On the 10-year anniversary of the passing of the landmark Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act, Welsh Women’s Aid have released new findings about Public Sexual Harassment in Wales.
Sexual harassment remains a pervasive issue across the UK, and Wales is no exception.
This new report presents findings from Phase 2 of the No Grey Area survey into sexual harassment and aims to shed light on the widespread nature of harassment, the societal and institutional responses, and the lived experiences of victims to contribute towards creating change that lasts through a whole-systems approach.
The first phase of this project took place in 2020-2021 focussing solely on workplace sexual harassment. The findings showed that four out of five women in Wales shared that they had experienced sexual harassment at work on at least one occasion. The impact that was uncovered from sexual harassment in one area of life was profound and the ripple effect into other areas of survivors lives was clear. This was a key reason for continuing this work to gain a greater understanding of the scale of the problem in other areas of society.
The report released today found that a significant majority (92%) reported experiencing public sexual harassment at some point in their lives.
This demonstrates how prevalent this is throughout society. Sexual harassment is a problem that is not limited to one area of a survivor’s life.
“This report is a stark reminder that the impact of sexual harassment can extend far beyond the event itself, leaving survivors feeling unsafe for years to come. we are not there yet, but as our national commitment to ending all forms or violence against women domestic abuse and sexual violence reaches it 10 year anniversary its worth remembering it’s not only about effective support for survivors today it’s about changing the world for tomorrow.”
Sara Kirkpatrick, Welsh Women’s Aid CEO
“To be safe on the street, on a bus or a public venue is something that should be something that we can expect but sadly this report evidences the harsh reality. I truly welcome such important research to highlight such a common issue with 92% of respondents stating they experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lives.
It is beyond time for the whole of society to respond to this common, every day harm that also performs as a backdrop to higher harms and the normalising of harassment and abuse. Sadly, we also know that survivors too frequently do not report, as evidenced in this 77% of respondents didn’t report. This is because of the normalisation of such harms and the lack of clear, trusted pathways to report and get support. If we are going to eliminate violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wales there cannot be tolerance of any level of harm, in public or private and we must have easy access to support for survivors.
I am grateful to the survivors who took part in this research and Welsh Women’s Aid for undertaking it, but it must be a responsibility for all of us to play our part in bringing an end to sexual harassment and abuse.”
Johanna Robinson, National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse
“Every woman and girl has the right to walk freely without fear. Sexual harassment in public spaces is not a grey area, it is harm, it is violence, and it must be treated as such. Ten years on from the VAWDASV Act, we must renew our commitment for a Wales where silence is broken, perpetrators are held accountable, and survivors are believed, supported, and protected. This report highlights the long-term trauma women and girls face and how we must all respond to the widespread abuse which continues unchallenged and unreported”.
Yasmin Khan, National Adviser for Violence Against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Abuse
The Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act seeks to address prevention and protection for survivors of gender-based violence, domestic abuse and sexual violence. This landmark legislation placed a legal duty on public authorities to look at their role in tackling this pervasive issue.
Now, ten years on, Welsh Women’s Aid addresses the specific issue of public sexual harassment and how survivors are being affected.
Addressing public sexual harassment requires a whole-systems approach, with a collaborative effort between policymakers, police, and society as a whole to create safer public spaces for all individuals in Wales. Recommendations include:
- Strengthening reporting mechanisms and ensuring accountability in handling cases.
- Implementing prevention initiatives to challenge social norms that enable harassment through public awareness campaigns and education.
- Providing better support services for survivors, including mental health resources and legal assistance.
- Encouraging active bystander intervention training to empower individuals to challenge harassment when they witness it.
- Enhancing workplace and educational institution policies to protect victims and provide clear pathways for reporting and redress.
The urgency of this issue demands immediate and sustained action to shift cultural attitudes and build a society where everyone can navigate public spaces without fear and where there is no grey area for sexual harassment.
Trigger Warning: This report discusses and contains examples of sexual harassment. If you or anyone you know needs support, help is available to you now. The Live Fear Free Helpline can provide confidential advice or support around domestic abuse, sexual violence or violence against women. It is available 24/7, 7 days a week. Call 0808 80 10 800, text 07860077333 or email [email protected]. You can also access the Live Fear Free Helpline online chat by heading to: https://www.gov.wales/live-fear-free/contact-live-fear-free.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
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