For the first time, the United Kingdom government plans to treat extreme misogyny as a form of terrorism.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has ordered a review of the country’s counter-terrorism strategy to tackle violence against women, identify gaps in current laws and study emerging ideologies, the Telegraph reported.
The move would put violence against women in the same category as far-right extremism.
Under the proposal, school teachers would be required to refer students they suspect of being excessively misogynistic to the government’s counter-terrorism programme.
Local police will assess anyone referred to the program to see if they show signs of radicalisation and need to be deradicalised.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Cooper said: “For too long governments have failed to address the problem of rising extremism online and on the streets, and we have seen the numbers of young people radicalised online grow. Hateful incitement of all kinds fractures and undermines the very fabric of our communities and our democracy.”
“There has been too little action against extremism in recent years, when it has been needed most,” the Labour MP said.
He said, “I have therefore directed the Home Ministry to undertake a rigorous analytical study on extremism, to map and monitor extremist tendencies, understand the evidence on what works to dissuade and dissuade people from extremist ideas, and identify any gaps in existing policy that need to be addressed, in order to clamp down on those who promote harmful and hateful beliefs and violence.”
It comes after a senior police officer warned last month that social media influencers such as Andrew Tate could radicalise young people towards misogyny in the same way terrorists attract followers.
Describing it as “quite appalling”, Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said the Online Safety Act needed to be extended further and urgent action taken to protect children.
Earlier last month, Britain’s National Police Chiefs’ Council released a report on violence against women and girls, calling it a “national emergency.”