London:
Britain is thinking of producing street harassment of ladies a crime, the interior minister mentioned Wednesday, as the government was to publish new proposals to tackle violence against ladies and girls.
The government is pledging to enhance legislation right after the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, a young lady walking home in London, sparked widespread anger at women’s lack of security in public spaces.
Harassment such as wolf-whistling could turn out to be a certain crime, the Home Secretary Priti Patel mentioned in a comment piece in The Times, as she was set to unveil proposals on methods to help ladies reporting public sexual harassment and crack down on male violence.
Patel wrote that the government was taking action on street harassment and would “continue to look at gaps in existing law and how an offence for sexual harassment could address those.”
“I am committed to ensuring not only that the laws are there, but that they work in practice and women and girls are confident their concerns will be taken seriously,” she mentioned.
The murder of Everard, 33, who disappeared though walking home in London in March, by police officer Wayne Couzens “triggered a national conversation about these issues,” Patel mentioned, demonstrating “the need to support victims and do more to prevent these crimes”.
‘Barbaric practice’
The UK government and police have also faced harsh criticism as convictions for rape have fallen substantially in spite of more ladies coming forward to report sexual attacks.
The government’s proposals contain the creation of a new national policing lead to tackle male violence against ladies as nicely as the appointment of two officials in charge of stopping violence against ladies and girls on public transport.
The approach also calls for the criminalisation of so-referred to as virginity testing, which Patel referred to as a “barbaric practice”.
Campaigners for the rights of ladies and girls criticised the proposals as not going far sufficient, even so.
Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, a rights organisation, mentioned she was “very disappointed” that the approach does not currently contain a new law on public sexual harassment.
“We urge the Government to quickly deliver its promise to review gaps in the legislation — and then it must commit to a new Public Sexual Harassment Law,” she mentioned.
Opposition politician Jess Phillips also referred to as for more concrete action from the government.
“The services and support required to end violence against women and girls cannot run on warm words alone,” mentioned the Labour MP.
“The Government should step up to the plate.”
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