Monday 30 November 2026
Amazon HQ, 1 Principal Place, London, EC2A 2FA
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) is not one story. It is many stories, of survivors, families, professionals, perpetrators, systems and society. To create meaningful change, we must be willing to understand the whole picture. The Women Empowering Defence Violence Against Women and Girls Conference 2026 brings together leading experts, academics, psychologists, campaigners, policymakers and those with lived experience to explore the realities of VAWG from every perspective.
Through powerful keynote presentations and honest conversations, the conference will challenge assumptions, share learning and inspire action across Defence, Government, policing, industry and the wider public sector.
This year’s theme, “The Whole Story of VAWG: Voices, Accountability and Action,” reflects our commitment to moving beyond awareness. Together, we will examine the experiences of victims and survivors, the psychology of abuse, stalking and coercive control, the impact of trauma, the role of online harms, the importance of behaviour change, and the responsibilities of organisations and individuals to respond effectively.
Delegates will hear from nationally recognised speakers, including psychologists, campaigners, practitioners and those whose personal experiences have shaped policy and practice. Every session has been designed not only to deepen understanding but to equip attendees with practical knowledge that can be taken back into their organisations and communities. Whether you work in Defence, Security, Government, policing, healthcare, education, local government, safeguarding or industry, this conference offers a unique opportunity to learn, reflect and contribute to the collective effort to prevent violence against women and girls.
Because understanding the whole story is the first step towards changing the ending.
Agenda
- 10.25 – 10.50 Morning Break
- 09.45 – 10.00
Welcome & Conference Open
- 10.00 – 10.30
Finding the Words: When You Realise It's Abuse
Abuse doesn’t always leave visible bruises. Sometimes it looks like control disguised as care, isolation mistaken for protection, or a constant feeling that something isn’t right, even when you can’t explain why.
Finding the Words explores the powerful moment when a survivor begins to understand that abuse doesn’t have to involve physical violence. Through lived experience, this deeply personal and thought-provoking session examines the confusion, self-doubt and minimisation that often accompany coercive control, and how recognition can come from the most unexpected places, a conversation with a colleague, a trusted friend, or someone who simply gives a name to what you’ve been experiencing.
This session shines a light on the hidden realities of coercive control, helping audiences understand the warning signs, the barriers to recognising abuse, and why finding the language to describe it can be life-changing. Because when survivors find the words, they begin to reclaim their voice, and with it, the possibility of freedom.
- 10.35 – 11.15
Words Matter: Language, Fairness and the Pursuit of Justice
How we talk about abuse matters. The language we use can shape how victims are perceived, how offending is understood, and ultimately how society responds to it.
In this presentation, Andreea Groenendijk-Deveau will explore the power of language in describing harm and offending, challenging delegates to consider what our words communicate about responsibility, consent, harm, and credibility.
Drawing on her work examining the language used to report abuse, Andreea will explore how seemingly neutral terminology can influence attitudes and understanding – and why getting the language right matters for victims, professionals, the media, policymakers, and the wider public.
Andreea will then turn to a fundamental question about access to justice: what happens when survivors of rape are unable to access a criminal prosecution, and what alternatives should be available to them?
This will be a thought-provoking session about words, power, and justice – challenging delegates not only to think about how we describe these experiences, but also about whether the systems available to survivors provide a meaningful route to accountability.
- 11.20 – 12.00
Digital Underworld 'The Com': Understanding the Online Networks Fueling Violence Against Women and Girls
Violence against women and girls is no longer confined to physical spaces. Increasingly, abuse is organised, amplified and normalised within hidden online communities that operate across social media, encrypted messaging apps and gaming platforms.
This session explores the emergence of decentralised online networks that connect criminality, misogyny, exploitation and extremist ideologies, and examines how these digital ecosystems are influencing attitudes, behaviours and real-world harm.
Drawing on current research and intelligence, delegates will gain insight into how young people are being exposed to these online communities, the tactics used to recruit, manipulate and desensitise participants, and the ways online abuse can escalate into stalking, coercive control, sexual violence and coordinated harassment.
More importantly, the session asks what this means for those working across policing, safeguarding, education, defence, healthcare and victim support. How do we recognise the warning signs? What should we be looking for? And how can organisations respond before online harm becomes offline violence?
This is a vital session for anyone seeking to better understand the rapidly evolving digital landscape and its implications for safeguarding, prevention and protecting women and girls.
- 12.00 – 12.45 Lunch & Networking
- 12.50 – 13.30
Beyond the Screen: Real World Impact of Online Stalking
Psychologist and author Dr Jessica Taylor brings a unique perspective to the psychology and impact of stalking, drawing on both her professional expertise and her own experience of enduring years of severe online stalking and harassment.
In this powerful and thought-provoking session, Jess explores what happens when digital harassment escalates beyond the screen, into identity theft, surveillance, coordinated abuse, and the targeting of family, friends and colleagues. Drawing on the experiences shared in her book *Click. Stalk. Destroy.*, she examines the psychology, behaviours and tactics that underpin modern stalking.
But this session is about more than understanding what stalking looks like. It challenges delegates to ask: What are we missing?
How do we recognise stalking when it presents as a pattern of behaviours rather than isolated incidents? What are the long-term impacts on victims? And what can professionals do differently to identify, respond to and challenge stalking before it escalates?
Through personal insight, psychological expertise and practical reflection, this session will equip delegates with a deeper understanding of stalking in the digital age—and why recognising the pattern is the first step towards meaningful intervention.
- 13.35 – 14.15
TBC
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- 14.15 – 14.45 Break
- 14.45 – 15.15
Who's Responsible: Challenging Behaviour, Changing Culture & Preventing VAWG
VAWG is not simply an issue for specialist services or the criminal justice system. It affects our workplaces, communities, colleagues, friends and families, so who is responsible for preventing harm?
This session will explore the potential of perpetrator behaviour change programmes as part of a broader approach to tackling VAWG. We’ll explore the thinking behind this work, what behaviour change can realistically achieve, and how it fits alongside prevention, early intervention, specialist support and the criminal justice system.
But responsibility doesn’t sit solely with specialist services. What does this mean for organisational leaders? What can businesses realistically do to contribute to prevention? How can organisations recognise and challenge harmful behaviours, both within and beyond the workplace, without stepping into the role of specialist services?
This is a conversation about responsibility, accountability and the role we all play in creating safer environments and contributing to meaningful, sustainable change.
Because tackling VAWG isn’t someone else’s responsibility. The question is: what is ours?
- 15.30 – 16.00
What Happened to You? Rethinking Trauma, Behaviour and Human Connection
What if one simple question could fundamentally change the way we support victims, colleagues and those who access our services?
In this thought-provoking session, psychologist and author Dr Jessica Taylor challenges the way organisations understand behaviour, moving beyond the traditional question of “What’s wrong with you?” to a more compassionate and psychologically informed approach: “What happened to you?”
Drawing on her psychological expertise and the work of Aureum, Jess explores why being trauma-informed is far more than a policy, framework or checklist. It is a fundamental shift in how we understand people, recognising that trauma shapes behaviour, communication, relationships, decision-making and engagement with services in ways that are often misunderstood.
Importantly, this session moves beyond theory to focus on practical application. Delegates will explore what trauma-informed practice looks like in everyday interactions, how systems can unintentionally reinforce distress, and the small but powerful changes that can create safer, more compassionate environments for those affected by trauma.
Whether you work in policing, healthcare, defence, education, safeguarding or victim support, this session will leave you asking not only “What happened?” but “What can I do differently?”
- 16.00 – 16.30
When Protection Fails: The Story Behind Danielle's Law
How do we ensure that those who seek help are protected—not placed at greater risk?
In this deeply moving and thought-provoking session, Jonathan Haggerty shares the story of his sister, Danielle, whose death has become the catalyst for change through Danielle’s Law. Through his family’s lived experience, Jonathan explores the devastating consequences of missed opportunities, systemic failures and the importance of placing victims’ safety at the centre of every decision.
This session is about more than Danielle’s story. It is a powerful call to action for professionals across policing, safeguarding, healthcare, justice and public services to consider what happens when information is not shared effectively, when warning signs are missed, and when systems fail those they are designed to protect.
Delegates will be challenged to reflect on their own role in creating safer responses for victims, understanding the importance of professional curiosity, information sharing and accountability. Above all, this session highlights why Danielle’s Law matters, and how learning from one family’s unimaginable loss has the potential to save lives.
