The Mayor of West Yorkshire has urged people to step up and say “we’ve had enough of this” at an event looking at how to tackle sexual violence.
Mayor Tracy Brabin joined representatives from the University of Leeds at an event held during Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, which explored how partners including West Yorkshire Combined Authority, police, charities and Higher Education institutions are working together to tackle sexual violence across Leeds and West Yorkshire.
The Mayor, who set up the UK’s first Women’s Safety Unit to tackle violence against women and girls, said: “Prevention is so important. We have to adjust our way of thinking and enable young people to understand what respect is and how we live alongside each other.”
An audience of over 100 people heard discussions about positive measures such as equipping students with knowledge and confidence to be ‘active bystanders’, by training them how to intervene in a way that feels safe.
Listening and supporting
Charlotte Webster Dalby, Harassment and Misconduct Manager at the University of Leeds, spoke about how her team works in partnership with local services across the city to support survivors of sexual violence.
She said: “As of 1 August, universities will be regulated in this area, and for us this has been an opportunity to stop and take stock, and listen to our community and what they need.”
Last year, the University launched its award-winning Show Up for Leeds campaign, to educate students about sexual violence and empower them to take action against its everyday forms.
The Mayor launched the #JustDont campaign in 2023 to tackle everyday harassment and inappropriate male behaviour.
Working together with partners - like the University of Leeds - is vital to making West Yorkshire a safer, fairer place for everyone.
Extending this campaign, she wanted to speak to young people directly. After the panel event, which was held at innovation community Nexus, the Mayor held a focus group where she heard experiences from students and societies themselves.
Tracy Brabin added: “We're committed to tackling sexual violence in all its forms and ensuring support is always there for victims and survivors.
“Our dedicated Women's Safety Unit, a national first, is leading the way with initiatives to reduce offending and challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours.
“Working together with partners - like the University of Leeds - is vital to making West Yorkshire a safer, fairer place for everyone."
Engaging in conversations with young people on this topic is vitally important if we’re going to make positive changes.
Also part of the panel was Dr Anna Barker, from the School of Law, who spoke about how Universities can use their research to have impact in this area – in particular talking about her work on Safer Parks and how we can design spaces that are inviting to women and girls.
Amara Relf, a student who is Equality and Liberation Student Executive Officer at Leeds University Union, spoke at the event about how students can get involved by joining societies, going to consent training, supporting charity events, facilitating open debates and supporting local organisations such as Support After Rape & Sexual Violence Leeds (SARSVL), which was co-founded by Katie Russell, an alumni of the University of Leeds.
Speaking after the event, Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education at the University of Leeds, said: “We’re grateful to have a committed community of staff, students and alumni who are dedicated to tackling sexual violence – from research such as Dr Anna Barker’s work into making public spaces safer and more inclusive, to staff who have built close links with partners across the city so we can offer support and advice to those impacted by sexual violence.
“Engaging in conversations with young people on this topic is vitally important if we’re going to make positive changes. Campaigns like the University’s Show Up for Leeds and the Mayor’s #JustDon’t project are so important because they encourage people to talk openly about sexual violence, equip students with the knowledge to recognise it, and help to make our community a safer place for everyone.”
Further information
For advice and support on this topic, please visit this page.
More information about the parners working together to prevent sexual violence can be found at this link.
For further information please contact Corporate Communications Officer Becky Pascoe on r.pascoe@leeds.ac.uk