Tracy Brabin joins Government's first National Taskforce for Tackling Misogyny

Ms Brabin became the first female metro mayor when elected in 2021 and will join a panel of experts and ministers to discuss the lived experience of women and girls.

This includes Katharine Sacks Jones, CEO at Young Women’s Trust, Felicity Oswald, CEO at Girlguiding and Janaya Walker, interim director at the End Violence Against Women Coalition.

The taskforce will be chaired by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson, who said: “Before I entered politics, I ran a refuge for women fleeing domestic abuse. I’ve seen first-hand the devastating impact on women and girls when harmful attitudes are tolerated and left unchallenged.

“No woman should have to make her world smaller or curb her ambitions out of fear – and making that a reality is everyone’s business.

“As a whole society, we can and must be better. With political leadership and the best experts from across the country, we will shift the dial on the poisonous attitudes that blight women's lives, turn evidence into action, and send misogynistic attitudes back to the dark ages where they belong.”

Ms Brabin has made tackling violence against women and girls one of her main priorities as police and crime commissioner for West Yorkshire.

The idea of the taskforce is to prevent misogyny before it escalates into violence and sexual assault.

Ms Brabin said: “I’m proud to be part of this important work to tackle misogyny.

“If we’re serious about ending violence against women and girls, we must challenge the harmful attitudes and behaviours that underpin it.

“No woman or girl should have to limit her life or ambitions because of fear.

“I’ll be bringing West Yorkshire’s voice and experience to the table, working alongside national and local partners to challenge misogyny and help create lasting change.”

Ahead of the 2024 general election, Labour pledged to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade.

Yesterday, the Government announced it was rolling out specialist rape courts to deal with sexual offences.

The Prime Minister also recently announced that all police forces in England and Wales will have specialist rape and sexual offence teams in place by December 2027 - a year and a half ahead of the original deadline.

Ms Oswald, the CEO of Girlguiding, said: “Girls tell us they are facing rising levels of sexism and misogyny online, in public and in schools.

“That’s why we are calling for more education around healthy relationships, gender stereotypes, early warning signs and consent.

“We welcome the opportunity to bring girls’ experiences and perspectives directly into discussions with government.

“Girls are experts in their own lives, and it is vital that their voices are heard when decisions are made that impact them.”