The Women’s Equality Party (WE) has expanded its #WEcount campaign nationwide.
The campaign was originally launched in London in March, to map women’s experiences of violence, harassment and assault on an interactive map.
The campaign includes a film, social media ‘selfies’ and an interactive map. WE are now asking women to post photos of their hands on social media with the postcode or place where they experienced sexual harassment or assault.
In London, this map will be on display for the week on a billboard at Westfield shopping centre, Shepherd’s Bush.
Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said: “WE are very proud to be extending #WEcount across the UK.”
“WE are asking women to post photos of their hands on social media showing a postcode or place where they have experienced sexual harassment, assault or verbal abuse, and adding the #WEcount hashtag. WE want to join our voices together to show the extent of women’s abuse and harassment, and to reclaim our streets.”
The relaunched campaign will be brought to life for Londoners with the use of visual browsing app, BlippAR.
People who ‘Blipp’ the mark will receive a content and information about the campaign, as well as details of what support is available.
Walker added: “Thousands of women experience unwanted sexual behaviour every day, and harassment is on the rise. Our streets are not safe. WE will show this by live mapping the locations that women report having experienced catcalling, flashing, verbal abuse and physical assault.”
“An estimated 400,000 sexual offences against women occur in the UK each year. Despite their frequency, the majority of these incidents are unreported, and women are left feeling unsafe and unable to walk without fear on their own streets,” she said.
“WE will show that women right across the UK are affected by this every day – and that every one of us counts. WE are the only party who are making the sexual abuse and harassment of women a political priority, and are asking voters in London, Scotland and Wales to back us in the elections on 5 May.”
