Minister Meets Girlguiding Advocates for 16 Days of Activism Launch

THE Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, Stephanie Peacock MP recently met with Girlguiding advocates to mark the commencement of the 2024 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign.

The campaign is an annual global movement, spearheaded by the UN, running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).

Minister Peacock joined advocates Molly (22), Hilary (19), Grace (21) and Charlotte (18) in Girlguiding HQ to discuss the current challenges facing girls and young women across the UK. Girlguiding’s advocates are a panel of girls and young women aged 14-25 who help to steer the organisation’s political direction – from meeting with MPs and speaking in Parliament, to contributing to Girlguiding’s own calls to the government in the 2024 general election manifesto – ‘For all girls’.

This year, Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey found that almost half (47%) of girls ages 11-21 fear for their safety because of sexism – a figure that has more than doubled in the last 10 years (up from 17%). Girlguiding is committed to supporting the government in its flagship goal of halving violence against women and girls in the next decade and is calling for new and inclusive Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) resources in schools, to tackle sexism and misogyny and encourage better, healthier relationships.

Angela Salt CEO of Girlguiding, said:

“Girls are telling us that sexism and misogyny is making them feel less safe, and we’re glad the government is focusing on their concerns, whether it is tackling gender-based violence in schools, public spaces or online. We know girls are regrettably facing the same types of sexism and misogyny women have always faced, but today it’s often more hidden and in many ways more difficult to spot as it’s taking place on social media as well as in public and at school. At Girlguiding we know all girls can do anything, and that a fairer, more equal society is possible – but not without adults doing more to protect them.   

“We were glad to host Minister Peacock and discuss these worrying challenges being faced by girls and young women.”

Hilary, 19, a Girlguiding advocate, said:

“Rising levels of misogyny is putting the lives and well-being of girls at risk. We deserve to be and feel safe no matter who or where we are, both online and in person, but currently that’s not the case. 

“It’s crucial that we use the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence as a time to speak out even louder about the issues affecting us. However, we can’t do it alone; opportunities to engage with ministers like Stephanie Peacock MP are an incredible, pivotal part of implementing change so women and girls can live in hope instead of fear.”

Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, said:

“Nearly one in three women experience violence in their lifetime, and one in four adolescent girls are abused by their partners – figures that are wholly preventable and for which there is no excuse.

“That is why this government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade, as part of our wider mission to take back our streets.

“To mark the first of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, I visited Girlguiding to meet with some of their youth advocates to discuss their thoughts on keeping girls safe, the challenges they have faced and what they would like to see from the government.”