On this International Women's Day, Basingstoke's MP calls for a zero-tolerance approach to abuse in run-up to general election
The theme for International Women's Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion and local MP Maria Miller who is Chair of the all-party parliamentary group for Women in Parliament is calling on candidates and parties to sign up to their zero-tolerance pledge, as well as calling on the Electoral Commission to include a specific section on misogyny in its campaigning code of conduct.
Maria said, "Today I am pleased to be launching, along with colleagues in the all-party parliamentary group, a women in Parliament pledge, which all MPs and candidates can support, to take a zero-tolerance approach to misogyny, including racist misogyny, and all other forms of hate and discrimination in campaigning and in conduct. Back Benchers are taking this initiative to drive a change in culture, and I hope that right hon. and hon. Members will sign up to it. Our APPG is also calling on the Electoral Commission to make a public statement that homes are not a campaign destination, and calling on social media platforms to take immediate action on reported hate and misogynistic content and malinformation, misinformation and disinformation.
We, as elected Members, must act to defend our democracy and our democratic values. To mark International Women’s Day in 2024 we can show that we, too, accept our personal responsibility to lead that positive culture change—online and offline—in the words that we choose and the way in which we campaign, and I call on Back Benchers, Ministers and party leaders to join us. It is the responsibility of us all to safeguard our democracy, and the best way we can do that is by ensuring that we have a representative Parliament, welcoming everyone to be part of a respectful debate."
At this General Election I will;
Take a zero-tolerance approach to misogyny, including racist misogyny and any other forms of hate and discrimination in my campaigning and conduct.
We call all candidates to action;
- Endorse the recommendations of the Jo Cox Civility Commission Report
- Sign up to Centenary Action's Women Count pledge to support actions that will deliver a gender equal parliament by 2028
- Urge the Electoral Commission to include specific section on misogynistic or discriminatory language and/or behaviour in the code of conduct for campaigners and indicate where the police might intervene in certain circumstances
- Call on the Electoral Commission to make a public statement that homes are not a campaign destination
- Call on all social media platforms to take immediate action on any reported hateful and/or misogynistic content and any mal, mis and disinformation, and ensure swift and effective removal of this content
