The government has launched a new national taskforce to root out misogyny from across society, chaired by the minister for women and equalities, Bridget Phillipson (pictured).
The taskforce will bring together experts from across the country to discuss the lived experiences of women and girls and to ask how the government can tackle harmful attitudes wherever they emerge, including online, and in workplaces.
Members will include representatives from women’s organisations, academia and local leaders, as well as ministers.
Phillipson said: “Before I entered politics, I ran a refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse. I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact on women and girls when harmful attitudes are tolerated and left unchallenged.
“No woman should have to make her world smaller or curb her ambitions out of fear – and making that a reality is everyone’s business.
She added: “As a whole society, we can and must be better. With political leadership and the best experts from across the country, we will shift the dial on the poisonous attitudes that blight women’s lives, turn evidence into action, and send misogynistic attitudes back to the dark ages where they belong.”
Gary Barker, CEO and founder of global gender equality campaign group Equimundo, said: “We’re honoured to be part of the national taskforce for tackling misogyny. Our research in the UK and globally shows that misogynistic attitudes are increasing – but also that they can change when men and boys are engaged as true allies in that process.”
Deniz Uğur, deputy director at the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said the taskforce will tackle the root causes of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
She added: “This is especially important in supporting meaningful delivery of the VAWG strategy, given the focus on prevention, and meeting the government’s aim to halve VAWG in a decade. In order to enable the work of the taskforce to be effective, we hope to see meaningful commitment and engagement by ministers across all government departments.”
Girlguiding CEO Felicity Oswald said girls are reporting rising levels of sexism, online, in public and in schools and welcomed the spotlight on their experiences. “Girls are experts in their own lives, and it is vital that their voices are heard when decisions are made that impact them.”
Prime minister Andy Burnham also recently announced that all police forces in England and Wales will have specialist rape and sexual offence teams in place by December 2027 – a year and a half ahead of the original deadline – as well as the creation of specialist rape courts at every Crown Court in England and Wales within two years.
