Leveson urged to probe sexism in media

A COALITION of women’s groups has called on the Leveson inquiry to widen its investigatory scope and include sexism and the negative portrayal of women in the British media.

End Violence Against Women (EVAW), Equality Now, Object, and rape charity Eaves said the inquiry will “not be doing its job properly” if it does not look at issues surrounding the damaging representation of females in the British press.

Jacqui Hunt, director of Equality Now, told the Guardian: “Leveson is not just charged with looking at phone hacking but for the entire relationship between the press and the public.

The four groups have sent detailed submissions to the inquiry’s Lord Justice Leveson in which they argue that violence against women is often trivialised by newspapers.

They say sexualisation of women is degrading and fosters negative attitudes and argue that reporting of rape focuses on the victims rather than the culprit.

The charities want mandatory training for journalists on the law over reporting violence against women and “clear sanctions” for journalists who break it.

They have said the Press Complaints Commission should be replaced by an independent press complaints regulatory system.

“At the moment the PCC offers us no justice,” said EVAW’s Sarah Green.