A resource aimed at showing young men how to be active bystanders against sexism and sexual harassment that often leads to violence by men against girls and women is now live.

Eski developed this last year with the University of Hull, with funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside and in conjunction with Hull University Union.

The campaign includes a series of interactive videos where you make choices as a bystander and/or potential offender and see how these decisions affect “you” and others.

It’s encouraging how in other parts of the world we are taking an active bystander approach to campaigns and interventions too. Although developed in Hull, the messages are universal and can be used with the interactive resources are available online here:

https://www.hull.ac.uk/choose-hull/student-life/student-support/step-up

As the University of Hull explains: for decades one of the main focuses of tackling this type of behaviour has been to place onus on those being harassed to change their behaviour in order to keep themselves safe. Whilst this can help people to have a sense of control over their safety, these suggestions are ultimately perpetuating victim blaming narratives and do not address the root cause of the problem; the offenders behaviour. We are switching the focus with this campaign and calling on all perpetrators of misogynistic and harassing behaviour to Step Up. It is by doing this that we will make significant and much needed change in this area.

Additionally, we can all help to change problematic, dangerous and anti-social behaviour by being active and informed bystanders. Safely intervening when someone is being harassed and/or calling out misogynistic and inappropriate behaviour can go a long way to changing the thoughts, attitudes and actions of others.