The proposed reforms follow years of criticism regarding Westminster's hierarchical, male-dominated environment where misconduct frequently went unaddressed. To earn the accreditation, parliament plans to introduce bystander intervention workshops alongside proposed vetting procedures for security passes. Previous internal research underscores the urgency of these measures, notably a 2023 study revealing that more than two-thirds of female MPs have witnessed sexist behavior in parliament.
Key points
Lawmakers and staff may need to complete criminal background checks before obtaining parl…: Lawmakers and staff may need to complete criminal background checks before obtaining parliamentary security passes.
The three-year reform plan includes mandatory training sessions on anti-harassment polici…: The three-year reform plan includes mandatory training sessions on anti-harassment policies and active bystander intervention.
The international White Ribbon movement traces back to a Canadian campaign started after…: The international White Ribbon movement traces back to a Canadian campaign started after the 1989 Quebec university killings.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
MPs and others working in parliament could be required to take a criminal record check before being given a security pass, and receive anti-harassment training under a pioneering scheme to root out violence against women.
The UK parliament will on Tuesday become the first legislature in the world to receive what is known as White Ribbon accreditation, a commitment to culture change which originated in Canada.
After a cross-party campaign led by Emily Darlington, the Labour MP for Milton Keynes Central, and supported by the Commons speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, and other parliamentary staff, a three-year plan approved by White Ribbon will introduce a series of changes to better protect women.
While the details have not yet been released, they are expected to include the introduction of so-called bystander training, which teaches people how to spot and respond to harassment, and high behaviour standards for MPs and peers.
Parties might be asked to sign up to an agreement that new MPs should undergo a criminal record check before receiving a pass to work in parliament.
Commercial shipping along the eastern flank faces mounting disruption as naval strikes creep closer to Romanian and Bulgarian maritime zones, threatening critical grain and energy corridors. While the Western alliance has pledged surveillance assets and massive counter-drone investments, regional members remain exposed due to defense resources prioritizing the Baltic and Polish borders. Moscow continues to deflect blame, warning that European military aid is fueling the dangerous maritime escalation.
Incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff and Republican challenger Mike Collins have reached the conclusion of their campaigns across the state. Both contenders aimed their closing messages directly at voters in a bid to secure crucial support right before ballots are cast. The high-stakes legislative matchup will be decided during the upcoming November 3 midterm elections.
Facing mounting pressure from European football authorities, soccer's global governing body is granting leadership officials restricted access to records regarding an abandoned multi-billion-dollar commercial venture. The move addresses intense scrutiny over executive transparency while leadership rivalries intensify ahead of an upcoming presidential election.