Marking the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

Posted in: Campaign

Content warning – this blog contains discussions of sexual violence and domestic abuse, including definitions, impact and details that some may find distressing to read

As well as commemorating the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the 10th of December - Human Rights Day - also concludes the annual international campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The campaign raises awareness about violence against women and girls as a human rights issue.

Defining the problem

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is an umbrella term which recognises that, while they can happen to anyone, certain crimes and forms of abuse disproportionately affect women and girls. VAWG, in all its forms, are unacceptable violations of human rights which damage millions of lives worldwide.

These crimes include, but are not limited to:

  • Domestic violence and abuse, including coercive control
  • Rape and other sexual offences
  • Stalking and harassment
  • Drink and drug spiking
  • 'Honour-based' violence and abuse
  • Female genital mutilation (FGM)
  • Forced marriage
  • Digital crimes which exploit technology and online platforms to harass, intimidate, humiliate or abuse, such as revenge porn.

Among university populations, the risks are particularly pronounced. An estimated 162,073 students and 23,760 university staff experience domestic abuse annually[1], and full-time students have been identified as the occupational group most at risk of domestic abuse and sexual assault[2]. Additionally, intersectional factors exacerbate these risks. Black women, disabled women, and LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately affected[3], underscoring the need for targeted interventions and support.

While Bath is often seen as a safe and welcoming city, gender-based violence is not confined to particular areas or communities—it is a widespread issue that can affect anyone, anywhere.

Given these figures, it is unavoidable that members of our university community—students and staff alike—have been, or will be, directly or indirectly affected by gender-based violence. This makes it an issue for all of us to acknowledge and address.

As a university, we are committed to fostering a culture of care and respect. By raising awareness and encouraging action, we can work together to ensure our community remains a place of safety, inclusion, and support. Gender-based violence is a societal issue, and only through collective responsibility can we make a difference.

Taking Action – getting support

If you are or have been impacted by any of the issues discussed in this blog, it is important to tell someone about it. There are lots of ways the university will be able to support you – you will be listened to and believed.

You do not have to report the incident or an individual in order to access support for your situation.

Staff

You are encouraged to speak confidentially to your line manager, HR Business Partner or Advisor, or  someone in the University you trust. These individuals will be non-judgemental, take you seriously and take the time to listen. You can be assured that if you are experiencing VAWG and raise it with someone at the University, it will be treated in confidence and dealt with sensitively.

Support from the University might include:

  • Amending your working arrangements
  • Making time available for you to seek support from external organisations, including access to your legal support, in work time.
  • Making emergency and safe contact arrangements
  • Improving your safety whilst at work – including working with our Security team
  • Reviewing communications and IT safety
  • Supporting you through the Employee Assistance Programme

Students

You are encouraged to speak to a Student Support Advisor; you can contact them by phone, online or by dropping into the Roper Centre on campus. You do not need an appointment. A conversation with a Student Support Advisors can include:

  • providing you with advice and guidance
  • helping you to develop a plan for how to deal with your situation
  • exploring self-help resources, such as apps, websites or books
  • helping you sign up for one of our many workshops or courses
  • referring you to work with a Wellbeing Advisor, Therapist or Mental Health Advisor or another support service within the University specific to your need
  • helping you to seek support from a service outside the University

Support and Report – Staff and Students

Both staff and students can also access support via the Support and Report Service. Once you submit a form you will be contacted by an advisor who will offer to meet with you (in person or online) to discuss your situation. They will:

  • Connect you with support services in and outside the university
  • Explore practical solutions to the situation you are experiencing
  • Explain the reporting options available to you and answer any questions you have about them. You will never be pressured to make a report and can choose not to.

 

No action is taken without your agreement, and you remain in control of what happens next.

You can contact the service with contact details, or through a trusted person on your behalf so you can receive advice and support without being known to the service.

Please note, if you contact the service using the fully anonymous option on the form we will not be able to identify you, and so will not be able to contact you to offer support or advice.

Taking Action – allyship and speaking up

Feminist researcher Liz Kelly proposed the theory of a continuum of violence[4]. It explains how various forms of gender-based violence, ranging from subtle everyday acts (such as sexist jokes or catcalling) to overt and extreme violence (like physical assault or rape), are interconnected. Kelly argues that these behaviours exist on a spectrum rather than being isolated incidents, with less overt acts normalizing and perpetuating the conditions that allow more severe violence to occur.

This is why it is so important we speak up when we witness sexual or gender based harassment, discrimination or bullying, no matter how “normalised” it appears.

Despite how important it is to do so, speaking up can feel difficult at times. Make sure you feel prepared by re-visiting our Active Bystander training e-modules:

Staff

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught

Postgraduate Researchers

 

 

 

[1] Khan, R. (2021) Domestic Abuse Policy Guidance for UK Universities. Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM), University of Central Lancashire, UK.

[2] Office for National Statistics, Crime Survey for England and Wales, years ending March 2018 to March 2020

[3] End Violence Against Women, Snapshot Report 2021-22

[4] Kelly, L. (1987). The Continuum of Sexual Violence. In: Hanmer, J., Maynard, M. (eds) Women, Violence and Social Control. Explorations in Sociology. Palgrave Macmillan, London

 

Posted in: Campaign

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