Safer Streets Sheffield launched its first campaign ‘Know the line’ on 24 November at Quaker Meeting House, Sheffield. The launch event was a culmination of a year’s work by a collaboration of local groups and individuals.
“Street harassment is often an invisible problem or one that is portrayed as a joke, compliment or the fault of the harassed person. In reality, it’s a human rights violation.” Holly Kearl, founder of the US-based organization ‘Stop Street Harassment’.
Women and girls should feel safe to go about their lives without fear of sexual harassment or violence in public spaces. The Know the Line campaign aims to raise public awareness of the issue in Sheffield, and the wider South Yorkshire, and encourage active bystanders to call out this behavior.
Attendees heard from the organizers of the event about what spurred them to create this campaign, followed by others who spoke about what sexual harassment meant to them. Sue Fish, former Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, outlined the pioneering campaign she spearheaded to recognize misogyny as a hate crime, followed by Louise Haigh (Shadow Minister for Policing), who discussed the issue of sexual harassment in Westminster and politics.
Attendees were also invited to make personal pledges of how they would support the campaign. You can read a selection of these pledges here: Pledges from Launch
Also in attendance were representatives from Violence Against Women and Girls, Ask Angela, VIDA Sheffield, Ashiana Sheffield, Sheffield City Council, BID, Dr Alan Billings (South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner) and Supt Paul Curry (Partnership Lead at South Yorkshire Police)
Listed below are press articles about the event:
Know the Line Campaign 