Domestic abuse and coercive behaviour education

That this House recognises the importance of the survivor-led “Make It Mandatory campaign” backed by the domestic violence charity Refuge; gives special thanks to survivors, particularly founder Faustine Petron and her team, for their tireless campaigning efforts to prevent domestic abuse amongst young people through education; notes with concern that half of 16 to 19-year-olds surveyed by Refuge said they had experienced controlling or coercive behaviour in a relationship; further notes that a third of those surveyed said they would not know where, or who, to turn to for support if they were experiencing abuse; expresses alarm that only half of the young people surveyed said they had received education on domestic abuse despite this being mandatory in secondary schools since 2020; and therefore urges the Government to embed education on domestic abuse and controlling or coercive behaviour in the school curriculum by enforcing it in all secondary schools and making it mandatory for all sixth forms as well as expanding training for staff in educational settings.