The UK parliament is set to become the first legislature in the world to receive White Ribbon accreditation, a commitment to culture change aimed at preventing violence against women. Under a three-year plan, MPs may be required to undergo criminal record checks before receiving security passes, and to participate in anti-harassment training.
The accreditation follows a cross-party campaign led by Labour MP Emily Darlington, with support from Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle. The three-year plan, approved by the White Ribbon movement, is expected to include ‘bystander training’ to help people spot and respond to harassment, and high behaviour standards for MPs and peers. Parties may be asked to sign an agreement that new MPs should undergo a criminal record check before receiving a pass to work in parliament.
The White Ribbon movement originated in Canada, where it marks 6 December, the anniversary of the 1989 murder of 14 women at a Quebec university by a man who said he hated feminism. Accreditation is gained by committing to a three-year plan to take action to prevent violence against women.
The initiative comes amid long-standing concerns about sexism and harassment in parliament. A 2018 survey found that nearly 20% of those in parliament had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, and a specialist hotline set up to help with complaints about a ‘Pestminster’ culture received hundreds of calls. A 2023 study found that more than two-thirds of female MPs had witnessed sexist behaviour.
Darlington said: “This is the place where our national laws are shaped. It should reflect our national values too. It’s no secret that the UK parliament has not lived up to this responsibility in the past, but this is a huge step towards it being a safe and welcoming place for women and girls to work, to visit, and to be elected to. This place was a boys’ club for 300 years, and the comparatively recent presence of women has yet to be fully adapted to.”
Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative MP and shadow minister, called the plan “hugely positive”, saying: “Ending gender-based violence against women and girls is a cause that we must face up to.”
Josh Babarinde, the Liberal Democrat MP and party president, said: “All of us in parliament and beyond must continue to challenge violence against women and girls in all its forms, and I’m proud to stand alongside cross-party colleagues and the White Ribbon campaign in this critical endeavour.”
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The UK parliament’s move sets a global precedent for how legislatures can formally commit to ending violence against women.
- The measures, including criminal record checks and mandatory training, directly target a culture of harassment and sexism that has been documented in Westminster for years.
- The three-year accreditation plan represents a structural commitment that could produce lasting change for women working in and visiting Parliament.
Background
The White Ribbon movement began in Canada following the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, where 14 women were killed by a male student who blamed feminism. The movement encourages men to take a stand against violence against women. The UK parliament has faced repeated criticism over its treatment of women, highlighted by the so-called “Pestminster” scandal in 2018 and a 2023 study showing widespread sexist behaviour. The accreditation process involves a three-year plan to implement prevention measures.
Key Perspectives
- Emily Darlington (Labour MP): Called the accreditation a huge step towards making Parliament safe for women and girls, acknowledging the institution’s past failings.
- Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative MP): Welcomed the plan as hugely positive, saying the cause must be faced.
- Josh Babarinde (Liberal Democrat MP): Expressed pride in standing with cross-party colleagues to challenge violence against women in all forms.
What to Watch
- The release of the full three-year plan and its specific measures.
- Implementation of criminal record checks and whether they become standard for all new MPs.
- The outcome of the three-year plan and whether it leads to a reduction in harassment complaints.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedUK MPs could face criminal record checks as parliament gets White Ribbon accreditation.UK news | The Guardian: “MPs and others working in parliament could be required to take a criminal record check before being given a security pass”
- Partly supportedThe cross-party plan aims to tackle violence against women in Westminster.UK news | The Guardian: “After a cross-party campaign led by Emily Darlington, the Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, and supported by the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and other parliamentary staff, a three-year plan approved by White Ribbon will introduce a series of changes to better protect women.”
- SupportedThe UK parliament is set to become the first legislature in the world to receive White Ribbon accreditation, a commitment to culture change aimed at preventing violence against women.UK news | The Guardian: “The UK parliament will on Tuesday become the first legislature in the world to receive what is known as White Ribbon accreditation, a commitment to culture change”
- SupportedUnder a three-year plan, MPs may be required to have criminal record checks before receiving security passes and to participate in anti-harassment training.UK news | The Guardian: “MPs and others working in parliament could be required to take a criminal record check before being given a security pass, and receive anti-harassment training under a pioneering scheme to root out violence against women.”
- SupportedThe plan is expected to include bystander training and high behaviour standards for MPs and peers.UK news | The Guardian: “they are expected to include the introduction of so-called bystander training, which teaches people how to spot and respond to harassment, and high behaviour standards for MPs and peers.”
- SupportedParties may be asked to sign an agreement that new MPs should have a criminal record check before receiving a pass to work in parliament.UK news | The Guardian: “Parties might be asked to sign up to an agreement that new MPs should undergo a criminal record check before receiving a pass to work in parliament.”
- SupportedA 2018 survey found that nearly 20% of people in parliament had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment.UK news | The Guardian: “a survey of those in parliament, undertaken after a series of reports about predatory and sexist behaviour by some MPs, found that nearly 20% had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment.”
- SupportedA 2023 study found that more than two-thirds of female MPs had witnessed sexist behaviour.UK news | The Guardian: “A later study in 2023 found that more than two-thirds of female MPs had witnessed sexist behaviour in parliament.”
- SupportedDarlington says parliament should reflect national values and calls the accreditation a huge step towards a safe and welcoming place for women and girls.UK news | The Guardian: “It’s no secret that the UK parliament has not lived up to this responsibility in the past, but this is a huge step towards it being a safe and welcoming place for women and girls to work, to visit, and to be elected to.”
- SupportedDarlington says parliament was a boys’ club for 300 years and women’s presence has yet to be fully adapted to.UK news | The Guardian: “This place was a boys’ club for 300 years, and the comparatively recent presence of women has yet to be fully adapted to.”
- SupportedBen Obese-Jecty called the plan “hugely positive” and said ending gender-based violence against women and girls is a cause people must face up to.UK news | The Guardian: “Ben Obese-Jecty, a Conservative MP and shadow minister, called it “hugely positive”, saying: “Ending gender-based violence against women and girls is a cause that we must face up to.””
- SupportedJosh Babarinde said people in parliament and beyond must continue to challenge violence against women and girls and that he was proud to stand with cross-party colleagues and the White Ribbon campaign.UK news | The Guardian: “Josh Babarinde, the Liberal Democrat MP and party president, said: “All of us in parliament and beyond must continue to challenge violence against women and girls in all its forms, and I’m proud to stand alongside cross-party colleagues and the White Ribbon campaign in this critical endeavour.””