Agenda item
Notice of Motion: End Misogyny and Violence against Women and Girls
The Council notes:
· Across the UK misogyny, harassment and violence towards women and girls is endemic
· That like women and girls across the country our residents suffer harassment and abuse every single day. A 2021 YouGov national survey on behalf of UN Women UK found that among women aged 18-24, 97% said they had been sexually harassed, while 80% of women of all ages said they had experienced sexual harassment in public spaces.
· The ONS reported that last year alone 618,000 women were victims of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual assault by a man.
· In the year to March 2020, just 1.4% of rape cases recorded by police resulted in a suspect being charged (or receiving a summons).
· That the Law Commission is currently reviewing all current hate crime legislation to consider whether any additional characteristics, including misogyny, should be granted legal protection, and is due to report back to Parliament in 2021.
· The Government announced in March that from Autumn Police Forces will record misogyny as a hate crime on an ‘experimental basis’, following years of Campaigning from Women’s Groups and campaigners.
· In Manchester, the home of the Pankhurst and the Women’s rights movement, we are proud as a city to have active campaigning and support organisations who have continually fought for the safety and protection of women.
· Studies have shown that the intersectional nature of discrimination means that women with additional protected characteristics, such as those who are from Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority communities, disabled or LGBT+, are even more likely to experience harassment, discrimination and abuse.
The Council resolves:
· To ensure that Manchester City Council continues to do everything in its power to build a city free from misogyny and violence against women and girls.
· That it is vital that women’s and girl’s voices are heard; and that the Council will bring forward a process that proactively encourages and listens to women’s voices across the city. This task force will involve all women Councillors.
· To call on the Government to listen to the lived experience of women and girls across our country and to urgently act on any recommendations the commission makes to strengthen the law on hate crime, and to reform legislation around harassment to recognise as an offence a ‘course of conduct’ which targets women and girls in their community.
· To call on the Government to provide the resource and funding for police forces across the UK to effectively tackle harassment, misogyny and domestic abuse.
· To call on Greater Manchester Police to record harassment of women as a hate crime as soon as possible, not to wait until Autumn.
· To work alongside Greater Manchester’s recently announced 10 Year Strategy to tackle Violence against Women and Girls
· To become a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation
Proposed by Councillor S Judge
Seconded by Councillor Abdullatif
Also signed by: Councillors Azra Ali, Nasrin Ali, Sameem Ali, Alijah, Appleby, Battle, Butt, Chambers, Collins, Cooley, Craig, Yasmine Dar, Davies, Doswell, Douglas, Green, Hewitson, Hitchen, Holt, Igbon, Kamal, Kirkpatrick, Lanchbury, Lovecy, Ludford, Lynch, Midgley, Mary Monaghan, Madeleine Monaghan, Moore, Noor, Hannah Priest, Rawlins, Reeves, Reid, Richards, Rowles, Russell, Sadler, Shilton Godwin, Kelly Simcock, Stogia, Taylor, Watson, and Wright
Minutes:
Motion proposed and seconded:
The
Council notes:
· Across the UK misogyny, harassment and violence
towards women and girls is endemic.
· That like women and girls across the country our residents
suffer harassment and abuse every single day. A 2021
YouGov national survey on behalf of UN Women UK
found that among women aged 18-24, 97% said they had
been sexually harassed, while 80% of women of all ages
said they had experienced sexual harassment in public
spaces.
· The ONS reported that last year alone 618,000 women
were victims of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual
assault by a man.
· In the year to March 2020, just 1.4% of rape cases
recorded by police resulted in a suspect being
charged (or receiving a summons).
· That the Law Commission is currently reviewing all current
hate crime legislation to consider whether any additional
characteristics, including misogyny, should be granted
legal protection, and is due to report back to Parliament in
2021.
· The Government announced in March that from Autumn
Police Forces will record misogyny as a hate crime on an
‘experimental basis’, following years of Campaigning from
Women’s Groups and campaigners.
· In Manchester, the home of the Pankhurst and the
Women’s rights movement, we are proud as a city to have
active campaigning and support organisations who have
continually fought for the safety and protection of women.
· Studies have shown that the intersectional nature of
discrimination means that women with additional
protected characteristics, such as those who are from
Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority communities, disabled or
LGBT+, are even more likely to experience harassment,
discrimination and abuse.
The Council resolves:
· To ensure that Manchester City Council continues to do
everything in its power to build a city free from misogyny
and violence against women and girls.
· That it is vital that women’s and girl’s voices are heard;
and that the Council will bring forward a process that
proactively encourages and listens to women’s voices
across the city. This task force will involve all women
Councillors.
· To call on the Government to listen to the lived
experience of women and girls across our country and to
urgently act on any recommendations the commission
makes to strengthen the law on hate crime, and to reform
legislation around harassment to recognise as an offence
a ‘course of conduct’ which targets women and girls in
their community.
· To call on the Government to provide the resource and
funding for police forces across the UK to effectively
tackle harassment, misogyny and domestic abuse.
· To call on Greater Manchester Police to record
harassment of women as a hate crime as soon as
possible, not to wait until Autumn.
· To work alongside Greater Manchester’s recently
announced 10 Year Strategy to tackle Violence
against Women and Girls.
· To become a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation.
The motion was then put to the Council. It was voted upon and the Lord Mayor declared that it was CARRIED.
Decision
The
Council notes:
· Across the UK misogyny, harassment and violence
towards women and girls is endemic.
· That like women and girls across the country our residents
suffer harassment and abuse every single day. A 2021
YouGov national survey on behalf of UN Women UK
found that among women aged 18-24, 97% said they had
been sexually harassed, while 80% of women of all ages
said they had experienced sexual harassment in public
spaces.
· The ONS reported that last year alone 618,000 women
were victims of a sexual assault or an attempted sexual
assault by a man.
· In the year to March 2020, just 1.4% of rape cases
recorded by police resulted in a suspect being
charged (or receiving a summons).
· That the Law Commission is currently reviewing all current
hate crime legislation to consider whether any additional
characteristics, including misogyny, should be granted
legal protection, and is due to report back to Parliament in
2021.
· The Government announced in March that from Autumn
Police Forces will record misogyny as a hate crime on an
‘experimental basis’, following years of Campaigning from
Women’s Groups and campaigners.
· In Manchester, the home of the Pankhurst and the
Women’s rights movement, we are proud as a city to have
active campaigning and support organisations who have
continually fought for the safety and protection of women.
· Studies have shown that the intersectional nature of
discrimination means that women with additional
protected characteristics, such as those who are from
Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority communities, disabled or
LGBT+, are even more likely to experience harassment,
discrimination and abuse.
The Council resolves:
· To ensure that Manchester City Council continues to do
everything in its power to build a city free from misogyny
and violence against women and girls.
· That it is vital that women’s and girl’s voices are heard;
and that the Council will bring forward a process that
proactively encourages and listens to women’s voices
across the city. This task force will involve all women
Councillors.
· To call on the Government to listen to the lived
experience of women and girls across our country and to
urgently act on any recommendations the commission
makes to strengthen the law on hate crime, and to reform
legislation around harassment to recognise as an offence
a ‘course of conduct’ which targets women and girls in
their community.
· To call on the Government to provide the resource and
funding for police forces across the UK to effectively
tackle harassment, misogyny and domestic abuse.
· To call on Greater Manchester Police to record
harassment of women as a hate crime as soon as
possible, not to wait until Autumn.
· To work alongside Greater Manchester’s recently
announced 10 Year Strategy to tackle Violence
against Women and Girls.
· To become a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation
(Councillor Watson declared a personal interest as a Pankhurst Trust (incorporating Manchester Women's Aid) Trustee.)
(At this point the Lord Mayor adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes. The meeting resumed at 11.50am).