A taskforce to help reduce violence against women and girls on university campuses, announced by Business Secretary Sajid Javid, has been welcomed by the student group the NUS.
Universities UK has been asked to set up and lead the taskforce with the support of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The taskforce will work with the higher education sector, to develop a code of practice to bring about cultural change, leverage existing complaints mechanisms more effectively and improve engagement with Crime Prevention Officers.
Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Nobody should be put off going to University because of fears about their safety. If my children choose that path, I would expect my daughter to be as safe as my son on any campus in this country. This taskforce will ensure that universities have a plan to stamp out violence against women and provide a safe environment for all their students. We do not tolerate this behaviour in any part of society and I’m not prepared to let it take place on university campuses unchecked.”
The taskforce is expected to be convened in the autumn (2015) and work over 12 months. In a letter to Nicola Dandridge, CEO of Universities UK, the taskforce has been asked to:
develop a code of practice for institutions to support cultural change
explore how a kitemark scheme could be developed and awarded to successful institutions
explore how better to engage with Crime Prevention Officers
ensure best use of the existing complaints mechanisms such as the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and, for students, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator
encourage institutions to ensure that the right links are in place with existing local activity, including through the Home Office Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy
Universities Minister, Jo Johnson said: “Universities already take their responsibilities for the safety of all students incredibly seriously. They have strong clear legal duties through the Equalities Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. This task force will make sure that the universities are doing all they can to meet their legal obligations and, will see where they can go further.”
NUS welcome
The National Union of Students says it’s been campaigning on the issue of ‘lad culture’ on campuses for the past five years. The Government quoted from the (NUS) Hidden Marks report. Susuana Amoah, NUS Women’s Officer, said: “I am happy to see the Government starting to take the issues women face on campuses across the UK seriously. This is the first step in what I hope is a move to making education, work and social spaces accessible to all women, and that women are treated fairly and with respect.
“We need the education community to get behind the work that NUS and students’ unions are doing and support students in challenging lad culture, sexual harassment and violence on campuses.”
Pictured: CCTV signage, Durham University.
