ED Miliband has appointed Labour's first shadow minister for tackling violence against women and girls.

Seema Malhotra will work on Labour's Women's Safety Commission, which will draw up new laws to be implemented if Mr Miliband wins the next election.

She said there was a "shocking" level of violence against women both in ­Britain and abroad and that too little was being done to help victims.

Ms Malhotra said: "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."

As part of Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's front-bench team, she will work on issues including sexual violence, female ­genital mutilation, forced marriage, trafficking and prostitution.