7 ways the Government must tackle sexual harassment of women and girls in public places
Sexual harassment pervades the lives of women and girls and is deeply ingrained in our culture.
It affects the lives of nearly every woman in the UK. Most experience sexual harassment at some point; many start to experience it when they are still children, and are harassed so frequently that it becomes a routine part of everyday life.
Through our inquiry, we have found that on public transport, in bars and clubs, in online spaces and at university, in parks and on the street, it is a routine and sometimes relentless experience for women and girls.
The last five years have seen a growing public debate about sexual harassment of women and girls in the UK. From October 2017, the global #MeToo movement put sexual harassment and abuse in the headlines. While men may not always recognise the level, impact and harm of sexual harassment in many women’s lives, women are glad that it is at long last being openly discussed.
The Equality Act 2010 defines sexual harassment as “unwanted conduct of a sexual nature” which has the purpose or effect of “creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment." We have found, however, that laws don't necessarily reflect the full breadth of the problem.
These are 7 issues the Government must tackle
1. Policy on violence against women and girls
The refreshed Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, due later in 2018, must set out a comprehensive programme of work to make all public places safe for all women and girls.
That programme must be informed by data collection on the extent and nature of sexual harassment in public places, which currently does not happen centrally.
2. Actively working to understand and prevent the problem
The Government must use the available research evidence, and commission further research, to understand the causes of sexual harassment and design work to prevent it.
This work should include a long-term, evaluated programme of public campaigns to tackle the attitudes that underpin sexual harassment.
3. Criminal laws
A new law should be brought forward on image-based sexual abuse to criminalise all non-consensual creation and distribution of intimate sexual images, on the basis of the victim’s lack of consent rather than perpetrator motivation.
4. Women and girls’ safety on public transport
Train operators should be required through Franchise Agreements to have a robust policy on preventing and tackling sexual harassment and to block access to pornography.
Bus regulations should be amended to prohibit sexual harassment and viewing pornography on buses.
5. Women and girls’ safety at night
Licensing Act 2003 guidance should be amended to ensure that licensees take action on sexual harassment.
Local authorities must consult local women’s groups and sexual violence specialists when deciding their policies on licensing strip clubs and lap-dancing clubs.
6. Women’s safety at university
Universities should have a legal obligation to have policies outlawing sexual harassment, including collecting and publishing data on the effectiveness of those policies.
7. Creating a healthier media and culture
The Government should take an evidence-based approach to addressing the harms of pornography, similar to the huge investment there has been over many years in tackling road safety, or preventing public health problems caused by lawful behaviour such as smoking.
We are giving these recommendations to the Government as the Women and Equalities Committee, 11 MPs from different political parties.
The Government has two months to respond to our report. To read more depth and detail about our recommendations, read our report on Sexual harassment of women and girls in public places [PDF] or see more on our website.
If you're interested in the work of our committee, find out more about our other inquiries.
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