Female councillors speak of intimidation and harassment as Walsall Council's first White Ribbon Champion vows to work to protect women and girls
Councillor Nicky Barker is the authority's first White Ribbon Champion
Walsall Council has appointed it's first White Ribbon Champion in a bid to improve the situation for women and girls in the area.
Councillor Nicky Barker, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, has been appointed as the first White Ribbon Champion, a move the authority said is the next step towards White Ribbon accreditation.
White Ribbon UK is the leading charity in England and Wales working to prevent men’s violence against women and girls.
The charity’s approach is preventative and focused on changing the harmful attitudes, behaviours and systems that contribute to gender inequality and gender-based violence.
Cllr Barker said: "Violence against women and girls, in all its forms, has no place in Walsall, and we all have a role to play in challenging the attitudes and behaviours that allow it to happen.
“I am proud to take on the role of White Ribbon Champion and to support the council’s work towards accreditation.
"This is about showing clear leadership, actively supporting the aims of the White Ribbon campaign, and demonstrating the council’s commitment to preventing harassment, abuse and violence against women and girls.
“Through this work, we want to raise awareness, support positive culture change and encourage people, particularly men and boys, to challenge the attitudes that contribute to violence against women and girls.
"By working with partners, staff, councillors and communities, we can help create a borough where everyone feels safer, respected and supported. “
Female councillors report being harassed and say women have been intimidated by men when voting
At a council meeting following her appointment (July 27), other female councillors congratulated Cllr Barker and shared their own experiences of being harassed in Walsall, showing the need for a White Ribbon Champion.
Councillor Hajran Bashir was just one of a handful of councillors who stood up and shared their experience of gender-based violence.
She also highlighted that several women had reported to her they felt too intimidated to cast their vote in local elections.
"Both myself and my fellow female candidates were subjected to harassment, intimidation and online abuse throughout the election campaign" she said.
“On polling day the behaviour was so severe that many female residents felt uncomfortable and intimidated by groups of men standing outside polling stations.
“Some women chose not to cast their vote as a result. I personally escorted several women to polling stations because they didn’t feel confident attending alone.
"My fellow candidate was subject to such intimidation that she had to run into the polling station out of fear."
Cllr Barker told us that sadly, this didn't come as a surprise.
"I do think a lot of us as women, we come across this kind of behvaiour quite regualarly," she said.
"I wasn't surprised unfortunately, but you know, some of those things we are addressing now."
She continued: "I've experienced this quite a lot - I've experienced it on the train, I've experienced it while campaigning and I've experienced it in the workplace."
Cllr Barker said she wants to get started right away and mentioned the possibility of working with schools and local policing forces to begin her prevention work.
She told us: "I've already set up some meetings and I've already took some calls about these very issues, so I'm just going to hit the ground running really and just try and do my best for the women out there."