Saturday, March 13, 2021

Time to make misogyny a hate crime and pass the Domestic Abuse Bill

Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain has called on the Government to pass the Domestic Abuse Bill and make misogyny a hate crime in a powerful International Women's Day speech to the House of Commons.

The theme of this year's International Women's Day is "Choose to Challenge". Wendy Chamberlain, who was a police officer before she became an MP, said:

"The challenge to the Government is – Pass the Domestic Abuse Bill – it’s been in the offing for four years. Legislate to make misogyny a hate crime. Make sure that those occupying positions of trust are people we really can trust. 

"Men need to step up. They need to be active allies. International Women's Day is just as much about my 13-year-old son as my daughter.

"And the final challenge is to ourselves. Because we need to do much more to ensure that when we are talking about women, when we are talking about discrimination, and violence – that we are inclusive. 

"At the root of much of our debate around single sex spaces is the fear of sexual violence perpetrated by men. Changing men's behaviour changes that debate. And that, on this International Women's Day is a challenge which faces all of us."

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