Gender-based violence campaign launches at Glasgow University
The campaign will line up with 16 days of activism by the UN
Last updated 27th Nov 2023
A campaign highlighting work to improve approaches to gender-based violence is launching at Glasgow University.
Together Against Gender Based Violence will coincide with the UN’s 16 Days of Activism and aims to promote an improved response to the issue by the university, by making policies clearer, resources more accessible, and reporting processes more straightforward.
Following a review in 2022, the campaign was recommended to help educate the university community about different forms of gender-based violence, and it was developed with the Student’s Representative Council, as well as other student bodies and colleagues from the institution.
Part of the campaign is made up by an art installation by Glasgow-based visual artist Molly Hankinson, exploring consent, education, and allyship.
She said: “The campaign against Gender-Based Violence was the perfect opportunity for me to create a body of work that was reflective of my own values and create something that was interrogative but celebratory, which is the balance that I like to strike in my own practice.
“I want to spark questions around the themes in the campaign, hopefully in a way that’s strong and assertive. It’s about taking accountability for the past - but also drawing a line and looking forward to the future.”
Vice principle and Gender Equality Champion, Professor Sara Carter, said the university was “proud” to launch the campaign.
She added: “From improvements in policy and procedures to the fantastic new art exhibition and educational resources, this is the start of a conversation for our community, and we want everyone to be a part of it.
“The University is committed to further progress and ensuring our community feels respected and safe on our campuses.”
Students’ Representative Council President Hailie Pentleton-Owens said: “We endorse and support this campaign, whilst recognising that the University still has a lot of work to do to rebuild trust in its approach to Gender-Based Violence.
“The SRC will continue to hold the University accountable, ensuring the student voice is heard and support is further improved.”
The art installation, which is open to the general public, is in the University’s James McCune Smith Learning Hub on University Avenue until the end of January 2024.