Transforming Together statement in solidarity with Jess Phillips

The Transforming Together network, convened by Agenda Alliance, has shared the following statement in light of recent harassment of Jess Phillips MP:

“This week we have been appalled by the abuse levelled at Jess Phillips personally and professionally. We are a network of organisations, decision-makers, and women fighting to dismantle gendered disadvantage across the North-East, and stand in solidarity with Jess, and all female MPs who face unacceptably routine misogynistic harassment and violence as part of their work. This is abuse, and exists as part of the broader ‘national emergency’ of violence women and girls across the UK are facing.

Those who spread threats and disinformation online are fuelling, not solving, this problem. The voices that matter are first and foremost those of victims and survivors of sexual abuse, and those with specialist expertise of supporting them. Jess Phillips has dedicated her life’s work to fighting violence against women and girls, a fact that is known and understood by all who work in this field and across government.

As a network established to improve the lives of women and girls facing multiple unmet needs, including the impacts of gendered violence, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for all she does to advocate for and support work like ours, especially across the North, doing so every day at unacceptable levels of personal risk. If anyone can bring about justice with and for victims, it will be Jess Phillips with us all standing behind her.”
- Nadine Smith, Transforming Together independent network Chair.

Below is a statement from one of our network members, Changing Lives, which adds further context to the depth of Jess Phillip’s commitment and all she has done to fight on behalf of those affected by childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual exploitation:
https://www.changing-lives.org.uk/insights/changing-lives-stands-against-abuse-and-exploitation