Competition continues to raise awareness of violence against women and girls
Buckinghamshire Council is continuing its drive to raise awareness of the range of issues relating to violence and intimidation that affect women and girls in our communities and is inviting residents to take part in a competition to create a short social media video reel.
The competition is open to any Buckinghamshire resident over the age of 18. People are invited to create a TikTok or Instagram reel to highlight relationship red flags or show how we can end violence against women and girls.
The closing date is Wednesday 7 December. Entries should be direct messaged to @buckscouncil on Instagram. The winner will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and the runner-up will receive a £25 Amazon voucher.
From stalking and harassment to sexual violence and rape, the statistics on violence against women and girls* are shocking to read:
- Over half a million women are raped or sexually assaulted each year
- 1 in 35 women was raped or sexually assaulted in the last 12 months
- 1 in 5 women will experience stalking in their lifetime
- 70% of women say they have experienced sexual harassment in public
Buckinghamshire Council is currently working with partners to raise awareness of the issues and ensuring people know how to report it and where to get support if needed.
Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities said: “The statistics really are quite shocking. As a council we are committed to preventing violence against women and girls and we are working with partners to develop an extensive action plan on how we will work together to tackle these issues.
“Earlier this year we introduced the online Safe Spaces portal to our website which provides support, advice and helpful contact numbers for those at risk of domestic abuse. It leaves no internet history trace and provides quick exit options for the person seeking information. We have also been working hard to promote the red flag campaign to raise awareness of the signs of domestic abuse which can manifest in many different forms.”
Steve added: “This competition is another way to ensure the awareness is out there so that anyone affected or those who may be worried about a friend or family member, knows what to do.”
You can also find out more about support for anyone experiencing domestic violence.