London Mayor Sadiq Khan says violence against women stems from ‘toxic masculinity’

London mourned the tragic demise of marketing executive Sarah Everard after she disappeared last month while walking home from Clapham. In a tragic turn of events, her body was found one week after she went missing, propelling widespread unrest in the England capital. The head of London's Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, later said that she has no plans to quit after receiving ample criticism over the handling of a vigil organised for Everard.

Police officers were seen handcuffing women and removing them from crowds at a memorial held for the 33-year-old. The case has provoked a heated debate about the violence against women in the country.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Now, London's mayor Sadiq Khan has shared his two cents on the alarming rise of sexual violence against women in the UK.

“It breaks my heart that so many women and girls do not feel safe in our country on a daily basis. And let’s be honest – these problems are caused by the unacceptable attitudes and behaviours of men,” Khan told The Independent. “The problem is not just with the minority of men who are violent, the problem is also with those men who are sexist, continue to behave inappropriately around women, perpetuate a toxic form of masculinity or just stand by silently when women feel threatened or are being threatened."

“Men simply must change. I promise to spearhead the change we desperately need to see in the way women and girls are treated in every single part of our society and at all ages," he added.

Khan later took to Twitter and shared, "Every woman and girl should be able to feel safe: whatever time of day, whatever they wear and wherever they are in our city."

He added, "It’s not women who should have to change the way they live their lives, it’s men who need to change."

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.