Seven ways MPs want to tackle sexual harassment
Women and girls facing ‘routine and relentless’ harassment in public places, says Commons committee

MPs are calling on the Government to tackle the “routine and relentless” harassment of women and girls in public places throughout Britain.
A newly published report from the Women and Equalities Committee insists that “there is far more that could be done” by lawmakers to combat harassment “on public transport, in bars and clubs, in online spaces and at university, in parks and on the street”.
“Experienced at a young age, sexual harassment becomes ‘normalised’ as girls move through life: it shapes the messages boys and girls receive about what is acceptable behaviour between men and women, and teaches girls to minimise their experiences of abuse,” the report says.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The 11-strong committee, who spent nine months investigating the issue, point to the findings of “significant research” that suggests a link between pornography, sexist attitudes and sexually aggressive behaviours, including violence.
Committee chair Maria Miller said: “It can make women and girls scared and stressed, avoid certain routes home at night or certain train carriages, wear headphones while out running.
“Women feel the onus is put on them to avoid ‘risky’ situations - all of this keeps women and girls unequal.”
The report includes a seven-point plan of action for the Government:
- Publish a new Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to improve data collection on harassment cases.
- Commission further research on the causes of sexual harassment and how to prevent it.
- Ban all non-consensual sharing of intimate sexual images.
- Take an evidence-based approach to addressing the “harms of pornography”, similar to road safety and anti-smoking campaigns.
- Train and bus operating companies should be tougher on sexual harassment and block access to pornography.
- Amend the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure pub, bar and club owners have more power to tackle harassment, and consult local women’s groups before granting licences to strip clubs.
- Universities should have a legal obligation to have policies outlawing sexual harassment.
Responding to the report, a government spokesperson said: “The Government has made protecting women and girls from all forms of violence, and supporting victims and survivors a key priority.
“To support the Government’s commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, we have pledged £100m in funding until 2020 and will be updating our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy to ensure that we are doing all that we can to tackle crimes which disproportionately impact on women.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
What should you be stockpiling for 'World War Three'?
In the Spotlight Britons advised to prepare after the EU tells its citizens to have an emergency kit just in case
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Carnivore diet: why people are eating only meat
The Explainer 'Meatfluencers' are taking social media by storm but experts warn meat-only diets have health consequences
By Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, The Week UK Published
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Has Starmer put Britain back on the world stage?
Talking Point UK takes leading role in Europe on Ukraine and Starmer praised as credible 'bridge' with the US under Trump
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Left on read: Labour's WhatsApp dilemma
Talking Point Andrew Gwynne has been sacked as health minister over messages posted in a Labour WhatsApp group
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
New Year's Honours: why the controversy?
Today's Big Question London Mayor Sadiq Khan and England men's football manager Gareth Southgate have both received a knighthood despite debatable records
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
John Prescott: was he Labour's last link to the working class?
Today's Big Quesiton 'A total one-off': tributes have poured in for the former deputy PM and trade unionist
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published