CHANGING THE CULTURE | Page 16

8. In 2014, the Annual Report of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) also identified sexual harassment and ‘lad culture’ as an emerging issue of concern and urged universities to take a more proactive approach to dismantling this type of culture. In its 2015 Annual Report, the OIA reported that it continues to receive a ‘small but steady’ number of complaints about the handling of sexual harassment cases by universities.11 9. The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) has also been influential in raising the profile of sexual violence. In January 2015, EVAW produced a legal briefing focusing on universities’ obligations under the public sector equality duty (PSED) of the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998. This was sent to government and to UUK members. EVAW also produced a template letter for individual students to use to write to their vice-chancellor. 10. There are also some policy initiatives of note in the devolved nations. Equally Safe (2014)12 sets out Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls. This was updated in March 201613. The Scottish government has also announced a partnership project with the University of Strathclyde in 2016. This two-year funded initiative will include the development of a toolkit for Scottish higher education institutions focused on female university students. 11. In Wales, the Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015 requires the Welsh Government to prepare and publish a national strategy in relation to these matters. The legislation aims to improve the public sector response in Wales to such abuse and violence. Universities in south Wales are also working together with the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and a local charity to address sexual violence, domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women. This is detailed in case study 1 in Annexe E. 12. Schools have also come under increased scrutiny as evidenced by the 2016 Women and Equalities Committee inquiry into sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools in England. UUK submitted evidence to this inquiry, which published its report on 13 September 2016.14 The Committee found that sexual harassment and abuse of girls at school is being accepted as part of daily life, with cases of teachers accepting sexual harassment as ‘banter’ and children of primary school age learning about sex and relationships from exposure to pornography15. There was also a recognition that for ‘lad culture’ to be tackled OIA Annual Report 2015 (June 2015). Scottish Government and COSLA, Equally Safe: Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (2014), available at: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0045/00454152.pdf 13 Scottish Government and COSLA, Equally Safe: Scotland’s strategy for preventing and eradicating violence against women and girls (2016), available at http://blogs.scotland.gov.uk/equallysafe/files/2016/03/ES-update-18-April1.pdf 14 UUK’s submission can be accessed at: http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-andanalysis/Pages/taskforce-violence-against-women-hate-crime.aspx 15 See http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmwomeq/91/91.pdf?utm_source=91& utm_medium=module&utm_campaign=modulereports 11 12 15