London: Sexism is "more visible" in the UK than in countries like India, a United Nations investigator looking at violence against women in the country on Tuesday said. Rashida Manjoo is on a fact-finding mission to the UK to study the country's approach to the issue. In her report she claims that sexism is "more visible" in the UK than in other countries she has visited, which include India, Algeria, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan and Croatia. Manjoo stressed that she had found levels of sexism that did not exist in some of these other countries. She described the over-sexualisation of women as "pervasive" in the society and raised fears that sexual bullying and harassment in schools was routine. The UK Home Office stressed that the government was committed to ending violence against women and girls.
Manjoo, however, raised particular concerns about the portrayal of women and girls in the media and the treatment of girls and women in schools. She said the British media was responsible for "negative and over-sexualised portrayals of women", with some websites and TV channels dealing in the "marketisation of their bodies". Manjoo said she had not looked at the websites, but had been "constantly" told about them by people she met on her visit. She said it was clear "that there is a boys' club, sexist culture that exists, and it does lead to perceptions about women and girls in this country".
"Access to trauma services, financial support and housing are crucial, yet current reforms to the funding and benefits system continue to adversely impact women's ability to address safety and other relevant issues," she added. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Violence against women and girls in any form is unacceptable and the government has shown its commitment to ending it. "A comprehensive programme was drawn up for the special rapporteur's visit, including meetings with the home secretary, the minister for crime prevention, and the chief inspector of prisons. "Several other options, including a trip to a women's refuge, were turned down by the special rapporteur."
