We all have a role to play in tackling sexual violence – that is the central message in a new campaign entitled ‘Step Up’, which has been jointly unveiled by the Isle of Wight Council and Portsmouth City Council this week.
The campaign asks people to step up and challenge their own attitudes and behaviour and to speak out if they see or hear others behaving badly.
Supported by the Home Office’s Safety of Women at Night Fund, the campaign is targeted at challenging how some people think and act on a night out on the Island. Thought-provoking questions like, if you bought a drink, would you feel like she owes you? are being shared on posters with venues like pubs and clubs, organisations such as sports clubs, and on social media.
Councillor Ian Stephens, Isle of Wight Council Cabinet lead for community safety, has said:
“It’s a sad reality that most women or girls will have experienced some type of harassment or abuse in public spaces. Time and time again, the onus for keeping themselves safe has been placed on women and girls. This campaign is designed to make us all stop and think about the attitudes we may have written off as ‘normal’ or ‘flirting’ on a night out in the past and asks us all to call it out if we see or hear something that’s not right.
“Around 80 per cent of reported sexual offences on the Island have a female victim, with a high percentage committed against women under 24 years old. Island men have a vital role in helping make the Island a safer environment. Now is the time to learn how you can step up against violence towards women and girls – think about your own behaviour and that of your mates. Call out the ‘banter’ or challenge your mate if he’s making sexually explicit comments or offer support if you see someone being hassled in a bar or club.”
The campaign is one of several related initiatives being rolled out by both councils in partnership with local organisations including Paragon, People Matter Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS).
To find out more about what you can do to help change attitudes and tackle violence against women and girls, or to find local support if you’ve experienced harassment or abuse visit www.iwight.com/communitysafety.
The cost of going out now days,
I wish someone would spike my drink.
The girl who cried wolf
I hope you’ve not got a daughter as saying things like that is disgusting, you should be ashamed of yourself mate
Ask some island drivers, I’m sure they will point you in the right direction….
Sorry but fed up with being made to apologise for being male.
ALL people deserve to be treated with respect, regardless of gender.
Well said, Mark. Totally agree.
It is ironic that this campaign has evolved because of the actions of a Met Police Officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered a young woman by taking her off the street. Perhaps better police vetting would be a good place to start before harassing men in the public. The council discriminates against men (Adult Care) and (Childrens Services). They both need to get their own “houses” in order before dictating to the public.
If we all have a role to play when do you repeatedly deny to report about actual offenders and save people from getting anywhere near them and putting themselves at risk? Secondly a majority of sexual violence cases are not one of incidents in bars. They’re committed by people that you know and trust not randoms on nights out. Yes sexual harassment and sexual violence does happen by strangers in public settings but its not as often as you’d think.
Totally sexist campaign. What about the men who experience violence and abuse? Oh, I forgot, men don’t matter, only women do.
Obviously the figures just ain’t high enough to warrant a nationwide campaign.
I bet you know more women who have been raped than men.
Or possibly it’s just that men don’t think they’d be taken seriously and may even be humiliated if they did report being intimidated or abused.
Do you really think a man going to the police because a group of women made suggestive comments at them would be treated sensitively?
We all deserve respect.
Common decency and human respect to each other on all levels seems to be a rarity these days. It’s disgusting how many dodgy authoritative figures have slipped through the net and used it to commit terrible atrocities toward others make and female. That’s where we should start and also make sure we teach our young people that any kind of abuse is wrong against others. There seems to be a lack of empathy, compassion and respect these days and it’s an awful shame. Life is cheap to some
If anyone seriously thinks that a campaign by the Council will make the slightest bit of difference to the levels of violence against men or women they are living in cloud cuckoo land. If someone has a mind to do something bad to another person they’re not going to think ‘Hold on, wasn’t there a Council poster about this?’
This is just a case of the Council ticking a box to make them look like they’re doing something. It’s a waste of money.
When I see the council applying such a focus on violence against men by women, which does happen and demanding that misandry be stamped out, then I will take notice of the hollow words that councillor stephens is trotting out.