A new campaign directly targeting men and boys has been unveiled this White Ribbon Day aiming to prevent gender-based violence. The terrifying video tackles the sexual harassment 71 percent of women and girls in the UK face on a daily basis in public, from leaving the house to crossing the road.
The campaign launched by Southwark Council addresses cat-calling, staring and unwanted touching "through a girl's eyes" to confront misogyny in the borough and across the nation. The clip, which is incredibly uncomfortable to watch, follows a teenage boy making his way to school while being harassed by strangers in the street.
Everyday sexist behaviour like the examples in the video can escalate into violence against women and girls.
In 2021, at least 144 women were killed by men - an increase on the previous two years.
The campaign aims to inspire men and boys aged 16 to 25-years-old to challenge their own attitudes and behaviours, and that of others.
Young people from Southwark worked closely with the council to develop the video, which will be rolled out in local schools and youth groups to facilitate discussion.
Councillor Kieron Williams, said: "The sad truth is every day women and girls across our community are faced with a barrage of sexist and abusive acts by men.
"All too often it is passed off as harmless comments or attention, but the reality for women and girls is very different as this campaign shows.
"This misogyny is a toxic inheritance that has been handed down by men to boys for generations.
"We will only break that chain if men take responsibility. It starts with us and it ends with us.
"That means changing the way we bring up our boys and calling each other out whenever we see sexist, leering or abusive behaviour.
"Through this campaign, boys and men will see sexual harassment through a girl's eyes, and just how harmful and unacceptable it is. Because if you can see it, you can stop it."
Film director Serafima Serafimova made the decision to swap gender roles in the clip to "portray to boys and men what it actually feels like to be objectified and sexually harassed".
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle MBE, commented: "For too long, women and girls have been told to keep themselves safe with men and boys remaining largely absent from conversations around gender-based violence.
"But not in Southwark. Our new campaign asks men and boys to take an active role in making the borough’s streets safer for women and girls."
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, added: "We all need to work together as a society to tackle the epidemic of violence against women and girls.
"This excellent campaign by Southwark Council will help to get the message across to men and boys that words matter and there is a link between misogyny and violence."
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