Harlow MP Chris Vince says ‘enough is enough’ and violence against women and girls must stop
MP Chris Vince has called for a “culture change” among men and boys to stop violence against women and girls.
The politician – whose Harlow constituency includes the Hallingburys, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hatfield Heath, Sheering, Lower Sheering and Matching – was taking part in a House of Commons debate introduced by victims minister Alex Davies-Jones.
The issue has been making headlines in Parliament as a row rages between the Conservative Party and the Government about a new inquiry focused on the grooming and rape of girls in cities and towns across the country.
In the debate on Thursday, January 9, Ms Davies-Jones said: “The scale of violence against women in this country is intolerable and a national emergency.
“The Government were elected on a landmark pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade, rightly putting the issue at the forefront of the political agenda after years of neglect, and where women have been let down by the system. It is an ambitious target, but it is absolutely right that we are ambitious when it comes to the safety of women and girls.
“In this country, it is estimated that a woman is killed by a man every three days, on average, yet that rarely makes the headlines. Their deaths have become normalised and I think we, as a society, have become desensitised. That is nothing short of a national scandal.”
She added: “As it stands, about 60% of adult rape complainants, despite bravely coming forward, eventually withdraw from the criminal justice process. That means too many offenders are getting away with their crimes and too many victims are being left without the justice they deserve.”
Mr Vince paid tribute to female colleagues who shared their own experiences of abuse.
He said: “I am genuinely ashamed to live in a society where some people see it as acceptable to go up to a woman and tell her that they want to rape her. I find that disgusting.
“The sad reality is many of us are not surprised by that. Women I know have experienced online abuse where exactly that sort of language has been used towards them. It is not acceptable. It is disgusting. I am ashamed that we live in a society where that happens.”
Mr Vince thanked Harlow councillors Lanie Shears and Kay Morrison, who organise an annual vigil where the name of every woman and girl killed by a man in the previous 12 months across the country is named.
He also recommended training offered by White Ribbon UK, a charity that works to end violence against women, which, he said, gives practical advice.
“But this issue is about more than that. It does not start with attacks on women or rape or murder,” he said.
“It starts with comments in the workplace – misogyny and banter. That is what needs to change. We have to change the culture. We have to educate men and boys. We have to say ‘Enough is enough’.”
