Make It Mandatory

Carole Gould was interviewed by ITV News when Killed Women (KW) and Make It Mandatory went to Westminster on Monday for the launch of 'The RSE Unofficial Curriculum', as part of their campaign to make relationship education mandatory for all 16-18-year-olds. https://lnkd.in/e2WJsWZU Find out more about the campaign, and how to email your MP to tell them to back the Relationships and Sex Education (Further Education Sector) Bill: https://lnkd.in/etY4m-Ep

MPs and campaign groups Make It Mandatory, founded by Faustine Petron, who was in an abusive relationship when she was a teenager, and Killed Women (KW) are backing the Relationships and Sex Education (Further Education Sector) Bill to make relationship and sex education mandatory up until the age of 18. https://lnkd.in/ei49nBWs Alistair Strathern MP, who has introduced the bill to parliament, told Metro: ‘Compulsory Relationships and Sex Education ends at 16, just as young people face greater independence, more serious relationships and the highest rates of domestic abuse. With online influences and emerging technologies exposing young people to new risks, we cannot leave them to learn these lessons the hard way.’ The bill aims to make sure lessons are built into timetables for all 16 to 18-year-olds, whether they are studying for A-levels or doing a practical course such as bricklaying or hairdressing. KW co-founder Carole Gould, whose 17-year-old daughter Ellie was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, is backing the bill to ensure young people can recognise the signs of coercive control. Jess Phillips MP told Metro: Having spent years fighting violence against women and girls, I know that we cannot simply pick up the pieces after abuse has happened, we must do everything we can to prevent it from happening at all. Our Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy commits to halving VAWG within a decade, but we cannot achieve that without education. It is unacceptable that compulsory Relationships and Sex Education ends at 16, when young people are most vulnerable. Write to your MP using this template: https://lnkd.in/eYnQcREr tell them to Back The Bill on the 4th of December. Make RSE Mandatory for all 16+. Follow our campaign, read The Unofficial Curriculum: https://lnkd.in/etYzx8kB #backthebill #sexeducation #rseto18

Today our founder Faustine spoke on BBC’s Women’s Hour alongside the brilliant Ellie Softley from Everyone's Invited and Dr Paula Hall. Faustine was interviewed by Anita Rani as part of an important programme on consent that marks Woman’s Hour 80th birthday. Faustine bravely shared her experience of domestic abuse as a teenager and the need for a sociocultural transformation of society to truly tackle violence against women and girls, the importance of relationships and sex education (RSE) going up to 18 so that children can spot the signs of coercive control and learn about consent (and a lot more). The government have a once in a lifetime chance to educate the next generation about consent and all the important issues related to it such as domestic abuse and sexual violence through Alistair Strathern MP’s private members bill, which will be voted on on 4 December and would change the law to make RSE mandatory up to the age of 18. Don’t forget to write to your MP about this! It was such a pleasure to be on the show for such an important topic that touches all of our lives. You can listen to the episode on BBC sounds🎙️ #makeitmandatory #bbc #RSEto18 #VAWG #trending

Having the best time in Rochester Kent. Two schools down and a full day of 5x y12 lessons today. The young people have given fascinating insights and improvements to the Sexual Ethics &Stuff pack which will launch in Feb 27. The biggest misconception we have had to address is the students thinking it’s both legal and ethical to choke during sex (see image). It is illegal and even if they consented, the potential for serious harm (brain damage and death) means it would be unethical to attempt especially as people don’t fully know the risks. What worries me is these were y12’s and y13’s, the RSHE curriculum including strangulation has only been statutory for 4 weeks and not for them. There is a whole cohort out there who don’t know this stuff. 9th December I am doing a session for Medway schools on how to address this stuff safely and ethically. #nosafewaytostrangle

Major trigger warnings before this video begins: MVAWG, knife crime, misogyny. If we do not educate our young people appropriately about relationships and sex education, they will learn it from harmful sources, the manosphere, bad actors, grafters, and through hyper-patriarchal conditioning. Extending RSE to 18 years old, alongside other efforts to reduce male violence against women and girls, will be one of the most effective pieces of prevention. We must stand up and Make it Mandatory so that no more young women will have to go through this horrific ordeal. Adolescence was a warning for many, a wake up call for some and a reminder for the sector of what we already know, we need inclusive, comprehensive and holistic RSE until 18 years old and we need it now!

Yesterday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said misogyny is violence. We agree. So why does mandatory education on it end at 16, the exact age when domestic abuse rates spike❓ 📕 There's a bill in Parliament right now that would close this loophole and make Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) mandatory up to the age of 18 so young people can learn about misogyny, domestic abuse, and so much more. Andy, you have the power to end misogynistic attitudes in and for the next generation. Back Alistair Strathern MP's Bill and #MakeItMandatory Stay tuned for more updates and how you can get involved 💙