October 4th 2024.
A new report by FORWARD has brought to light some alarming statistics about the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault against young women in London. According to their research, a shocking eight out of ten women aged 16-34 have experienced some form of sexual abuse in the past two years. This includes 7% who reported being forced to engage in sexual behavior against their will.
FORWARD, an organization led by African women, focuses on ending violence against women and girls. Their research was conducted in collaboration with the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime and The National Lottery Community Fund. The findings revealed a disturbing trend of sexual abuse in public spaces across the UK's capital city.
But perhaps even more concerning is the fact that more than half of the ethnic women surveyed reported that their experiences of sexual harassment or assault were directly related to their racial or ethnic identity. In some cases, when these minority women rejected sexual advances, they were met with racial insults. This disturbing pattern was uncovered during the two-year study.
One 26-year-old black woman shared her experience with FORWARD, saying, "I received many sexual comments regarding my race, which usually involve sexual stereotypes to imply promiscuity." Sadly, reporting these incidents to the police often resulted in these women feeling dismissed and not believed. One woman stated, "Going to the police and reporting was not easy, as they dismissed it and gave me unwelcome comments about my appearance and race. They believed the verbal remarks of my harasser to be true and said that it's a waste of my time to report."
Metro spoke with Amy Abdelshahid, Head of Evidence at FORWARD, who expressed her shock at the high percentage of women who have experienced sexual violence in London. She stated, "These figures are sadly unsurprising and show us just how far we still have to go towards instilling a culture of intolerance towards male sexual violence against women." For black and other minority women, their experiences are compounded by racism and discrimination, making them even more vulnerable to sexual abuse.
To address this issue, Abdelshahid emphasized the need for stronger interventions focused on prevention. This includes amplifying anti-sexual harassment campaigns and implementing high-quality, properly funded relationship and sex education programs. She also stressed the importance of investigating current reporting processes to address disparities in how different ethnic groups are treated by the police and authorities.
Abdelshahid also highlighted the fact that young women from different ethnic backgrounds, sexualities, and disabilities experience sexual violence in diverse and intersectional ways. This means that policies and interventions cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, they need to be informed by the realities of these experiences and address the specific needs of each group.
In response to the report, London's Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden, stated, "This report confirms what women and girls know only too well from their own experiences." She and the Mayor are determined to prioritize ending violence against women and girls and ensure that it is treated with the utmost urgency by the police and society as a whole. They are working with key partners like FORWARD to create a safer environment for women and ensure their voices are heard and their experiences are taken seriously.
The statistics revealed in this report are shocking and serve as a reminder that violence against women and girls is a national emergency. In the UK, more than one million violent crimes were recorded against women and girls in just one year, representing a 37% increase since 2018/19. This highlights the urgent need for more action to protect and support women and girls not only in London but across the country. The government, police, and other authorities must work together to address this issue and create a safer society for all women and girls.
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