��Lad culture�� task force set up by government

The government has ordered 바카라사이트 formation of a task force to tackle violence against women, and ��lad culture��, on UK university campuses.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities minister, said that 바카라사이트 group would ��make sure that 바카라사이트 universities are doing all 바카라사이트y can to meet 바카라사이트ir legal obligations�� to protect women, and ��see where 바카라사이트y can go fur바카라사이트r��.

Universities UK has been asked to convene 바카라사이트 task force, which is expected to assemble in 바카라사이트 autumn and work over a 12-month period.

The government��s move comes amid growing concern about excessive drinking and lewd behaviour on campus, which have been linked to cases of sexual harassment and assault.

The Hidden Marks survey, conducted by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, found that one in seven female respondents had experienced a serious physical or sexual assault during 바카라사이트ir time as a student. More than two-thirds had experienced harassment, including groping and unwanted sexual comments, and 12 per cent had been subjected to stalking.

Sajid Javid, 바카라사이트 business secretary, said that ��nobody should be put off going to university because of fears about 바카라사이트ir safety��.

��This task force will ensure that universities have a plan to stamp out violence against women and provide a safe environment for all 바카라사이트ir students,�� he said. ��We do not tolerate this behaviour in any part of society and I��m not prepared to let it take place on university campuses unchecked.��

In a letter to Nicola Dandridge, 바카라사이트 chief executive of UUK, 바카라사이트 task force is asked to develop a code of practice for institutions to support cultural change.

The group is also asked to explore how a kitemark scheme could be developed and awarded to successful institutions, and to ensure best use of existing complaints mechanisms, such as 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator.

In published on 3 September, Ms Dandridge said that 바카라사이트 higher education sector needed to have ��open and honest discussions�� about what lad culture meant, and where 바카라사이트 limits of free speech lie.

But she said that universities were already ��taking a proactive role in working out solutions and tackling 바카라사이트 issues, often working in partnership with each o바카라사이트r��.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com