Diane backs call for ban on 'lad mags' for under 16's
Diane has backed a report for the Home Office which recommends banning selling ‘lad mags’ to under 16’s.
Diane, who successfully helped a Stoke Newington newsagent win his battle against WHSmith to become ‘porn free’ in 2006, believes stricter rules on displaying and selling pornographic material are needed.
She says that voluntary codes have not worked.
The independent report into the Sexualisation of Young People released today has confirmed there is a clear link between sexualised imagery and violence towards females.
It also found that children are being increasingly exposed to sexual images and parents have limited opportunities to stop it.
Diane said:
“Young people today are exposed to far too many sexual images as part everyday life. Even walking into some newsagents to buy sweets can expose them to pictures of naked women cavorting on the front of magazines. In my experience, this is of great concern to parents who want to raise children who have respect for themselves and the opposite sex. We need tougher restrictions on where this material is displayed and responsible shopkeeper’s, like in my constituency, who are able to restrict who has access to it. Voluntary agreements have not worked. The front pages of these ‘lad mags’ feature photos of women that twenty years ago would have been deemed pornographic. At the very least, these ‘lad mags’ should be up on the top shelf. There should not be at ‘child’s eye’ view where young children can see them when they go into the newsagents for a packet of sweets.”
Link to Diane speaking on subject of 'lad mags' in House of Commons, March 1st
http://www.dianeabbott.org.uk/news/speeches/news.aspx?p=102588
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