Reaction to whistle-blowing VVD Groningen (press release)

DWARS Groningen thinks the VVD missed the mark grandiosely with their whistle-blowing campaign against insecurity. The Groningen branch of the GroenLinks youths is disappointed that, even after the recent BOOS episode and the increasing social discussion around transgressive behaviour, the VVD Groningen has still not got the message. 

“For the vast majority of women in Groningen, harassment is a bitter and sometimes daily reality. That the VVD then starts handing out whistles as a ‘playful’ action is a slap in the face of these women,” says Sophie Middelhuis, president of DWARS Groningen. “The signal they have at least sent is that they do not take the problem seriously. That is also valuable information. If you call something a spearhead of your campaign, it is also useful to delve into the cause of the problem.”

This action by the VVD repeats the pattern where people more often go wrong around sexually transgressive behaviour and harassment. You cannot counter a structural problem with only symptom control and repression. “Once again, a signal is being sent to women that the problem lies with them. That is unacceptable. We must tackle the problem at the source,” said vice-president Lisa Waebers. DWARS Groningen is therefore in favour of better education in schools and the deployment of hotlines. That way, we won't leave victims out in the cold.