Agenda item

White Ribbon UK is a leading charity engaging with men and boys to end violence against women and girls.  Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

It is not enough for men to not be violent towards women and girls.  Men need to take responsibility for helping to make change happen.  All men can help prevent physical, mental or emotional violence against women and girls by speaking out whenever they encounter such behaviour.  If men do not act to correct this, women and girls will continue not feeling safe to do many of the thing’s men do without thinking, making us a morally corrupt and emotional poor society, as we trivialise the sickness that is any type of violence against women and girls.

Wokingham Borough Council resolves to:

• Seek White Ribbon Accreditation for the Organisation within the next 6 months and encourage all male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.    As part of this Wokingham Borough Council will appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador for White Ribbon. 

• Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment of women a crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask them to make street harassment a specific crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the four MPs who cover the Borough, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime and encourage elected members and residents to sign the petition.

• Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling physical, mental, emotional or spiritual harassment of female pupils or staff, separate to their bullying policy and ask them to include education to prevent public sexual harassment, as part of their PSHE education. 

The Council considered the following Notice of Motion submitted by David Hare and seconded by Clive Jones.

‘White Ribbon UK is a leading charity engaging with men and boys to end violence against women and girls.  Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

It is not enough for men to not be violent towards women and girls.  Men need to take responsibility for helping to make change happen.  All men can help prevent physical, mental, or emotional violence against women and girls by speaking out whenever they encounter such behaviour.  If men do not act to correct this, women and girls will continue not feeling safe to do many of the thing’s men do without thinking, making us a morally corrupt and emotional poor society, as we trivialise the sickness that is any type of violence against women and girls.

Wokingham Borough Council resolves to:

·       Seek White Ribbon Accreditation for the Organisation within the next 6 months and encourage all male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.    As part of this Wokingham Borough Council will appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador for White Ribbon. 

·       Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment of women a crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask them to make street harassment a specific crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the four MPs who cover the Borough, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime and encourage elected members and residents to sign the petition.

·       Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling physical, mental, emotional or spiritual harassment of female pupils or staff, separate to their bullying policy and ask them to include education to prevent public sexual harassment, as part of their PSHE education.’

David Hare stated that White Ribbon accreditation would give the Council the opportunity to lead the way as a positive role model for men and boys, demonstrating that the Council was meeting the Public Sector Equality Duty and the Equality Act 2010.  He commented that some women were unable to get away from violence either in or outside the home.  The Council needed to lead in ending physical, verbal, sexual, financial, emotional, and spiritual violence against women.

Clive Jones emphasised that a change in attitude against women, was necessary.  He questioned why women should feel uncomfortable in everyday life.  Street harassment was also an issue.  Clive Jones emphasised that the Council could seek changes to the law and should speak up for women, helping to change attitudes.

In accordance with 4.2.13.7 b iii) of the Constitution it was proposed by Laura Blumenthal and seconded by Alison Swaddle that the Motion be amended as follows:

‘That White Ribbon UK is a leading charity engaging with men and boys to end violence against women and girls.  Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

It is not enough for men to not be violent towards women and girls.  Men need to take responsibility for helping to make change happen.  All men can help prevent physical, mental, or emotional violence against women and girls by speaking out whenever they encounter such behaviour.  If men do not act to correct this, women and girls will continue not feeling safe to do many of the thing’s men do without thinking, making us a morally corrupt and emotional poor society, as we trivialise the sickness that is any type of violence against women and girls.

Wokingham Borough Council resolves to refer this matter to the cross-party Equalities Working Group at its meeting in January 2022, to examine the benefits of the actions below and to report back to a future Full Council meeting:

·       Seek White Ribbon Accreditation for the Organisation within the next 6 months and encourage all male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.    As part of this Wokingham Borough Council will appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador for White Ribbon. 

·       Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment of women a crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask them to make street harassment a specific crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the four MPs who cover the Borough, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime and encourage elected members and residents to sign the petition.

·       Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling physical, mental, emotional or spiritual harassment of female pupils or staff, separate to their bullying policy and ask them to include education to prevent public sexual harassment, as part of their PSHE education.’

The amendment was not accepted by the proposer of the original Motion.

Laura Blumenthal commented that she agreed with the spirit of the original Motion.  The Council was committed to doing all it could to protect residents from violence and harassment, including educating staff and Councillors, and speaking out when witnessing abuse.  The Equalities Team was designing training for staff and Councillors, which would extend to all the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.  She commented that the Equalities Task and Finish Group would be considering training and awareness raising and could see whether the Council needed elements of what White Ribbon offered, to supplement the work already being undertaken by the Council.  She was of the view that it was too early to decide to sign up to White Ribbon accreditation.

Rebecca Margetts commented that sexual harassment in schools had become common place.  The Council would engage with schools on this issue and the need for implementing policy and procedure to meet the statutory guidance from the Department of Education.  She felt that the Council should look at how it could support all individuals who were suffering any kind of harassment. 

Rachel Burgess commented that she supported the original Motion and that violence against women was a serious problem.

Sarah Kerr stated that almost every woman at the meeting would have survived some form of harassment or assault.  Women were disproportionally the victims of violence because they were women and girls.  She was pleased that training was being developed but felt that this barely scratched the surface of what needed to be done. 

The amended Motion was put to the vote and voting was as follows.  Due to the fact that the time was 10.30pm, and therefore the meeting was due to conclude, the Mayor indicated that should the amendment be passed a second vote would not be held:

The amended Motion was declared by the Mayor to be carried.

The Mayor asked Council if they required a further vote.  This option was not requested.

RESOLVED:  That White Ribbon UK is a leading charity engaging with men and boys to end violence against women and girls.  Their mission is for all men to fulfil the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about male violence against women and girls.

It is not enough for men to not be violent towards women and girls.  Men need to take responsibility for helping to make change happen.  All men can help prevent physical, mental, or emotional violence against women and girls by speaking out whenever they encounter such behaviour.  If men do not act to correct this, women and girls will continue not feeling safe to do many of the thing’s men do without thinking, making us a morally corrupt and emotional poor society, as we trivialise the sickness that is any type of violence against women and girls.

Wokingham Borough Council resolves to refer this matter to the cross-party Equalities Working Group at its meeting in January 2022, to examine the benefits of the actions below and to report back to a future Full Council meeting:

·       Seek White Ribbon Accreditation for the Organisation within the next 6 months and encourage all male councillors to take the White Ribbon pledge, never to take part in, condone or stay silent about violence against women.    As part of this Wokingham Borough Council will appoint a male Councillor as an Ambassador for White Ribbon. 

·       Promote the Our Streets Now campaign to make street harassment of women a crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary to ask them to make street harassment a specific crime; ask the Chief Executive to write to the four MPs who cover the Borough, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner, to ask them to show their support for this campaign by signing the petition and by lobbying ministers to make street harassment a specific crime and encourage elected members and residents to sign the petition.

·       Ask schools, academies and colleges in the Borough to each develop a clear policy on tackling physical, mental, emotional or spiritual harassment of female pupils or staff, separate to their bullying policy and ask them to include education to prevent public sexual harassment, as part of their PSHE education.