Jewish Women’s Aid has raised concerns that a proposed comissioner to deal with domestic abuse will not do enough to address sexual abuse and harassment against women.

The charity welcomed new laws set to be introduced to the UK to support victims of domestic violence, including what will be the first statutory Government definition of domestic abuse, but said it was concerned that the role of a comissioner would not cover the “range of behaviours perpetrated against women and girls, for example sexual abuse and sexual harassment.”

The draft Domestic Abuse Bill recognises economic abuse and controlling and manipulative non-physical abuse as part of the definition but does not include sexual abuse or violence.

A new Commissioner appointed by the Government is expected to drive the response to domestic abuse.

JWA Chief Executive Naomi Dickson said: “We are concerned that the role of the commissioner is limited to domestic abuse, and not extended to include the range of behaviours perpetrated against women and girls, for example sexual abuse and sexual harassment, and would welcome the inclusion of these.”

Ms Dickson said combating domestic abuse “needs to be strongly linked with effective relationships and sex education”.

She said the Government’s guidance via the Department of Education could be developed further.

Ms Dickson said schools were not “obligated” to follow a specific curriculum around healthy sex and relationships.

She called on Jewish schools to recognise the importance of sex and relationship education because “high levels” of abuse are recorded “between the ages of 16 and 25” nationally.

She added: “At JWA we understand individual schools in our community have their own ethos and we work closely with schools to make sure they are comfortable with all the material we use in informal education sessions.

“By investing in this and in early interventions, the Government could further improve the response to domestic abuse and we look forward to working with them and with organisations such as Women’s Aid to develop this, so that women no longer need to live in fear.”