Leading campaigners have launched a scathing attack on the UK government’s upcoming strategy to tackle gender violence, describing the consultation process as "haphazard" and exclusionary just days before its expected release.

For Kenyan observers tracking global trends in gender justice, the row highlights a critical governance lesson: even the most ambitious manifesto pledges—like the UK Labour Party's promise to halve violence rates in a decade—risk failure if policymakers ignore those working on the ground.

A Promise Delayed

Ministers in London are currently preparing for a media blitz to unveil the long-awaited plan next week. However, the road to this announcement has been paved with delays. Initially expected in the British spring, the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy was pushed to summer, and finally to late autumn.

Behind closed doors, key figures in the sector have expressed deep frustration. They allege that despite the high stakes, the government has sidelined first-hand expertise. There is a growing fear that the final strategy will lack the radical edge required to meet its own targets.

"Worse Than the Tories"

The criticism has taken a sharply political turn. One senior figure in the sector compared the current Labour administration unfavorably to the previous Conservative government (the Tories), a sentiment that stings for a party that campaigned on social justice.

• Access Denied: Sources claim it was easier to secure meetings with the previous administration.
• Chaotic Process: The drafting phase has been described as "incredibly haphazard" compared to the 2019 strategy development.
• Expert Exclusion: Frontline organizations report feeling shut out of the decision-making room.

"It is worse than under the Tories," one source noted bluntly. "In fact, we were so much better off under the Tories... This whole process has been incredibly haphazard."

Shifting Focus to Radicalization

While the full details remain under wraps, leaks suggest a pivot in how the UK approaches gender violence. The BBC has reported that the new strategy will heavily target schoolboys, built around three new pillars:

• Preventing the radicalization of young men.
• Stopping abusers before they escalate.
• Supporting victims more effectively.

While the focus on prevention is critical, the exclusion of veteran campaigners from the drafting table raises questions about whether these pillars will stand firm in practice.