Concluding thoughts

Acknowledging the significant development of policy, practice and research relating to domestic violence and abuse over the past thirty years, this final chapter celebrates our deeper understanding about prevalence, incidence and the impact of many forms of domestic violence, alongside emerging and robust evidence of what works in helping victims and survivors, or those who use violence and abuse within their intimate relationships. Recognising the gains which have been made in recent decades in addressing domestic violence and abuse at both a national and transnational level, we also argue that there is still much we do not know enough about and indeed that there is, at times, a lack of connectivity between the important domains of policy, practice and research. Highlighting the significance of the complex relationship between these three domains, we nonetheless reflect in this final chapter on the contribution of this Handbook to the ongoing building of the knowledge platform and its capacity to connect these three activities. Finally, we must acknowledge that this final chapter and the Handbook were completed during a global health crisis, Covid-19. While Covid-19 has been relentless and is attacking all segments of our populations, it has impacted most acutely on more vulnerable groups, including those living with domestic violence and abuse. With emerging knowledge about the challenges in responding to changing needs in an ever-changing environment, we hope that this Handbook can become an integral part of the resources needed to better understand and respond to domestic violence and abuse in all its forms, at a local, national and international level.