The impact of violence against women and girls on young Londoners

Following the murders of Bibaa Henry, Nicole Smallman, Sarah Everard, Maria Rawlings, Sabina Nessa and others, reducing violence against women and girls (VAWG) has been a priority issue in London.

The Mayor’s draft Police and Crime Plan 2025-29 states that one of the four priority aims for reducing violence and criminal exploitation is to “bring more perpetrators of VAWG to justice and increase preventative efforts to tackle misogyny.”¹

VAWG is an important issue for young people in London. 16-19 years old is the most common age for perpetration of rape and serious sexual offences.² According to figures from the Youth Endowment Fund, 52 per cent of perpetrators of child sexual abuse and exploitation were children aged 10-17, with the most common age being 14 years old.³

The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will tomorrow begin an investigation into VAWG, focussing on the impact on young people. The Committee will question guests on the experiences of young people, and how the Mayor can ensure that prevention-based education programmes and initiatives are reaching boys and young men in London.

The guests are:

Panel 1 (10:00am – 11:15am):

• Janaya Walker, Head of Public Affairs, End Violence Against Women coalition
• Sanskriti Sanghi, Policy, Campaigns and Communications Officer, Southall Black Sisters

Panel 2 (11:20am – approx. 12:30pm):

• Kate Lexén, Director of Services, Tender
• Ellie Softley, Head of Education, Everyone’s Invited
• Professor Jessica Ringrose, Faculty of Education and Society, University College London

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 26 February 2025 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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