Miliband appoints first Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls

Ed Miliband has today confirmed that Seema Malhotra MP has joined the Shadow Home Affairs team as the first Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls. Malhotra will “champion the needs of all victims of rape, domestic and sexual violence, as well as FGM, forced marriage, trafficking and prostitution”, as well as helping to shape  Labour’s Women’s Safety Commission.

Seema joins the Shadow Home Affairs team after Helen Jones stepped down at the end of July, and released the following statement in response to her appointment:

“I feel very proud to have been appointed as the Labour Party’s first ever Shadow Minister for Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls. It is significant that Labour has made this issue such a priority and I look forward to working with colleagues to try and make a real difference to women who have experienced huge trauma in their lives.

“The level of violence against women in Britain and indeed the world is shocking and too little is being done to prevent these crimes, support the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. I will be looking to change this and look forward to working with Ed and Yvette to make sure a Labour Government offers a real alternative to women and children trapped in cycles of violence.”