ANNEXE C: EVIDENCE
1. EVIDENCE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT AFFECTING STUDENTS
Published research
In the last two to three years there have been campaigns by the National Union of Students
(NUS), the media and the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) to highlight the
impact of ‘lad culture’, sexual harassment and violence against women whilst at university.
This included a legal briefing by EVAW which was sent to all vice-chancellors to support the
sector in understanding their legal obligations, Spotted: Obligations to Protect Women
Students’ Safety & Equality.69 The media has also taken a particular interest in ‘lad culture’
and sexual harassment – including a campaign by The Telegraph urging universities to do
more and a number of articles focusing on the improvements needed to support students if
they are affected by sexual harassment or violence.70
In 2014, the annual report71 produced by the Chief Executive of the Office of the Independent
Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) (England and Wales) identified sexual harassment
and ‘lad culture’ as an emerging issue of concern and urged universities to take a more
proactive approach to dismantling laddish culture.72
At government level, in 2010 the coalition government published A Call to End Violence
Against Women and Girls, followed by an Action Plan in 2014 which set out the
government’s vision for eliminating violence against women and girls.73 This was followed by
an updated strategy published in March 2016 which includes reference to the Universities
UK Taskforce and its role in improving the effectiveness of both prevention and response to
incidents.74 This area therefore continues to be a focus of government policy, with
universities expected to play a part in tackling the problem.
The number of prosecutions relating to violence against women and girls (VAWG) in
England and Wales has been increasing and reached their highest level yet in 2015–16. The
Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) Violence Against Women and Girls Crime Report 2015–
16 found that the number of VAWG crimes prosecuted rose by almost 10% on 2014–15 to
117,568.75
In April 2015, two new offences relating to domestic abuse came into force under the Serious
Crimes Act 2015: one to tackle the problem of ‘revenge pornography’ (disclosing private
sexual images without consent) and the other to make ‘controlling or coercive behaviour’
within intimate relationships a crime. Although the Taskforce has received no official
evidence of how students are impacted, the Taskforce was alerted to the phenomenon of
Available at http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/data/files/Spotted__Obligations_to_Protect_Women_Students_Safety__Equality.pdf
70 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11343380/Sexually-assault-1-in-3-UK-female-studentsvictim-on-campus.html
71 http://www.oiahe.org.uk/media/99897/oia-annual-report-2014.pdf
72 https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/news/tackle-laddish-conduct-more-vigorously-oia-head-says
73 Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls: Strategic Vision (November 2010) and Call to End Violence
Against Women and Girls: Action Plan 2014 (March 2014).
74 Ending violence against women and girls, Strategy: 2016 – 2020 (March 2016).
75 p.4, Crown Prosecution Service, Violence Against Women and Girls Crime Report 2015-16 (September 2016).
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