‘Violence Against Women & Girls’ road show |
Reading East MP speaks out against violence towards women
Rob Wilson spent his Thursday evening at Thames Valley University (TVU) attending the Home Office ‘Violence Against Women & Girls’ road show. Representatives from the Home Office were at TVU with their red tour bus to spread the word about people can get involved in the conversation about stopping violence against women. They were also providing advice and support for women who are already suffering, and who need help. The road show is part of a new initiative announced by the Home Secretary this week which is the largest ever, cross-government public consultation on violence against women and girls. The consultation looks at how we can: · Prevent violence against women from happening in the first place; · Help friends, family, employers and public services to identify early signs of violence as soon as possible and do something about it; · Protect and support the children who are growing up in violent households; · Make sure that men who have attacked or abused already don’t continue to do so; · Help women feel safer when they travel. It also outlines plans to set up a new advisory group that will look at how schools can prevent violence against women, as well as a review into the increasing sexualisation of teenage girls. Speaking at TVU, Rob said, “I hope that this initiative goes some way to increasing awareness of the problem. Too often we hear about women who have been subjected to physical and mental violence by their partners and, more often than not, they end up blaming themselves and staying in these violent relationships. “A recent opinion poll revealed that more than one third of people know a woman who has been the victim of violence from a man she knows. The use of violence against anyone is unacceptable, no matter what the circumstances, but particularly against women and girls.” |
