be specialist-led approaches that actually work, helping young people change course before it’s too late. And for children already causing harm, behaviour-change programmes will start in 2026. These will challenge and change harmful behaviour in an age-appropriate way.
We’re also tightening guidance on teenage relationship abuse so victims get help fast and those causing harm are confronted and supported to stop. Families deserve a system that acts swiftly to protect children who are harmed and to intervene when harm is being caused.
None of this ignores where so much harm begins: online. We will work with tech companies to introduce safeguards built into devices that stop children creating, sharing or viewing nude images. And we will ban so-called “nudification” apps — tools designed to strip clothes from photos and create explicit images and videos without consent. We will target the individuals and companies who design and supply these tools and profit from the distress of others. Women and girls deserve to feel safe both online and offline.
Parents have asked for help for children who know something is wrong in their own behaviour and want to change. In 2026, a dedicated helpline will launch so children can get non-judgemental guidance. We owe it to them — and to the people they might otherwise harm — to make that help easy to reach.
But a strategy is just a document unless families bring it to life. Whether you’re a parent of a son or daughter, you have a role to play. Start the conversation today, even if it feels uncomfortable. Ask what they’re seeing online. Listen first, then share why respect matters. Check what your child’s school is doing on RSHE. Use parental controls now and switch on new safeguards as they arrive. If you’re worried about your child’s behaviour, speak up early. When the helpline launches, tell your children about it. Seeking help is not failure, it’s care.
Government has a job to do, and so do tech companies, schools and police. But families are the first line. If we act early and act together, we can turn boys away from choices that harm girls, stop abusers in their tracks and support victims to get justice. Halving this violence in a decade is not a catchphrase, it’s something we are serious about. And with you alongside us, it starts now.