UK Aims to Halve Violence Against Women in 10 Years
"Misogyny Prevention Education for Students Aged 11 and Older"
Deepfake Awareness and Counseling Hotline for Victims
The UK plans to implement misogyny prevention education in public schools with the goal of reducing violence against women by half within the next 10 years. According to Yonhap News, citing the BBC on the 18th (local time), misogyny prevention education will be provided to students aged 11 and older in the UK. The government plans to provide specialized training for teachers or invite external instructors to teach students about the meaning of mutual consent, the dangers of sharing intimate images, and correcting misconceptions about women and relationships.
The UK plans to implement misogyny prevention education in public schools with the goal of reducing violence against women by half within the next 10 years. Photo to aid understanding of the article. Pixabay
The government will also educate students on how online bullying, stalking, peer pressure, and coercive behavior can occur, including the use of deepfake images, and explain the differences between pornography and real-life relationships. Students who display risky behaviors will be enrolled in intensive intervention programs, and a telephone counseling service will be operated to provide help for students in distress.
This initiative aims to preemptively prevent the radicalization of young people in response to the increase in violence against women and the spread of misconceptions about sexuality among adolescents in the UK. According to UK government statistics, it is estimated that in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, one in eight women in England and Wales experienced sexual violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Nearly 200 rapes occur every day, and on average, three women are killed by men each week.
The perception of women among adolescents is also at a dangerous level. According to a YouGov poll, about 20% of boys aged 13 to 15 reported having a positive view of influencer Andrew Tate, who has publicly identified himself as a misogynist.
David Lammy, the UK Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, raised his voice on the prevention of misogyny in a Guardian op-ed on the 18th (local time). Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
The Labour government pledged during last year's general election to halve violence against women within 10 years and is introducing a policy package to achieve this. Previously announced measures include deploying specialized sexual violence investigation teams at all police stations, strengthening victim support in the National Health Service (NHS), and expanding local shelters for victims of domestic violence.
David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, raised his voice on misogyny prevention in a Guardian op-ed on this day. Lammy stated, "Violence against women is a national emergency," and emphasized, "As a minister and a father, Labour's strategy to eradicate this is a top priority." He added, "The misogyny that pervades everyday life fuels much of this violence. I want my daughter to grow up without fear, and my son to know that kindness can also be a form of masculinity."
He continued, "Having spent my teenage years without a father, I know how important positive male role models are. We need more men as allies and advocates in these conversations." He added, "Next year, we will invite men and boys to a national conference to listen to their voices, and we must foster a better discourse on what it means to be a man in the UK today."
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