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    Domestic violence and child protection policy tracker, 2026

    October 2026 is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the US. New CDC survey data show more than 1 in 3 US women and 1 in 6 men have experienced intimate partner violence.[1][2] VAWA's grant authorizations run until 2027, while a court fight over Justice Department grant conditions continues. Congress has not settled the Kids Online Safety Act, and the UK plans an under-16 social media ban.[3][4][5][6]

    Editor reviewedStrict sourcingUpdated DevelopingSocial welfare, Tech policy

    What we know

    • More than 1 in 3 US women and 1 in 6 US men have experienced partner violence, sexual violence or stalking by a partner (NISVS 2023/2024)[2]
    • US CPS confirmed 532,228 child maltreatment victims in FFY 2024[14]
    • About 331,747 children were in US foster care on September 30, 2025 (preliminary)[17]
    • About 3.8 million people in England and Wales experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2025[26]
    • VAWA grant programs are authorized until 2027[3]
    • OVW's FY 2026 grant condition #15 is preliminarily stayed by a federal court[4]
    • The House passed the KIDS Act without KOSA's duty of care; the Senate Commerce Committee approved KOSA with it[5]
    • The UK plans to lay its first under-16 social media regulations by the end of 2026[23]

    What we don't know yet

    • Whether Congress will reconcile the House KIDS Act and the Senate KOSA before the 119th Congress ends
    • How the Rhode Island grant-conditions case will finally be resolved, and whether DOJ will appeal
    • When Congress will begin work on reauthorizing VAWA's grant programs before their 2027 authorization ends
    • When ONS will publish its next domestic abuse overview (listed as to be announced)
    • How the UK will define and enforce its under-16 social media ban, and whether Parliament approves the regulations
    Story status

    Story status

    State
    developing
    Started
    2024-06-21
    Timeline entries
    20
    Last entry

    Timeline data (JSON)

    If you are in danger now, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK). The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is on 1-800-799-7233 (text START to 88788), and the Childhelp child abuse hotline on 1-800-422-4453.[7][8] In the UK, call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.[9][10]

    This tracker follows policy, data and court decisions on domestic violence and child protection in the US and UK, with dated and sourced entries through 11 October 2026. It covers laws and statistics only; it does not report on individual cases or identify victims. For background, start with domestic violence explained or child protection explained.

    Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2026

    October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the US. The White House marked it with a presidential message on October 2, 2026.[1] The message said the President would make sure shelters, counselors, advocates and hotlines have the resources they need.[11] The latest CDC data, from the 2023/2024 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, put lifetime partner violence at more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men.[2]

    VAWA and federal funding

    The 2022 reauthorization funds VAWA grant programs until 2027.[3] In June 2025 state coalitions sued over new Justice Department grant conditions.[12] The court granted a preliminary injunction in August 2025.[13] As of 11 October 2026, OVW’s FY 2026 terms list condition #15 as stayed and unenforceable.[4] See the VAWA page for details.

    Child protection data

    The Child Maltreatment 2024 report, published January 16, 2026, counted 532,228 confirmed victims. Neglect was the most common type, and 1,773 children died from abuse and neglect.[14][15][16] Preliminary AFCARS data put 331,747 children in foster care on September 30, 2025.[17] In England, 49,420 children were on child protection plans at 31 March 2025. The next release is due in December 2026.[18][19]

    Online child safety

    The House passed the KIDS Act in June 2026 without KOSA’s duty of care. The Senate Commerce Committee approved KOSA with the duty in August.[20][21][5] In the UK, the Online Safety Act’s child-safety duties have been enforceable since 25 July 2025.[22] The government intends to lay under-16 social media regulations by the end of 2026.[23] See the online child safety debate.

    UK domestic abuse policy

    The December 2025 strategy aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.[24] It includes a rollout of domestic abuse protection orders across England and Wales.[25] ONS’s latest overview, from November 2025, estimated 3.8 million people experienced domestic abuse in the year to March 2025.[26]

    Timeline

    20 confirmed

    1. confirmed

      FY 2026 VAWA grant condition remains stayed[4]

      OVW's FY 2026 terms say condition

    2. confirmed

      White House marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month[1][11]

    3. confirmed

      CDC posts NISVS 2023/2024 partner violence figures[2][41]

      Date is the CDC page's last-reviewed date; more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men reported lifetime partner violence.

    4. confirmed

      Senate Commerce Committee approves KOSA with duty of care[5][40]

    5. confirmed

      House passes the KIDS Act, 267-117[20][21]

      The package includes a revised Kids Online Safety Act without its duty of care.

    6. confirmed

      UK government commits to a social media ban for under-16s[6][23]

      A June 2026 progress statement said the first regulations would be laid by the end of 2026 (exact publication day not given on the page).

    7. confirmed

      Most amended COPPA rule requirements become enforceable[32]

    8. confirmed

      Preliminary AFCARS foster care data for FFY 2025[17][39]

    9. confirmed

      Child Maltreatment 2024 report published[38][14][16]

      CPS agencies confirmed 532,228 victims in FFY 2024; 1,773 children died from abuse and neglect.

    10. confirmed

      UK publishes strategy to halve violence against women and girls[24][25]

      The strategy includes specialist rape investigation teams in every force and a national rollout of domestic abuse protection orders.

    11. confirmed

      ONS publishes domestic abuse overview for year to March 2025[26][37]

    12. confirmed

      England publishes children in need statistics for 2025[36][18]

    13. confirmed

      Court blocks new VAWA grant conditions[13]

    14. confirmed

      UK Online Safety Act child-safety duties become enforceable[22][35]

      Sites with pornography or content encouraging self-harm, suicide or eating disorders must use highly effective age assurance.

    15. confirmed

      Supreme Court upholds Texas age-verification law for adult sites[34]

    16. confirmed

      State coalitions sue DOJ over VAWA grant conditions[12][33]

    17. confirmed

      FTC publishes amended children's privacy (COPPA) rule[32]

      The rule took effect June 23, 2025, with most compliance due by April 22, 2026.

    18. confirmed

      Supreme Court upholds gun ban for people under domestic violence orders[30][31]

      In United States v. Rahimi, the Court ruled 8-1 that people found to pose a credible threat may be temporarily disarmed.

    19. confirmed

      VAWA reauthorized through 2027[3][29]

      The 2022 law reauthorized all VAWA grant programs until 2027 and expanded tribal criminal jurisdiction.

    20. confirmed

      UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 receives Royal Assent[27][28]

      The Act created a statutory definition of domestic abuse, including coercive control and economic abuse, and a Domestic Abuse Commissioner.

    Sources

    · 41 claims from 27 publishers

    Each numbered claim is a statement we checked against the sources listed with it. Tap a number in the text to see its sources in place.

    1. [1]

      October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the United States; the White House issued a presidential message marking it on October 2, 2026. confirmedas of 2026-10-02

    2. [2]

      According to CDC data from the 2023/2024 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, more than 1 in 3 US women (nearly 43.5 million) and more than 1 in 6 US men (20.7 million) experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. confirmedas of 2026-08-19

      • About Intimate Partner Violence · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Quick facts; cites NISVS 2023/2024 Data Brief; page last reviewed August 19, 2026 (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    3. [3]

      The VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022, signed in March 2022 as part of an omnibus appropriations law, reauthorized all VAWA grant programs until 2027. confirmedas of 2022-03-16

    4. [4]

      As of October 2026, OVW's FY 2026 grant terms say general award condition confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    5. [5]

      On August 5, 2026, the Senate Commerce Committee approved KOSA, which includes a duty of care, by unanimous voice vote, sending it to the Senate floor; the bill had 76 Senate cosponsors. confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    6. [6]

      In a June 2026 progress statement, the UK government said it would ban social media companies from offering their services to under-16s, citing a consultation in which about 9 in 10 parents favoured a ban. confirmedas of 2026-08-19

    7. [7]

      The US National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233 (800-799-SAFE), by texting START to 88788 or by online chat, and describes its service as free, confidential and 24/7. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    8. [8]

      The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached by calling or texting 1-800-422-4453, or by live chat. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    9. [9]

      In England, Refuge's National Domestic Abuse Helpline is a free, 24-hour line on 0808 2000 247, for victims and for concerned friends and family. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    10. [10]

      GOV.UK directs adults worried about a child to the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 and children and young people to Childline on 0800 1111, and says to call 999 if a child is at immediate risk. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    11. [11]

      In its 2026 Domestic Violence Awareness Month message, the White House said the President would make certain that shelters, counselors, advocates and hotlines have the resources they need. confirmedas of 2026-10-02

    12. [12]

      State domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions sued the Justice Department in the US District Court for Rhode Island on June 16, 2025 (case 1:25-cv-00279), challenging new conditions on OVW grants. confirmedas of 2025-06-16

    13. [13]

      The court granted the coalitions a preliminary injunction in August 2025, temporarily blocking the OVW grant conditions. confirmedas of 2025-08-08

    14. [14]

      There were 532,228 victims of child abuse and neglect in the US in FFY 2024, a rate of 7.2 per 1,000 children. confirmedas of 2026-01-16

      • Child Maltreatment 2024 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau · 2026-01-16 · Summary (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    15. [15]

      Neglect was the most common maltreatment type in FFY 2024; 63.3% of victims experienced neglect only and 79.3% experienced neglect alone or with another type. confirmedas of 2026-01-16

      • Child Maltreatment 2024 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau · 2026-01-16 · Summary (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    16. [16]

      In FFY 2024, 52 states reported that 1,773 children died from abuse and neglect, a rate of 2.41 per 100,000 children. confirmedas of 2026-01-16

      • Child Maltreatment 2024 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau · 2026-01-16 · Summary (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    17. [17]

      An estimated 331,747 children were in US foster care on September 30, 2025, according to preliminary AFCARS data, compared with 327,364 a year earlier. confirmedas of 2026-02-27

    18. [18]

      Nearly 50,000 children in England (49,420) were on child protection plans on 31 March 2025, about 1 in 250 children; neglect (50%) and emotional abuse (37%) were the most common initial categories. confirmedas of 2025-10-30

    19. [19]

      The Department for Education's next children in need release is scheduled for December 2026. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    20. [20]

      On June 29, 2026, the US House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act 267-117, a package of 14 proposals including a revised Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). confirmedas of 2026-06-29

    21. [21]

      The House package dropped KOSA's "duty of care" provision, which would have required platforms to take reasonable care to prevent listed harms to minors. confirmedas of 2026-06-29

    22. [22]

      From 25 July 2025 the Online Safety Act's child protections became fully enforceable, requiring sites with pornography or content encouraging self-harm, suicide or eating disorders to use "highly effective age assurance" such as facial age estimation, photo-ID matching or credit card checks. confirmedas of 2025-07-24

    23. [23]

      The UK government said it intends to lay the first regulations on age restrictions for social media services before Parliament by the end of 2026, and they must be approved by both Houses. reportedas of 2026-08-19· forecast

    24. [24]

      On 17 December 2025 the UK government published a violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy; Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government had declared VAWG a national emergency and would halve it in a decade. confirmedas of 2025-12-17

    25. [25]

      The December 2025 VAWG strategy said every police force will introduce specialist rape and sexual offence investigation teams, and that domestic abuse protection orders will be rolled out across England and Wales with possible curfews, electronic tagging and exclusion zones, and up to 5 years in jail for breaches. confirmedas of 2025-12-17

    26. [26]

      The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated that about 3.8 million people aged 16 and over (7.8%) experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025, including 2.2 million women and girls (9.1%) and 1.5 million men and boys (6.5%). confirmedas of 2025-11-26

    27. [27]

      The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2021 and, among other things, established a Domestic Abuse Commissioner. confirmedas of 2021-04-29

    28. [28]

      The UK Domestic Abuse Act 2021 defines domestic abuse as abusive behaviour between people aged 16 or over who are personally connected, including physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, and psychological, emotional or other abuse. confirmedas of 2026-10-11

    29. [29]

      The 2022 reauthorization expanded tribal courts' special criminal jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators to cover sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking and assaults on tribal law enforcement officers on tribal lands. confirmedas of 2022-03-16

    30. [30]

      On June 21, 2024, in United States v. Rahimi, the Supreme Court held that a person found by a court to pose a credible threat to another's physical safety may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment. confirmedas of 2024-06-21

    31. [31]

      Chief Justice Roberts wrote the 8-1 Rahimi opinion, joined by seven other justices; Justice Thomas dissented. confirmedas of 2024-06-21

    32. [32]

      The FTC's amended Children's Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) Rule took effect on June 23, 2025, with most compliance required by April 22, 2026; it requires separate verifiable parental consent before sharing children's data with third parties such as ad networks. confirmedas of 2025-04-22

    33. [33]

      According to the plaintiffs' counsel, the lawsuit challenged DOJ grant conditions aimed at grantees that run diversity, equity and inclusion programs, serve immigrants or recognise gender identity, among other things. reportedas of 2026-10-01

    34. [34]

      On June 27, 2025, in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the Supreme Court upheld under intermediate scrutiny a Texas law requiring certain sexually explicit websites to verify that visitors are 18 or older. confirmedas of 2025-06-27

    35. [35]

      When the child safety duties took effect, the UK government said a thousand platforms had confirmed to Ofcom that they had age checks in place. confirmedas of 2025-07-24

    36. [36]

      In England there were over 400,000 children in need on 31 March 2025 (402,400), about 1 in every 30 children. confirmedas of 2025-10-30

    37. [37]

      Police in England and Wales recorded 816,493 domestic abuse-related crimes in the year ending March 2025, down from 851,062, a fall ONS attributes to changes in police recording practices; domestic abuse-related prosecutions rose to 54,987 from 51,183. ONS notes that police recorded crime does not measure domestic abuse prevalence. confirmedas of 2025-11-26

    38. [38]

      The Children's Bureau published Child Maltreatment 2024, covering federal fiscal year 2024 (October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024), on January 16, 2026. confirmedas of 2026-01-16

      • Child Maltreatment reports (series page) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (retrieved 2026-10-11)
      • Child Maltreatment 2024 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau · 2026-01-16 · Chapter 1 (retrieved 2026-10-11)
    39. [39]

      Of children leaving US foster care in FFY 2025, 46% (77,745) were reunified with family, 26% (43,380) were adopted, 10% (17,702) left to guardianship and 9% (15,030) emancipated, meaning they aged out. confirmedas of 2026-02-27

    40. [40]

      KOSA's Senate sponsors, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, rejected the House approach without a duty of care; Blackburn made the duty a red line and Blumenthal called the House version "basically toothless". confirmedas of 2026-08-05

    41. [41]

      The CDC reports that about 16 million US women and 11 million US men said they first experienced intimate partner violence before age 18. confirmedas of 2026-08-19

    Revision history (1)
    1. Page created.

    Created Oct 11, 2026. Last reviewed by an editor on Oct 11, 2026. Next scheduled review: Dec 31, 2026.

    Cite this page

    "Domestic violence and child protection policy tracker, 2026." ContentLora, updated Oct 11, 2026. https://contentlora.com/events/domestic-violence-policy-tracker

    Spotted an error? Suggest a correction or emailcorrections@contentlora.com.

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