Today marks the start of 16 days of action, from today’s International Day for the elimination of violence against women to Human Rights Day on 10th December, when events all over the world will raise awareness and take action to stop violence against women.
Jo Swinson and Lynne Featherstone have been speaking to students at an NUS event aimed at Kings College London about the importance of changing the culture and the role that men and boys need to play in that.
.@joswinson and @lfeatherstone with @ikramofficial call for men to act to end violence against women. #evaw#16dayspic.twitter.com/c99JUlcQDq
— Govt_Women (@Govt_Women) November 25, 2014
In September this year, NUS published research which showed that 1 in 3 female students had suffered sexual harassment and 2 in 3 were concerned about the influence of misogynistic online “lads'” communities.
Lynne had earlier blogged about of the importance of men and boys taking a stand against violence against women:
I am focusing this world day on ‘Men as Agents of Change’. I am going to King’s College with the White Ribbon Campaign for an event focusing on men.
The White Ribbon Campaign is the UK branch of a male led, global campaign to make sure men take more responsibility for reducing the level of violence against women. They ask men to make a personal pledge to take a stand against violence and pledge never to commute, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women. Organisations such as councils, police forces and towns are able to apply for White Ribbon Status.
The event has been arranged with the help of the National Union of Students who recently published a survey called Lad Culture and Sexism in September 2014 which found that one in four students have suffered unwelcome sexual advances, defined as inappropriate touching and groping in universities.
Misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual abuse, domestic violence, stalking, grooming, trolling, everydaysexism – this is not OK. Everyone needs to stand up against this tide of violence against women.
So, how many of the 49 male Liberal Democrat MPs do you think have taken heed of her concerns and tweeted something supportive to mark today?
At the time of writing, a colossal two of them.
A roll call of the virtuous:
#EndViolenceAgainstWomen. I strongly support @GlamourMagUK and @Avon_UK‘s #wallofsilence campaign. #WhiteRibbonDay pic.twitter.com/l5tFeoD3qk
— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) November 25, 2014
and
I’ve made a personal pledge to support the #WhiteRibbonDay campaign. Please join me: http://t.co/yuVlxEe8YW — Tim Farron (@timfarron) November 25, 2014
Julian Huppert gets an Honourable Mention for retweeting Nick’s tweet. Our MPs should be setting a good example and telling all their constituents that they understand the issues, that they want to work to stop the dangers that women face on a daily basis, that they want to see services available locally, nationally and internationally to protect women. They need to show that they think this stuff is important. Sadly, their disinterest is not untypical, as Catherine Bearder MEP tweeted:
Watch me speak now in debate on #ViolenceAgainstWomen. Only two men on the list of MEPs wanting to speak! http://t.co/tVlzqvpBbr
— Catherine Bearder (@catherinemep) November 25, 2014
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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14 Comments
Ironically I got a close view of official attitudes this evening when I caught my next-door neighbour holding his young daughter by the throat, shouting & trying to push her into his flat. She was crying & making it plain that she didnt want to go inside. She doesnt live with him, thank god.
I called The Police & they came within 5 minutes; however they didnt feel they could do anything as she was his daughter. The phrase “Reasonable Chastisement” was used. That gives us some idea of how far Police culture needs to change.
Well done Paul. “Reasonable Chastisement” !!!!!!! Unbelievable.
Well done Tim and Nick
A roll call of the virtuous…breaking the wall of silence…women resigning because of Rennard…
@Paul Barker
So you self importantly called the police on a parent trying to restrain a child in mid-tantrum after you’d jumped to a few conclusions based on your prejudices? Do you realise that it’s people like you who devalue campaigns like this? Fortunately our police have more common sense than you do.
Caron – I don’t know if you have seen this video of extracts from an interview with the late Aaron Russo, but with the EU pressing for TTIP and Osborne clearly favouring global bankers and corporations in the measures he has introduced – do you think there is any truth in what he is saying?
He includes the origins of women’s liberation in the interview which can be found in full – also on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuinaIm-kd4
I ask because in a recent article in the Guardian on conspiracy theories a commenter posted ‘There is only one conspiracy; and that is global, corporate capitalism.’ – which got more than 400 recommendations – so we can conclude that there is considerable belief in what Russo is saying.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/25/conspiracy-theories-secret-oil-fields-north-sea#comment-44149531
@Paul Barker. Well done for contacting the police. However, based on what they told you (i.e. Reasonable Chastisement), I would suggest that you need to inform social services as well. To me holding a child by the throat is not acceptable behaviour, nor is it reasonable chastisement. You know exactly what you saw. Tell it to more than just the police.
@ Paul Barker.
Well done. Please don’t be put off reporting any incident that you believe to be domestic violence.
The number of cases of domestic violence reported to police has risen but the proportion that have got no further than the police and reached the CPS has fallen. There is wide variation between police forces. This variation is one that must be addressed.
OOps.
I forgot to thank Lynne Featherstone and Jo Swinson. The education of men and boys of their important role in the prevention of domestic violence has long been a weak link in the efforts to reduce this widespread crime.
Caron – am I not to get the benefit of your wisdom on the Aaron Russo video?
John Roffey, I’ve actually been really sick for most of the last eek and have spent most of today in bed. Thank you for asking. As for the video, that’s 10 minutes of my life I’m not going to get back. Women’s Liberation created by the elite so that women could be taxed and so that the children could be indoctrinated by the state and their family could be broken up. It defies any sort of logic, much like the rest of his notions.
I can’t believe that Paul Barker’s entirely responsible actions are being questioned in this thread. There is never any excuse for grabbing a child by the throat. I’m shocked that anyone would have sympathy with the father over the child. Think what her life must be like. Moments like that can stay with kids forever.
Caron – if you are pressed for time at the moment I can wait until you have more. However, I think you must accept that TTIP starts to fulfil the concept of a single US/EU market run by bankers and global corporations. I would not have brought up the issue if so many Guardian commenters had not recommended the post related to these issues.
Aaron Russo was someone of significant accomplishment so it is unlikely that he had the need to undermine his reputation by recounting conversations with a member of the world’s most powerful banking family if they did not occur.
The reason I became intrigued was that the latest advances in ‘women’s rights’ have been achieved with so little effort when compared to the suffering that Emmeline Pankhurst and her movement had to endure for the gains they achieved. It is as if our ruling elite have been eager to grant almost every wish of the feminist movement – in contrast to what has happened in the past.
When these people are accommodating – suspicions must be aroused and AR provides a basis for these suspicions.
If you are satisfied that what AR says is nonsense – please feel no obligation to respond further.
@ John Roffey,
‘It is as if our ruling elite have been eager to grant every wish to the feminist movement – in contrast to what has happened in the past.
I wish!