Today, we are announcing a crucial call to action. Gemma and I had a roundtable discussion this afternoon with the Home Office and our campaign partners Plan International UK, taking our message about public sexual harassment right to the heart of Government. Now, we need YOU to do the same.
The Home Office is currently accepting submissions to its public survey on violence against women and girls. This is our chance to show the scale of this problem, and the urgent need for change.
Use this survey to tell the UK Government about public sexual harassment and its impacts, as well as calling for it to be made a crime. It is vital we build understanding of this issue right at the heart of government.
94% of girls in the UK think that harassment should be illegal. But, currently there is no piece of legislation that specifically protects individuals against public sexual harassment - meaning women, girls and marginalised genders are left unprotected. We need as many people as possible to fill in this Home Office survey to show that this situation needs to change.
Let's take this opportunity to call on the Government to recognise that all forms of public sexual harassment, including non-physical and non-verbal sexual harassment, which have a very harmful impact on women and girls and their access to public places, should be a criminal offence.
Responding to our experiences, the Home Secretary described public sexual harassment as ‘rotten and corrosive behaviours’. This shows us that the Government is ready to listen, we just need you to take the next steps and input your testimony and views.
The survey asks for your opinion on what the Government’s priority should be in tackling violence against women and girls – this is a clear chance to share the campaign by adding ‘making all forms of sexual harassment a crime’ and ranking that as priority number one.
Taking the survey will take less than 10 minutes, and make a massive difference. Fill it in here: www.ipsos.uk/VAWGsurvey
Once you have, do let us know by tagging @ourstreetsnow and @PlanUK on social media!
Thanks again for all your support,
Maya