The series of powerful videos directly targeted at men
17.05.2023 - 09:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A new series of powerful videos have been released directly targeted at men and boys in Greater Manchester calling on them to challenge sexual harassment.
It comes as part of the award-winning campaign from the Greater Manchester Mayor's Office, #IsThisOkay, which shines a light on the type of unwarranted behaviour many women have experienced across the city.
Over seven in ten women in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public place, rising to four in five for 18-24 year-olds. Yet only six in ten men think gender-based violence is a problem for women in Greater Manchester.
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In December 2021, Andy Burnham launched a campaign aimed at men and boys in the city, calling for them to discuss why this type of behaviour is not okay.
It encourages people to call it out if they see their friends, colleagues or family members demonstrating these behaviours. The campaign is part of Greater Manchester’s 10-year Gender-Based Violence Strategy published in September 2021.
As part of the latest phase of the campaign, now in its third year, a story told across three short episodes has been released to show the types of behaviour faced by women and girls - and how men and young boys can see the problem and challenge it or change.
The story follows a young woman on her way home being harassed by a young man and when she tells her young male housemate about her experience and how it made her feel, he is able to recognise the problem and challenge his friend on his behaviour later on in the story.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: "The everyday behaviours that women and girls face must be challenged and changed and that is why