If you know someone who has been through sexual assault, it can be hard to know how to support them. It can be difficult because you may be afraid you will say something wrong or make the situation even worse. This article is for those dealing with such a dilemma. There are many things that aren’t helpful, constructive or kind to say to a survivor. There are also many that are. This list compiles both types, in the hope that you can use this to help someone in need. 

Universities across the country are signing a pledge to end the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of sexual assault. The pledge is backed by the Government Department of Education and a number of MPs[1]. Historically, NDAs have been used by companies to keep certain information confidential in the form of a contract[2]. Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service which works with employees and employers to resolve workplace grievances, has issued guidance on the use of NDAs in the employment relationship. Acas’s guidance is clear that NDAs cannot be used to stop someone from reporting discrimination or sexual harassment at work or to the police. However, it has come to light that universities have been using NDAs to stop students from speaking about sexual assaults connected with their university.

The world is naïve if it thinks that it can replace men with women as football commentators and panellists for International Women’s Day and that is going to be enough for us. I began watching football almost a year ago as my boyfriend is an avid Chelsea supporter and must watch all of their games. Even when I am with him. At first, I remained indifferent but the more I watched, the more I became invested and now I find myself poised in a tense hold during a close game and throwing my arms in the air and cheering whenever Chelsea score a goal. I even understand the offside rule. I have now watched numerous matches and rarely have I seen any female representation. Male interviewers, male commentators, male panellists, time and time again.

Family judges in the courts of England and Wales are renowned for their traditional, and often archaic, views including outdated notions of consent and assumptions of what it means to be a ‘deserving’ victim. As a result, calls for more progressive thinking within the family courts have been advanced by many within the profession. Thus, it is of great significance that as of the 20 January 2022, the term ‘gaslighting’ has been anointed legal significance for the first time.

***TRIGGER WARNING – TALK ABOUT DISORDERLY EATING
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​Dr Chris Evans, former GP turned tory MP for Leicestershire, proposed the Digitally Altered Bodily Image Bill to Parliament on the 12th of January 2022. This Bill would require a logo to be displayed on any digitally altered images of bodies, in an attempt to combat body dysmorphia online. The purpose of the bill is for greater transparency as to when influencers have photoshopped, facetuned, or digitally augmented any paid promotional material. This would not extend to non-brand affiliated posts, as the MP stated, ‘this isn’t about stopping you touching up your wedding photos or removing red eye on a post, it is targeted at those with significant, far-reaching influence and those with commercial intent’.