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All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

28 June 2019 14:00 ~ Capturing the Power of Victims of Sexual Crimes – SKiM Talks – London

SKiM TALKS: Capturing the Power of Victims of Sexual Crimes  

  • When: Friday 28th June 2019    
  • Location: City Hall, London from 2-5pm

Capturing the Power of Victims of Sexual Violence

Join Jay Kamara- Frederick and special guests for the next SKiM Talks 

  • Panel discussion
  • Poetry
  • Face of Defiance and The Invisible Child Exhibitions
  • Tear the Veil book reading and signing
  • Discuss and debate themed issues on the important challenges of sexual violation/abuse and harassment against girls and women in the UK.

Guest speakers 

  • Impact Contributors
  • Claire Waxman, Victims Commissioner, London
  • Sophie Linden, Deputy Major, London
  • Jacqueline Onalo FRSA, Human Rights Lawyer

Moderator: Susan Bookbinder

Through this forum we will:

  • Put forward suggestions on how we can influence change at various levels.
  • Change the narrative around sexual violence so that it is recognised and punished as a crime
  • Educate and inform
  • Raise awareness and reduce stigma
  • Inspire survivors to take the next steps towards healing and speak out louder
  • Influence changes in the law and policy to make it easier for victims to report and get justice

About SKiM Talks

SKIM Talks are dialogues for change and our aim is to create is a forum for survivors of sexual violence. We discuss topical issues and lobby for change through these interactions which encourage survivors to speak out louder discuss and challenge the status quo. If we want to remove stigma, improve service provisions, challenge current orthodoxy, it is important to do so with a co-ordinated and strong voice.  From time to time, we will engage with and co-opt the support of experts from various fields including, government, educators, charities, therapist’s life coaches, legal and law enforcement allies.

This event is organised by Jay. K Frederick,

Free – registration is required at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/skim-talks-recharging-the-power-of-victims-of-sexual-crimes-tickets-61229157057

Social change platform & blog: www.iamskim.com   Twitter: @iamskim_

May 31, 2019

Nearly 7 in 10 LGBT people say they have been sexually harassed at work – TUC Report

  • TUC publishes first GB major report into LGBT sexual harassment at work
  • 1 in 5 LGBT women who have worked in the last 5 years report that they have been sexually assaulted at work
  • TUC calls for a new duty on employers to properly protect their staff from sexual harassment at work

Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people report being sexually harassed at work, according to new research published by the TUC on International Day Against Homophobia.

The report – the first major study into LGBT sexual harassment at work in Great Britain – found that:

  • More than 2 in 5 (42%) LGBT people who responded to the survey said colleagues made unwelcome comments or asked unwelcome questions about their sex life.
  • More than a quarter (27%) reported receiving unwelcome verbal sexual advances.
  • Two-thirds (66%) said they did not tell their employer about the harassment, and quarter of those said they didn’t report because they were afraid of being ‘outed’ at work.

LGBT women

According the survey, LGBT women were more likely to experience unwanted touching and sexual assault at work.

  • Over a third of women (35%) reported they had experienced unwanted touching, for example placing hands on their lower back or knee
  • Over one fifth (21%) reported experiencing sexual assault, for example unwanted touching of the breasts, buttocks or genitals, or attempts to kiss them
  • One in eight (12%) LGBT women said they had been seriously sexually assaulted or raped at work.

LGBT BME and disabled people

BME women and disabled men and women reported even higher rates of harassment and sexual assault.

  • More than half (54%) of LGBT BME women said they have experienced unwanted touching at work, 45% reported sexual assault and more than a quarter (27%) reported serious sexual assault or rape.
  • Half (50%) of LGBT disabled women reported unwanted touching, nearly 4 in 10 (38%) reported sexual assault and almost a quarter (24%) reported serious sexual assault or rape. Disabled men’s reported levels of sexual harassment and assault were significantly higher than non-disabled men, with more than 1 in 4 (28%) of disabled men reporting sexual assault.

Impact

LGBT people told the TUC these experiences had a big impact on their lives. Around 1 in 6 (16%) said the sexual harassment at work affected their mental health. A similar proportion (16%) told the TUC that they had left their job as a result of being sexually harassed – and for 1 in 25 described the experience as so unbearable that it caused them to leave their job without another job to go to.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/nearly-7-10-lgbt-people-say-they-have-been-sexually-harassed-work-says-tuc

 

May 31, 2019

Interested in Volunteering at Northumberland Pride 2019?

Fancy becoming part of the amazing Volunteer team and being hands-on at the second Northumberland Pride taking place in Alnwick on 1st June 2019? We need people who are willing to give their time and energy (for all or part of the day), just for the love of Pride – although we can reimburse some types of reasonable expenses. It’s going to be great fun!

May 27, 2019

Interested in Volunteering at Northumberland Pride 2019?

Fancy becoming part of the amazing Volunteer team and being hands-on at the second Northumberland Pride taking place in Alnwick on 1st June 2019? We need people who are willing to give their time and energy (for all or part of the day), just for the love of Pride – although we can reimburse some types of reasonable expenses. It’s going to be great fun!

May 27, 2019