Public Health England (PHE) launches two new initiatives today to help tackle domestic violence and sexual harassment in universities and the workplace.
The
Evidence into Practice event brings together evidence-based research and explores the issue of domestic violence. The event looks ahead to the ‘
16 Days of Action’ global campaign and will host the launch of two separate initiatives that aim to raise awareness and tackle the problem of domestic violence in the UK.
The bystander ‘Intervention Initiative’
Public Health England has commissioned the University of the West of England (UWE) to develop a bystander ‘
Intervention Initiative’ - a programme to encourage all students to stand up against violence or sexual abuse in their community.
The Intervention Initiative is a free resource with an
educational toolkit to be used by universities and colleges for the prevention of sexual coercion and domestic abuse in university settings. The toolkit is available for all universities to download from today.
A
survey by the National Union of Students revealed that 37% of women and 12% of men said they had faced unwelcome sexual advances. Research has also found that female students have a greater than 1 in 3 chance of being sexually assaulted during their time at university, while freshers are at risk of being inducted into a culture that openly
disrespects and objectifies women. Rape, sexual coercion and domestic abuse are recognised as a significant yet preventable public health issue faced by all universities in the UK.
Professor Kevin Fenton, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said:
'The research around sexual coercion and assault in universities is clear and rapidly growing. It’s unacceptable that over a third of women and 12% of men said they had faced unwelcome sexual advances. There is so much universities and colleges can be doing to help tackle this issue. Everyone is entitled to a life free of violence and abuse and domestic violence isn’t inevitable. This bystander intervention toolkit for universities is about changing a generation’s approach to violence and sexual coercion.
'It is so important that those on the ground, the students, feel confident and safe enough to take active steps when they witness a problem, or experience domestic harassment themselves. We are thrilled to have put in place measures to launch this new initiative which we hope will help to change attitudes around the cultural acceptance of sexual abuse and coercion in students.'
Intervention Initiative development lead,
Dr Rachel Fenton from the University of West of England said:
'The Intervention Initiative works by educating students to recognise and understand sexual and domestic violence and take active steps when they witness problematic behaviour. It takes a positive approach, encouraging all students to be active bystanders, standing up against any form of violence or abuse in their community.
'The 8-week programme teaches students the necessary communication and leadership skills to intervene effectively and safely, and to change the social norm, making problematic violent behaviour socially unacceptable.'
