A new campaign and film, created by young people in Kent, aims to raise awareness about street harassment and violence against women and girls (VAWG). Launched across Kent, the 'Don't Disrespect' campaign is a collaborative effort between Kent County Council, Kent Police, and the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit, with government funding.
The campaign emerged from research conducted in Kent's schools and youth groups, which highlighted the widespread issue of street harassment, especially around schools and town centres. It calls on boys to take a stand against such behaviour.
Central to the campaign is a powerful short film featuring local young actors and members of the Kent Youth County Council (KYCC). The film portrays a girl being harassed on her way home from school, showcasing common forms of harassment like catcalling, abusive language, and suggestive comments, and their impact. The goal is to encourage boys and young men to recognize the unacceptability of these actions and to empower them to speak out against such behaviour.
Young people played a significant role in the campaign's development, contributing to the script, scenes, printed materials, and the campaign's name. The prevalence of street harassment by men and boys was underscored during the filming, with two incidents occurring on set.
Sue Chandler, Cabinet Member for Integrated Children’s Services said: “Women and girls should never feel unsafe in their homes or in the community.
“Concerning national statistics have now shown us that there has never been a more pressing time to address misogyny and unacceptable behaviours to prevent escalation and ultimately, put an end to this conduct in our society.
“I am extremely proud of all the young people in Kent who helped us to create and deliver this thought provoking and impactful film and campaign. We all have a part to play in ensuring these unacceptable behaviours are eradicated and so I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to watch the ‘Don’t Disrespect’ film and reflect on how you could influence change.
“I sincerely hope we can look back on this launch in the near future and recognise it as a catalyst that helped to create meaningful behaviour change in our county.”
More details of the ‘Don’t Disrespect’ film and campaign including posters and social media copy information are available at: www.dontdisrespect.uk
Image credit: iStock
Video credit: Kent & Medway Violence Reduction Unit
