(Warning: Sensitive Topic)
On the 3rd of March 2021, 33 year old Sarah Everard was abducted by an off-duty police officer whilst walking home in South London. Days later, investigators discovered her remains in a woodland area almost 50 miles away. Since then, in the midst of an ongoing trial, women across the UK have been part of a movement that seeks to raise the voices of women who are victims of violence, as well as educate others about this important issue.
After Everard’s disappearance, the effort to find her quickly moved online, with many sharing CCTV images of her walking home in an attempt to shed some light on what may have happened. At the same time, there was an outcry on social media, as women across the country began sharing their own experiences of walking home by themselves, the ways in which they had been harassed, and how they were deeply saddened by Sarah’s disappearance. Many women empathised with the situation, as the realisation set in that anyone could have been Sarah in that moment.
A YouGov survey carried out by UN Women UK found that 97% of women, aged 18 to 24 in the UK, have been sexually harassed, whilst only 4% choose to report these incidents to the police. There are various reasons as to why someone may choose not to, or be able to, report their experience of sexual harassment; however, in this survey, the overwhelming majority of women stated that they believed that the incident was not “serious enough” to report. The results from this survey are clear; sexual assault is not seen as a serious issue, despite the fact that this problem affects millions of women–and men–every year.
With statistics like these coming to light, Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April is a pivotal time for both men and women globally. It is a time for reflection on the tragedies that have been exposed over recent years, a time for education about the issue so that others can understand, and a time for solution, as we try to prevent these crimes from increasing year upon year.
This month, take some time to educate yourself on how you can help those who may have been affected, or how you can prevent these feelings of unsafety that surrounded the disappearance of Sarah Everard, whilst also making sure to think about your mental health; topics like sexual assault and harassment can be particularly triggering, so its important to know when to reach out and ask for help if you need it. For more information on how to stay informed, what to do if you need help, or how to help others, please visit websites such as the National Sexual Violence Resource Centre or Survivors Network.
Sources:
Published April 26, 2021
Written by Rebecca Symns-Rowley ~ Edited by Deeba Mehr ~ Graphics created by Elwin Fu
Comments