2 November 2017

*Greens: “The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain”

The Green Party leaders have written a letter of complaint to Newsnight over last night’s coverage of the sexual harassment scandal.

The show featured 14 men and three women and used comparisons to animals, including footage of animals of nature, to discuss the behaviour of men.

The Green Party yesterday called for parliamentarians to be sent to consent lessons as part of ongoing training to prevent sexual harassment [1].

Written by co-leaders Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley, and deputy leader Amelia Womack, the letter to Newsnight said:

“The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain. We urge Newsnight to think very carefully about coverage of this issue, and to ensure that they don’t let misogynistic tropes dominate their coverage again. 

“The use of biological descriptions of nature set against footage of animals in nature was entirely inappropriate. It not only failed to challenge the behaviour of men in positions of power but gave a defence for their actions.

“Newsnight gave very little airtime to survivors and women as a whole throughout the rest of the programme. To have guests comprising of 14 men and three women was unacceptable. To give the first half of the programme almost entirely to male voices showed just how deeply the programme’s misunderstanding of the power play in society which has caused the sexual harassment crisis runs.”

Notes:

1. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2017/11/01/greens-call-for-consent-lessons-for-mps/
2. Full text of the letter:

Dear Ian,

We are writing to express our concern about Newsnight’s coverage of the sexual harassment scandal last night. The programme fundamentally failed to reflect or properly examine the seriousness of what is happening to women in Britain.

The use of biological descriptions of nature set against footage of animals in nature was entirely inappropriate. It not only failed to challenge the behaviour of men in positions of power but gave a defence for their actions. Among the most concerning were statements from Evan Davis such as “there is something animal about men”, “it’s because it’s so animal we have social codes to restrain that behaviour”, “it is true that in many animals males gain evolutionary benefits from… coercing females into mating”, and “in most mammals, including us, males have higher testosterone levels… and this may incline them to be more aggressive”. Davis’ assertion he was “not going to use any of this to exonerate men” revealed the lie behind this coverage and did little to undo the damage already done.

Equally concerning was Newsnight’s treatment of how it deemed society has “dealt” with the male character it presented – in Davis’ words, by developing “codes of behaviour to restrain naked sexual aggression”.

Newsnight gave very little airtime to survivors and women as a whole throughout the rest of the programme. To have guests comprising of 14 men and three women was unacceptable. To give the first half of the programme almost entirely to male voices showed just how deeply the programme’s misunderstanding of the power play in society which has caused the sexual harassment crisis runs.

Laura Bates, Shelagh Fogarty and Eliza Anyangwe were voices of clarity in an otherwise confused programme. 

We urge Newsnight to think very carefully about coverage of this issue, and to ensure that they don’t let misogynistic tropes dominate their coverage again.

Many thanks,

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader

Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader

Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader

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2 November 2017

* Bartley: “We will not give up on child refugees”

The Green Party has responded to news refugee campaigners have lost a High Court challenge against the Government over the number of unaccompanied child refugees accepted into UK under the Dubs scheme.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said the ruling against Help Refugees was “bitterly disappointing”.

But he highlighted that it doesn’t stop the Government re-consulting with local authorities over the number of lone child refugees taken in, and urged Ministers to take action to help vulnerable children immediately.

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“We will not give up on child refugees. This ruling is bitterly disappointing, but it does not stop the Government re-consulting with local authorities. We could still take in more child refugees who are at great risk of abuse and trafficking and I urge Ministers to do so immediately.

“The Government has won in the court of law on a technicality, but I believe they are losing in the court of public opinion. Help Refugees are fighting the cause of compassion and common sense and I believe we can make Britain a nation that welcomes, helps, and supports child refugees.”

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1 November 2017

*Deputy leader Amelia Womack: “So many in Westminster are utterly failing to understand the power dynamics at play”

The Green Party is calling for MPs to be sent to consent lessons after multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault in Westminster [1].

Caroline Lucas MP, Green Party co-leader, raised the idea of ongoing, compulsory training covering consent, appropriate language and professional boundaries during a panel discussion on BBC Radio 5 live this morning.

It is also Green Party policy for consent lessons to be part of compulsory PSHE in schools [2].

Amelia Womack, Green Party deputy leader, said:

“As the number of sexual harassment and assault allegations grows, it becomes more and more apparent that many have no idea what is and isn’t appropriate in the workplace. So many in Westminster are utterly failing to understand the power dynamics at play between male MPs, senior political party figures and other staff like assistants and researchers.

“We’re calling for consent lessons to be part of MPs’ induction into Parliament and ongoing training should be compulsory – starting now. The sooner we can end this epidemic of sexual harassment the better.

“Westminster is far from unique in its failure to tackle harassment, and these measures will not protect women in other workplaces, but it is a step in the right direction. Introducing consent lessons as part of compulsory PSHE in schools would make a wider impact and help keep the next generation safe from harassment.

“Westminster has an opportunity to lead the way and introduce mandatory training to prevent sexual harassment and assault in the first place, alongside robust reporting procedures where perpetrators will be held to account when it does occur.”

Notes:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41806922
2. https://www.greenparty.org.uk/leaders-blog/2017/03/03/cl-mandatory-sex-and-relationships-education/

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1 November 2017

Caroline Lucas has criticised the Home Office for failing to implement its own policy and continuing to detain victims of sexual assault.

Lucas called on the Government to stop “inflicting further misery on people who have already experienced intense suffering” in response to a report by Women for Refugee Women, which found 22 out of 26 women interviewed had experienced sexual or gender based violence and been detained.

All the women were detained after the Home Office ‘Adults at Risk’ policy, which states people most at risk of being harmed by detention, including women who have survived sexual and gender-based violence, should not normally be locked up.

Caroline Lucas MP, co-leader of the Green Party, said:

“These findings are shocking, and show a complete failure by the Home Office to act on their own policy. Just a glance at some of the case studies reveals the callous disregard for people’s wellbeing at the Government’s approach – and the urgent need for change.

“The Government’s cruel failure to comply with their own policy inflicts further misery on people who have already experienced intense suffering. Indeed the UK has one of the most draconian systems of detention of anywhere in the world. It’s inhumane, expensive and unnecessarily harsh – which is why it needs overhauling. The Home Office must immediately stop routinely locking up the victims of sexual violence – there’s simply no excuse for further inaction.”

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27 October 2017

Green Party Co-Leader has written to the Home Office over the proposed deportation of Abderrahim. 

Abderrahim, a 25 year old gay Moroccan man, faces deportation after his application for asylum in May failed. 

Jonathan Bartley though has written to Amber Rudd, Home Secretary, urging her to intervene and ensure Abderrahim is granted asylum because it is clear his life will be at risk if he returns to Morocco. 

Full letter below:

Dear Amber Rudd

I was concerned to recently learn of the situation of Abderrahim, a 25 year old gay Moroccan man who faces deportation from the UK.

It is my understanding that, after applying for asylum earlier this year in May, his case has been rejected by the Home Office, and has also lost a subsequent appeal. I would urge you to reconsider this decision and grant Abderrahim asylum in the UK.

Morocco penalises homosexualtiy with up to three years in prison, with eminent figures like the minister of state for human rights recently calling homosexuals ‘awsakh’ – meaning scum, or dirt. This is not a safe environment for a gay person.

Deporting Abderrahim to Morocco will threaten his safety and liberty, and he will be put in this danger purely because of his sexuality, along with his desire to support other oppressed members of his country’s LGBT+ community.

In the UK, we are rightfully proud of our traditions of democracy, freedom of association, and liberty to live a free and dignified life regardless of one’s sexuality. This is a time to draw on those traditions, and extend them to a person in need.

We should show compassion, and grant Abderrahim asylum in our country. More than this, we should recognise Abderrahim’s efforts to support other LGBT+ people in Morocco, and applaud him for them, rather than needlessly condemning him to persecution.

Abderrahim has shown great courage, and is evidently deserving of asylum in the UK. I urge you to reconsider your decision, and approve his asylum application.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Bartley,

Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales

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