‘Tackle the problem in class’

CAMPAIGNERS have called on councils to support their schools in tackling harassment and violence against women and girls.

Organisations, including Our Streets Now, have signed an open letter detailing how education can make a difference.

The Daily Express is backing these calls in a bid to help to make streets safer for women.

The letter, sent yesterday, said: “Education that builds an understanding of the root of causes of sexual harassment and violence is the long-term solution to creating safer schools, streets and societies.

“Young people must be made aware of the attitudes, beliefs and cultures that are normalised within our society and that lead to a spectrum of violence against women, girls and marginalised genders including public sexual harassment, online harassment, abuse and assault.

Corrosive

“And at the heart of this education must be the awareness of how gender-based violence intersects with wider systems of power and oppression.”

The letter, signed by groups including Beyond Equality, Bold

Voices and Be Her Lead, wants local leaders to push for training for teachers to tackle the violence.

Children’s charity Plan International UK found 80 per cent of parents worry their daughter will endure public sexual harassment.

Campaigner Ambrin, 19, said lawmakers needed to recognise it as “rotten and corrosive”.

Ambrin, from London, with five other women met Home Secretary Priti Patel in February.

The student, who has been harassed on public transport, said: “It felt quite privileged to share my experiences. She really listened to our stories and recognised that it was a problem.”