Latest news with #ViolenceAgainstWomenandGirls
Daily Record
25-05-2025
- Daily Record
POLICE COLUMN: Detective Chief Inspector Laura White
DCI White speaks out on early intervention to protect vulnerable people from harm which is part of the force's Violence Against Women and Girls strategy As the Detective Chief Inspector for Lothian and Scottish Borders Division, I want to use this week's column to discuss some of the current workstreams we are involved in to safeguard communities against various types of public protection-related offences. Prevention and early intervention to protect vulnerable people from harm is at the root of what we aim to achieve and as part of our Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, we are working alongside colleagues within Education to provide information on a range of issues to pupils at schools throughout the Division. We recognise the importance of educating children and young people on healthy relationships, consent, and online safety to prevent the development of harmful attitudes and behaviours. In the coming weeks, we will be looking to develop our work with P7 leavers and our young people starting high school to support the inputs they receive in class time in terms of relationships, sexual health, and parenthood. To support these messages, School Link Officers will look to deliver additional inputs either in school setting or as part of the Risk Factory Centre trips, to reinforce healthy relationships and boundaries, understanding of consent, the various guises of domestic abuse and where our young people can go in terms of sign posting if they require help and support. Last month, some of our Detectives and Response officers attended a continuous development training event during National Stalking Awareness Week. This was designed to strengthen officer confidence and capability in identifying, investigating, and responding to stalking reports. Stalking can have serious and lasting effects on victims. It affects a person's quality of life, ability to live freely and in some cases can lead to significant harm or even death. Stalking behaviours can be subtle, manipulative, and disguised by perpetrators as legitimate or incidental actions on their part. Our officers heard case studies exploring patterns, behaviours, observing the real-life toll on victims from perpetrators as well as hearing from real life Police investigations which allowed us to share good practice and learning opportunities. It is essential that our officers are equipped to understand their responsibilities in respect of stalking, how to recognise the signs and maximise investigative opportunities in order to provide the best service we can to those impacted. If you are worried that you are a victim of stalking or concerned about someone you know who is experiencing this. I would encourage you to call Police or contact National Stalking Helpline on 0808 8020 300 to seek advice and support. Within Lothians and Scottish Borders Division, we benefit from positive working relationships with our partners across Health and support services and regularly receive third party reporting from survivors of sexual abuse who, for valid reasons, were not ready, or did not wish to contact Police at the time of an offence. If you have been the victim of a sexual offence, it's understandable that you may not know what to do or where to turn. NHS Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) is a dedicated NHS service which can offer healthcare and support in the days after an assault, if you are not ready to tell the Police or are unsure. If you have been the victim of a sexual assault within the last seven days and do not want to tell the Police or are unsure about telling them now - you can self-refer to a SARCS. This means you don't need a GP or other healthcare professional to refer you to a SARCS - you can do this yourself.
Scoop
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office Announces Alison Davidian As New Representative
Press Release – UN Women Ms. Alison Davidian previously served as UN Womens Special Representative in Afghanistan and has held roles supporting global and regional policy and programming in peace and security, access to justice, and preventing violence and extremism. Suva, Fiji UN Women has appointed Ms. Alison Davidian as the new Representative for its Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO), which supports 14 Pacific Island countries in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. Ms. Davidian brings extensive experience in international development, with a focus on gender equality, good governance and peacebuilding. She previously served as UN Women's Special Representative in Afghanistan and has held roles supporting global and regional policy and programming in peace and security, access to justice, and preventing violence and extremism. Her career also includes positions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the International Center for Transitional Justice and legal advocacy roles in Australia. She holds degrees in Government and Law from the University of Sydney, and a Master of Laws from Harvard University. 'It is an honour to join the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office and work alongside partners across the Pacific to advance gender equality and women's empowerment. I look forward to listening and learning from the diverse voices andexperiences across the region and building on the important work already underway to support the rights, leadership, and resilience of women and girls. Together with partners, we will work towards a more just, inclusive, and equal Pacific for all,' said Ms. Davidian. About UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office (MCO): UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. The UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Fiji, covers14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs): Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Fiji MCO works to progress gender equality and women's empowerment in the Pacific through four key programmes: Women's Economic Empowerment; Ending Violence Against Women and Girls; Women's Political Empowerment and Leadership; and Gender and Protection in Humanitarian Action.
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Love Island star drops HUGE clue she's secretly engaged after going public with boyfriend
The star has all but confirmed that a wedding is looming WEDDING BELLS Love Island star drops HUGE clue she's secretly engaged after going public with boyfriend Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island fans have been sent into a spin after convincing themselves one star from the show is set to announce her engagement. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the villa alumni is wearing a ring on her wedding finger after recently going public with her boyfriend. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Sharon Gaffka has been spotted wearing a ring on her engagement finger Credit: instagram/@sharongaffka 5 It comes after she unveiled her relationship with fellow activist Matthew Torbitt Credit: TikTok Sharon Gaffka only unveiled her romance with Matthew Torbitt in March, having previously kept quiet about her private life since her Love Island days. But now, alongside a series of telling new photos, the 29-year-old is already talking about having a baby with her fella. Sharon now works as a VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) activist and is an ambassador for domestic violence charity Refuge. Matthew, meanwhile, is a Homelessness & Prison Reform Advocate. Together, they have addressed the Oxford Union after being invited there to tell Oxford University students about their work. Sharon has since shared several black and white photos that were taken backstage at the talk, which show her in a stunning long-sleeved dress and Matthew in a tux. But after the law graduate posted the pictures on Instagram, fans couldn't help but spot the ring on Sharon's left hand. Sharon told her followers: "I can't wait to tell our future child that mum and dad were once guest speakers at the union they'll one day be members of 👀." Replying, one follower wrote: "It's giving engagement announcement pics tbh." Much to everyone's delight, Sharon and Matthew both confirmed that an engagement is very much on the cards. "It's coming," Sharon replied. Matthew added: "Trust me, it's coming." Sharon even went one stage further in response to a follower who had written: "This is so gorgeous. I'm seeing the not too distant future here." The former reality star replied: "Everyone get ready for the wedding content 😂." Sharon Gaffka's love life What we know about Sharon's private life since she left Love Island... Sharon appeared on Love Island in 2021 because she had grown tired of "being the only single one" in her group of friends. The former beauty queen and law graduate said she was on the look out for someone intelligent. Sharon was paired with Hugo Hammond on the show but later accused him of 'touching her inappropriately' outside of the villa. Hugo flatly denied her allegations. Although it appeared Sharon was heterosexual, she also accused Love Island bosses of editing out a bisexual confession. Sharon went off the radar in terms of her private life following her villa stint. But in 2023, she made a rare admission about her love life – revealing she had enjoyed a celebrity romance. Sharon confessed: "I have only ever dated one person in the public eye in the past two years, it lasted for the best part of five minutes, so it's no even known about outside my inner circle. "I'd want a relationship that was known of, not known about." In the same year, Sharon also opened up about suffering a tragic miscarriage. Sharon, who did not reveal who the baby's father was, cried as she told fans about her emotional and heartbreaking experience in a video. In March 2025, Sharon revealed she had found her happy-ever-after with fellow activist Matthew Torbitt. The pair declared their love for each other on Instagram alongside a series of photos taken during a trip to Spain. Sharon had hoped to find a boyfriend in the seventh series of Love Island in 2021. She was was briefly coupled up with Hugo Hammond during her time in the villa, but later accused him of "inappropriately touching" her - which he denied. She alleged her friendship with Hugo ended because of his behaviour following Love Island, however he described her claims as "completely false" on social media. Sharon has since remained tight-lipped about romantic liaisons but revealed two years ago that she had suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage. Opening up as she marked what would have been her baby's first birthday, the women's rights campaigner said: "Grief is not a linear process. "I'm tired of being told that time is healer and this truth is especially evident in the aftermath of miscarriage for those who never planned to have children. Feelings of loss, confusion, guilt, and even relief can surface unexpectedly, and these emotions are all valid." Sharon told her fans she wasn't sharing her story for sympathy, but as part of her healing process. 5 Sharon appeared in Love Island in 2021 Credit: PA 5 She was coupled up with Hugo Hammond but it did not end well Credit: Rex
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Love Island star drops HUGE clue she's secretly engaged after going public with boyfriend
LOVE Island fans have been sent into a spin after convincing themselves one star from the show is set to announce her engagement. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted that the villa alumni is wearing a ring on her wedding finger after recently going public with her boyfriend. Advertisement 5 Sharon Gaffka has been spotted wearing a ring on her engagement finger Credit: instagram/@sharongaffka 5 It comes after she unveiled her relationship with fellow activist Matthew Torbitt Credit: TikTok But now, alongside a series of telling new photos, the 29-year-old is already talking about having a baby with her fella. Sharon now works as a VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls) activist and is an ambassador for domestic violence charity Refuge. Matthew, meanwhile, is a Homelessness & Prison Reform Advocate. Advertisement READ MORE ON LOVE ISLAND Together, they have addressed the Oxford Union after being invited there to tell Oxford University students about their work. Sharon has since shared several black and white photos that were taken backstage at the talk , which show her in a stunning long-sleeved dress and Matthew in a tux. But after the law graduate posted the pictures on Instagram, fans couldn't help but spot the ring on Sharon's left hand. Sharon told her followers: "I can't wait to tell our future child that mum and dad were once guest speakers at the union they'll one day be members of 👀." Advertisement Most read in Love Island Replying, one follower wrote: "It's giving engagement announcement pics tbh." Much to everyone's delight, Sharon and Matthew both confirmed that an engagement is very much on the cards. "It's coming," Sharon replied. Matthew added: "Trust me, it's coming." Advertisement Sharon even went one stage further in response to a follower who had written: "This is so gorgeous. I'm seeing the not too distant future here." The former reality star replied: "Everyone get ready for the wedding content 😂." Sharon Gaffka's love life What we know about Sharon's private life since she left Love Island... Sharon appeared on Love Island in 2021 because she had grown tired of "being the only single one" in her group of friends. The former beauty queen and law graduate said she was on the look out for someone intelligent. Sharon was paired with Hugo Hammond on the show but later accused him of 'touching her inappropriately' outside of the villa. Hugo flatly denied her allegations. Although it appeared Sharon was heterosexual, she also Sharon went off the radar in terms of her private life following her villa stint. But in 2023, she made a rare admission about her love life – revealing she had enjoyed a celebrity romance. Sharon confessed: "I have only ever dated one person in the public eye in the past two years, it lasted for the best part of five minutes, so it's no even known about outside my inner circle. "I'd want a relationship that was known of, not known about." In the same year, Sharon also opened up about Sharon, who did not reveal who the baby's father was, cried as she told fans about her emotional and heartbreaking experience in a video. In March 2025, Sharon revealed she had found her happy-ever-after with fellow activist Matthew Torbitt. The pair declared their love for each other on Instagram alongside a series of photos taken during a trip to Spain. Sharon had hoped to find a boyfriend in the seventh series of Love Island in 2021. She was was briefly coupled up with during her time in the villa , but later - which he denied. Advertisement She alleged her friendship with ended because of his behaviour following Love Island, however he described her claims as "completely false" on social media. Sharon has since remained tight-lipped about romantic liaisons but revealed two years ago that she had suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage. Opening up as she marked what would have been her baby's first birthday, the women's rights campaigner said: "Grief is not a linear process. "I'm tired of being told that time is healer and this truth is especially evident in the aftermath of miscarriage for those who never planned to have children. Feelings of loss, confusion, guilt, and even relief can surface unexpectedly, and these emotions are all valid." Advertisement Sharon told her fans she wasn't sharing her story for sympathy, but as part of her healing process. 5 Sharon appeared in Love Island in 2021 Credit: PA 5 She was coupled up with Hugo Hammond but it did not end well Credit: Rex 5 Sharon has now told fans to 'get ready' for wedding content Credit: TikTok Advertisement
Western Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Western Telegraph
Social media sites failing to protect girls from harm at every stage, NSPCC says
The children's charity created fake profiles of a teenage girl across different sites, and found it was exposed to grooming, harassment and abuse across various platforms. The research said that many of the features used by platforms to encourage users to expand their online networks, as well as to be online and active for longer, were at the detriment of the user's safety. The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages. There needs to be a complete overhaul of how these platforms are built Rani Govender, NSPCC Alongside the report, the NSPCC has published polling carried out on its behalf by YouGov which found that 86% of UK adults believe tech companies are not doing enough to protect women and girls online. The survey of just over 3,500 adults found that parents with daughters listed contact from strangers, online grooming, bullying and sexual abuse or harassment as their biggest concerns about their children being online. More than half of the parents surveyed (52%) expressed concern over their daughter's online experiences. Rani Govender, policy manager for child safety online at the NSPCC, said: 'Parents are absolutely right to be concerned about the risks their daughters' are being exposed to online, with this research making it crystal clear that tech companies are not doing nearly enough to create age-appropriate experiences for girls. 'We know both on and offline girls face disproportionate risks of harassment, sexual abuse, and exploitation. That's why it's so worrying that these platforms are fundamentally unsafe by design – employing features and dark patterns that are putting girls in potentially dangerous situations. 86% Proportion of UK adults who believe tech companies are not doing enough to protect women and girls online NSPCC polling carried out by YouGov 'There needs to be a complete overhaul of how these platforms are built. This requires tech companies and Ofcom to step up and address how poor design can lead to unsafe spaces for girls. 'At the same time Government must lay out in their upcoming Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy steps to help prevent child sexual offences and tackle the design failures of social media companies that put girls in harm's way.' The children's charity said social media sites should introduce 'abusability studies' to identify risky features that included an analysis based on gender, as well as integrate screenshot capabilities into reporting tools, introduce 'cooling off' periods when two users first connect to restrict contact, and place stricter measures on non-trusted adults from being able to video-call younger users. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms are required to carry out risk assessments to establish how and if their sites could pose a risk to children. Firms which breach the new online safety rules, which also include duties to protect children from encountering harm on their sites, can be fined up to £18 million or 10% of global turnover, whichever is higher, and in the most serious cases face being blocked in the UK.
