2021 was ‘watershed second’ for girls’s security, campaigner says

The final 12 months has been “a watershed second” for girls’s security, after a collection of high-profile killings thrust male violence into the highlight, a charity boss and campaigner has stated.

Andrea Simon, head of the Finish Violence In opposition to Girls coalition (EVAW), stated 2021 had been an “unprecedented 12 months”, however stated efforts to additional shield ladies had not gone far sufficient.

It got here after a 12 months which noticed the kidnap, rape and homicide of Sarah Everard by off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens, the suspected murder-suicide of Gracie Spinks by her alleged stalker Michael Sellars, and the conviction of Danyal Hussein for the homicide of sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman in 2020.

The deaths of police group help officer Julia James and trainer Sabina Nessa had been additionally topic to high-profile homicide investigations this 12 months. Male suspects have been charged in every case.

Ms Simon advised the PA information company: “We’ve had case after case of high-profile murders and killings of girls.

“Nevertheless it’s additionally been an unprecedented 12 months by way of how a lot we’re speaking about violence towards ladies and women, which signifies that for a lot of it looks like a watershed second, like there’s a chance now to actually do one thing to finish violence towards ladies.

“Nevertheless, I feel lots of the options and the responses from Authorities and within the prison justice system, have missed the mark.

“We haven’t gone so far as we should always have carried out. And we haven’t moved as rapidly by way of making issues higher for girls and women who report abuse.”

The homicide of promoting government Ms Everard, 33, in Clapham, south London, prompted an outpouring of protest over ladies’s security, and resulted in an extra 180,000 contributions to the Authorities’s Violence In opposition to Girls and Ladies technique.

It triggered a variety of recent measures to be floated, included a public marketing campaign “centered on creating behavioural change” to problem misogyny in society, in addition to pledges to make sure police know learn how to successfully reply to allegations.

The Authorities additionally stated it could have a look at whether or not avenue design options might assist enhance private security in public.

And its first Rape Overview, additionally printed this summer time, resulted within the rollout of justice scorecards designed to indicate how effectively instances are being dealt with, and a give attention to investigating the behaviour of the suspect somewhat than the alleged sufferer, in addition to an apology and pledge to reverse its dismal report on rape.

Ms Simon stated: “It’s not a brand new concern – however we’re speaking about it now.

“Although we’re having these conversations, the conversations haven’t moved to specializing in males’s behaviour, and the way we will cope with male perpetrators of abuse.

“Numerous the responses from Authorities – for instance, elevated CCTV and avenue lighting – are nonetheless placing the onus on ladies and women to alter their behaviour, and to change the place they go and after they go, with a purpose to maintain themselves secure.

“We can not try this – the main focus needs to be on stopping and tackling male violence.”

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, stated it was not proper that ladies and women ought to really feel the necessity to change their routes residence, or the clothes they put on, with a purpose to really feel secure from males.

He stated: “We’re going to sort out the behaviour of males that’s main them to feeling scared, and it begins at college.

“It begins with boys being advised learn how to respect women, and about wholesome relationships.”