London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a greater conversation around the behaviour of men, while promising that when he is re-elected as mayor, he will criminalise sexual harassment in the public space.
In a recent question-and-answer session with Elle UK, wherein citizens of London put forth their concerns, Sadiq Khan said he thinks “it’s really important to address the behaviour of men”.
“I think, you know, men simply must change. A small minority of men are causing a lot of problems, but actually, a lot of men sometimes can temper their behaviour and make you feel safer,” he added.
Khan — who launched the London Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) back in March 2019 — talked about the various initiatives, as well as efforts to build on existing ones, he would take if he gets reelected as the mayor in May 2021.
Target ‘the behaviour of men and boys’
A “proud feminist”, the London mayor said he wishes to “make sexual harassment in the public space a criminal offence”.
“I’ve got lots of policies in relation to keeping women safe and supporting women [but] I think we’ve got to spend as much time targeting the behaviour of men and boys,” he said while responding to a question by a woman.”We should be teaching boys, in particular, much better around relationships, around sex education, around respect for girls and women. I think it’s good to start there.”
Khan’s comments were especially important since they come a month after the March 3 death of 33-year-old Sarah Everard, a case in which Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged for kidnapping and murder.
Police had discovered Everard’s body in a builder’s refuse bag in woodland about 80 kilometres southeast of London. It was identified using dental records.
Everard’s murder had also sparked protests, with women sharing personal experiences of sexual harassment, abuse, and assault by men in public spaces.
‘Men simply must change’
Khan, the mayor of London, had said in a statement earlier he was heartbroken “that so many women and girls do not feel safe in our country on a daily basis”.
“And let’s be honest – these problems are caused by the unacceptable attitudes and behaviours of men.”
