Agenda item

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).