**Content warning. Sensitive topics discussed **
Welcome to 16 Days of Activism 2022
16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign against Gender-Based Violence and for the elimination of Violence against Women. This is happening from the 25th November until the 10th December with the theme is #UNITE! And #ENDFEMICIDE
We are aware that gender-based violence affects millions of lives and can leave a detrimental impact to the direct victims/survivors, but create a ripple affect across communities, cultures up to a governmental level. Standing Together is a University-wide programme improving wellbeing through tackling unacceptable behaviours and supporting students, and the wider University community, who are directly and indirectly affected. Standing Together have a clear mission to ensure students and staff are united in creating a campus culture of equality, diversity and inclusion. This is why, 16 Days of Activism is so important for our mission to help raise awareness and increase prevention to ensure students and staff enjoy their time at the University of Leicester.
See below information on: Standing Together Events, Examples of types of incidents related to Gender-Based Violence, Safety Planning, Links and resources.
Standing Together Events
See below information on: Standing Together Events, Examples of types of incidents related to Gender-Based Violence, Safety Planning, Links and resources.
Standing Together Events
- Friday 25th November - White Ribbon Day
- Standing Together White Ribbon Stall
About the event: Standing Together will be holding a stall at the Student Union to support White Ribbon Day. . Find out more information on Standing Together and how we can support you. Also, you can pick up a white ribbon to support the campaign.
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Students Union Square
Target Audience: Staff and Students - Victim First Stall and Drop In
About the event: Victim First will be holding a stall at the Student Union to support White Ribbon Day. They will also be holding their monthly drop-in surgery at the Advice Centre 2-4pm if you need any advice.
Time: (12-2pm for the stall) and (2-4pm for the Advice Drop in
Location: Students Union Square and Advice Centre
Target Audience: Staff and Students - Monday 5th December
Zinthiya Trust Information stall
About the event: Zinthiya Trust and Leicestershire Police will be at the Student Union to support #16DaysofActivism. They will be offering advice, raising awareness on Domestic Violence and promoting prevention.
Time: 10-2pm
Location: Students Union - Entrance to Campus Kitchen
Target Audience: Staff and Students - Wednesday 7th December- POSTPONED*** Apologies for the inconvenience.
Zinthiya Trust and Leicestershire Police Seminar
About the event: Zinthiya Trust and Leicestershire Police will be holding a seminar on awareness raising and prevention of domestic violence. They will be discussing the different types of abuse, characteristics of an abusive person and how we can be more aware and prevent it. They will be sharing how to access support. The seminar will run 2-4pm, so please come along if you're interested.
Time: 2-4pm
Location: Ken Edwards 527
Target Audience: Staff and Students - Standing Together and VOICES drop in session
About the event: Hosted in the wellbeing hub, the session will provide students and staff the opportunity to drop in to find out more information about Standing Together and the VOICES. The VOICES project is working with survivors to provide a platform for their voices to be heard to influence change. More information along with tea and coffee (and snacks) will be available at this event.
Time: 12-1:30pm
Location: Wellbeing Hub (Student Services Centre, 2nd Floor Percy Gee Building, Students Union) - Wednesday 14th December
Standing Together Workshop - Insight into Support for Survivors
About the event: Standing Together will be holding a workshop for staff at the University to provide insight into the work they do with students. This workshop is ideal for staff that undertake a supportive role with students to develop a greater awareness of the support available when signposting and having difficult conversations.
Time: 3-4pm
Location: Microsoft Teams (Teams link can be accessed via this link)
Examples of types of incidents related to Gender-Based Violence
Domestic Violence and Abuse
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional
- Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
-Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.”
This definition, which is not a legal definition, includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.
Forced Marriage (FM)
A forced marriage is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, cannot) consent to the marriage as they are pressurised, or abuse is used, to force them to do so. It is recognised in the UK as a form of domestic or child abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is any kind of sexual activity or act (including online) that was unwanted or involved one or more of the following: pressure, manipulation, bullying, intimidation, threats, deception, force
In other words, any kind of sexual activity or act that took place without consent.
Stalking
Stalking can be defined as persistent and unwanted attention that makes you feel pestered and harassed. It includes behaviour that happens two or more times, directed at or towards you by another person, which causes you to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear violence might be used against you. If the behaviour you’re experiencing is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated, this constitutes as stalking.
Harassment
Harassment includes behaviour which happens two or more times directed at or towards someone by another person, that causes the victim to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear that violence might be used against them.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any kind of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel humiliated or intimidated, or that creates a hostile environment. When someone calls you insulting sexual names, talks about you in a sexual way that makes you feel uncomfortable (like commenting on your body), or spreads sexual rumours about you, that’s sexual harassment. It can happen in person, over the phone, or online.
Domestic Violence and Abuse
Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional
- Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.
-Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.”
This definition, which is not a legal definition, includes so called ‘honour’ based violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, and is clear that victims are not confined to one gender or ethnic group.
Forced Marriage (FM)
A forced marriage is where one or both people do not (or in cases of people with learning disabilities or reduced capacity, cannot) consent to the marriage as they are pressurised, or abuse is used, to force them to do so. It is recognised in the UK as a form of domestic or child abuse and a serious abuse of human rights.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Sexual Violence
Sexual violence is any kind of sexual activity or act (including online) that was unwanted or involved one or more of the following: pressure, manipulation, bullying, intimidation, threats, deception, force
In other words, any kind of sexual activity or act that took place without consent.
Stalking
Stalking can be defined as persistent and unwanted attention that makes you feel pestered and harassed. It includes behaviour that happens two or more times, directed at or towards you by another person, which causes you to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear violence might be used against you. If the behaviour you’re experiencing is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated, this constitutes as stalking.
Harassment
Harassment includes behaviour which happens two or more times directed at or towards someone by another person, that causes the victim to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear that violence might be used against them.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any kind of unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that makes you feel humiliated or intimidated, or that creates a hostile environment. When someone calls you insulting sexual names, talks about you in a sexual way that makes you feel uncomfortable (like commenting on your body), or spreads sexual rumours about you, that’s sexual harassment. It can happen in person, over the phone, or online.
Safety Planning
It’s important to safety plan if you are experiencing; domestic violence, sexual abuse of stalking or harassment
Important Actions to consider:
- Create an escape plan in case of an emergency
- Always call 999 in an emergency, if unable to speak, when 55 when prompted and the call will be automatically transferred to the police
- Register to the emergencySMS service, Text the word ‘register’ to 999 and you will receive an automatic response, reply by texting ‘yes’ and you will receive a ‘success text’. When in danger, SMS can be sent to 999 to request emergency services
- Consider reporting to the police if you are a victim/witness of an incident
- Consider civil protection order to prevent contact
- Turn off location settings on your phone and be mindful of tagging locations whilst posting on social media. Delete your internet browser history and do not use public WIFI
- Speak with your support network to ensure they are aware of the situation
- Pack an emergency bag
Clare's Law- Right to Ask:
- The right to ask enables someone to ask the Police about a partner’s previous history of domestic violence or violent acts. This also includes members of the public that may be concerned about someone that is in a relationship with an abusive partner.
Ask for Angela:
- If you are in a bar or club and feel uncomfortable on a date or feeling unsafe, you can go to the bar and ask for ‘Angela’ and the bar staff will be aware to safeguard you discreetly, by either offering support, creating a safe space or ensuring you get home safe by a taxi.
Security Team - University of Leicester - Operate 24/7 365 days a year:
- General enquiries: 0)116 252 2023 or control@le.ac.uk
Emergency contact number: (0)116 252 2888 - Location: Use Entrance 1 on the main University campus (just past the entrance barriers)
- Provide advice and guidance for staff and students on security matters
Regularly patrol all university sites and respond to all reported security incidents
Liaise with the police and other external agencies on security matters
Maintain and manage a campus-wide CCTV system.
Advise on physical security measures to be implemented.
Personal alarms can be issued to students and staff - SafeZone - a free location-based App for Smartphones that makes it easy for you to get help or request assistance any time you are on campus. It works 24/7 and will connect you directly with our Security team if you need help, first Aid or if you have an emergency.
Leicestershire Police - Local Police Force that cover the University of Leicester
- As above, use 999 for emergency situations to request for emergency services
Leicestershire Police have a dedicated officer who liaises with the Security Team at the University regarding concerns and ongoing investigations. - Click on this link for Crime Prevention Advice - https://www.leics.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/
- You can report an incident to the police by contacting 101 (non emergency line), calling 999 in an emergency, online crime report https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ or by attending the local police station - Mansfield House Police Station or Euston Street Police Station.
Civil Protection Orders
- If you are a victim of domestic violence or abuse, you can secure civil protection order through https://www.ncdv.org.uk/
- This can help put in place restrictions on contact, attending locations to help prevent any further incidents.
Links and Resources
- If you would like to speak with the Standing Together Team please email: standingtogether@leicester.ac.uk or if you would like to make a disclosure, please click on this link https://reportandsupport.le.ac.uk/
- The local Victim Support Service - Victim First can provide advice, guidance, Restorative Justice, emotional and practical support, please click on this link for further information https://victimfirst.org/. Click on this link for an infographic on safety planning https://victimfirst.org/news-item/domestic-violence-safety-planning-infographic/
- Empower Project - Led by the School of Criminology at the University of Leicester to help address violence against women and girls. Click on this link for further information https://le.ac.uk/criminology/research/empower