Cargreen

This comes after the UK government launched a raft of legislation that will give power back to women and girls who are victims of violence.

Commenting on the new measures, Claire Sullivan, CSP director of industrial relations and trade union services, said:

We must work tirelessly for a world free of violence against women and girls.

As a step in this direction, we welcome the new proposals that begin to put power where it should be: in the hands of the women who are victims of stalking and all forms of violence.

The CSP, together with other unions, has successfully campaigned to protect workers from sexual harassment. The Employee Protection Act 2023 which came into force in October this year, imposes a long-awaited new duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment in their workplace.

Speaking about recent data that has helped highlight the full extent of the problem, Claire said:

According to recent figures, six in ten women have been sexually harassed at work and 80 percent of those who have been sexually harassed do not know how to report it.

In a profession that is largely female, it is critical that employers ensure they identify and eliminate sexist cultures in the workplace, and that they fulfill their duty to protect employees from harm.

CSP campaign

The CSP will launch a campaign next year to prevent sexual harassment. The campaign will focus on raising awareness and promoting a safe environment in physiotherapy.

We want our members to feel safe to report incidents and be confident that action will be taken. Our campaign will bring together resources and guidance for members, both victims and witnesses, so that everyone can identify harassment and unite to ensure violence against women and girls is addressed and prevented.