The latest bold campaign from KNOW Violence Against Women, 'Call Them Out' - encourages men to call out inappropriate behaviour from their peers; helping create safer spaces for women and girls across the county.
The new campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding of what constitutes male violence against women across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, encouraging people to pause and consider their own behaviour in order to cultivate a safer environment for women and girls.
Supported by Peterborough United F.C, Rape Crisis, leading forensic healthcare specialist Mountain Healthcare, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Partnership, 'Call Them Out' will encourage men and boys to challenge and report unacceptable behaviours from their peers, aiming to help perpetrators change their behaviour.
This campaign seeks to help men identify inappropriate language and behaviour, empowering them to question actions and attitudes exhibited toward women which may have previously gone unchecked in their social groups.
Through providing tangible advice and conversation starters, 'Call Them Out' makes standing against friends feel less daunting for men, giving them the confidence and tools needed to educate their peers on the dangers of misogyny, harassment, and sexual violence.
Chief Superintendent John Massey, head of protecting vulnerable people at Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: “This campaign urges us all – especially men and boys - to educate ourselves on what violence against women is and what we should do when we see these types of behaviours happening.
“Understanding misogyny, harassment, and sexual violence is the first step to affect change among friends. Violence against women isn’t just physical abuse – it covers many behaviours that often make women feel uncomfortable or violated. It’s time for us all to recognise violence against women and take responsibility for the actions of ourselves and others. Together, we can help make Peterborough and Cambridgeshire a safer place for everyone.”
Call Them Out challenges men to initiate conversations which they might deem uncomfortable, encouraging them to stand against problematic norms which have for too long gone undisputed among some male friendship groups.
Education is the first step to combatting the epidemic of violence against women, and this campaign reiterates that everybody has a part to play in making spaces safer for women and girls in Cambridgeshire and beyond.
Call Them Out has been designed to work as a sister campaign alongside the initial launch of the KNOW Violence Against Women (KVAW) campaign launched in September 2022.
The campaign's messages were identified using research from women and girls across Cambridgeshire, targeting the three main issues that women reported experiencing in public spaces. You can find out more about the Call Them Out campaign here: knowviolence.org/call-them-out
*According to research undertaken by Social Change in 2021/22.
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