News item | 22-03-2023 | 19:32
Current events show time and time again that a thorough approach to sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence is very much needed. That is why 250 representatives of organizations, experts by experience and governments are meeting today to discuss the state of affairs and next steps. During the conference, the responsible ministers Dijkgraaf (OCW) and Van Gennip (SZW) will give an insight into the results of a major public survey conducted by I&O research. They asked 2,700 Dutch people about their ideas and opinions about tackling sexually transgressive behaviour.
Conference on Tackling sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence
In the morning, responsible ministers Dijkgraaf and Van Gennip explained the National Action Program to tackle sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence. They also talked to the attendees about the next steps and necessary actions that we all need to take together to reduce sexual misconduct and sexual violence and to improve help for those affected by it. Independent government commissioner Mariëtte Hamer and Marjan Olfers, professor of sport and law at VU University Amsterdam, also addressed the attendees. In the afternoon, there was discussion and collaboration in sub-sessions around 10 themes, for example about: the role of bystanders, making sexuality a topic for discussion in healthcare, sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence in education and online, men’s emancipation and a regional approach. New alliances or actions were formed in the sub-sessions.
Research and results
Part of the National Action Program is public communication. In order to get the social conversation going further, awareness and knowledge about the problem of sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence must be greater, among more people. And bystanders need to know when and how they can intervene. I&O Research was asked to conduct research in order to connect well with the different perspectives and perceptions in society, including through communication. The results mainly show that different target groups have different ideas about sexually transgressive behavior and sexual violence. This concerns both what actions are experienced as transgressive, as well as the amount of attention this theme receives and people’s own behaviour. Some examples of results from the research:
- The majority of the Dutch (57%) see sexually transgressive behavior as a major problem. More than a quarter (27%) is more neutral about this and 12 percent disagrees.
- Almost seven out of ten Dutch people (68%) believe that sexually transgressive behavior should be tackled harder.
- Almost two-thirds (64%) of the Dutch with children indicate that they discuss the subject with their children.
- In the workplace, about 3 in 10 people (32%) find it (very) difficult to take action, for example against a manager who makes inappropriate sexual jokes. People also find it (very) difficult to intervene on the street and in nightlife.