MP in bid to make misogyny a hate crime

Misogyny should be a hate crime, according to Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse, who has presented a bill in parliament to outlaw it.

Rape and sexual assault have a devastating and often life-changing effect on the survivors: according to figures released by the Office of National statistics, 63 per cent of women who were victims of rape as adults were left with mental or emotional problems and ten per cent said that they had tried to kill themselves.

“Too many women feel unsafe on the streets,” said the MP, who is also the Liberal Democrat equalities spokesperson. “Our society is letting women down. Misogyny should be made a hate crime so it is treated as severely as crimes motivated by racial or religious hatred, to stamp out the abuse women face.

“Women still experience so much harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and receive so much appalling abuse online – threats and intimidation – for daring to have an opinion. I am pleased to present my bill to Parliament,” she said.

According to Ms Hobhouse, more than 600,000 women are sexually assaulted each year, but only one in six report it. More than 50,000 women reported being raped last year, but only 1,400 rapists were convicted.

In Ofsted’s review of schools and colleges, 90 per cent of girls said that being sent explicit pictures or videos of things they did not want to see has happened to them or their peers and 92 per cent said that sexist name-calling has happened to them or their peers.

Last Thursday, November 25, was White Ribbon Day, the start of 16 days of action to end violence against women. The White Ribbon campaign group wants to engage with men and boys to make a stand against violence.