Five years on from the passing of the Domestic Abuse Act, we find ourselves at a moment of both reflection and urgency.
When this landmark legislation was introduced, it promised a step-change in how survivors are recognised and supported.
There is no doubt it has achieved important progress, children are now formally recognised as victims in their own right, and the law has evolved to better reflect the realities of coercive control and post-separation abuse.
But legislation alone is not enough. At Solace, we see every day how the Act’s potential is being undermined by gaps in implementation, chronic underfunding and a lack of consistent understanding.
Too many survivors are still unable to access safe accommodation. Too many children are recognised in law but denied the specialist support they need in practice. Too often, protection measures exist on paper but fail to translate into real-world safety.
Five years on, we must move beyond intent to delivery. Survivors deserve more than promises, they deserve a system that works. That means sustained investment, accountability, and a commitment to tackling the attitudes that allow abuse to persist. The Act was a foundation and now we must build on it.
At Solace, we will continue to work tirelessly, advocating for change, influencing policy, and collaborating with decision-makers, to ensure that survivors of domestic abuse receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.