By Lucy Caulkett-
New laws banning the invasive practice known as upskirting has successfully been passed through Parliament, and will now see offenders face up to two years in jail, with the most serious put on sex offenders register.
The arrival of the new law has been in the works for a while, and serves to protect the privacy of women.
Upskirting’ typically involves offenders taking a picture under a person’s clothing without them knowing, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks. The new law will ban the degrading practice to deter perpetrators, better protect victims, and bring more offenders to justice. It is the first time the obscene and invasive act has been made illegal, a decision feminists and those who support women’s rights will wholly embrace. The new criminalising of offenders will make those guilty of such practices think twice before wanting to break the law.
Upskirting objectifies women, rather than appreciating the individual for who they are and the qualities they possess. This appreciation can only come with becoming acquainted with a woman, if she consents. Men who visualise women as just objects of their sexual gratification and perversion, should be properly punished when the undermine their rights of such women by photographing their private areas without their permission.
The Government intervened last June to bring forward measures to tackle this behaviour, after a Private Members Bill did not pass its second reading. The government-backed legislation has since successfully passed through both Houses of Parliament.The move follows tireless efforts by campaigners, victims, charities, ministers and MPs to close a small gap in the law. The issue was first brought to the public’s attention by the unwavering campaign of Gina Martin, after two men took a picture up her skirt at a festival.
Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said:
”Those who commit such a degrading act will face prison, and victims’ complaints will be dealt with seriously.
Gina Martin and other victims, charities and MPs supporting her should be immensely proud. Her efforts show how one campaigner can work with government to change the law for everyone.
Gina Martin said:
”After 18 months of tireless work, today we’ve finally done it. As the Queen formally agrees to make our bill into an Act of Parliament, we should see this campaign as not only essential legislative change, but also proof that normal people and grassroots campaigning can make a real difference. It’s a reminder to, instead of saying ‘someone should do something about this’, be that someone.
By the end of the day upskirting will be a specific sexual offence and within a few months our law will be useable. It has been a long time coming but we are finally protected in every scenario – as we should always have been”.