A STUDENT activist who has been campaigning to make streets safer for women is determined to include resources on sexual harassment prevention in school curriculums.

Anya Chung, 16, who lives in Braintree, joined Our Streets Now in 2019 and is one of their senior campaigners.

The group, which was founded by teenage sisters Maya, now 21, and Gemma Tutton, 15, aims to stop public sexual harassment in the UK through cultural and legislative change, while offering support to everyone affected.

Anya, who goes to Colchester County High School for Girls, has made underage abuse and the impacts it has on girls as they grow up central to her campaign.

Raising awareness through social media is Anya’s key responsibility as a member of the group.

Her work also means she gets to talk to politicians and organisations on how to make streets safer for women.

Anya said: “The best thing is I know I am helping people and it feels very empowering.

“We need education and legislation because without that society isn’t going to change.

“Introducing street lighting isn’t enough.

“We need people to email their MP and ask them to make street harassment illegal.”

Although Anya’s work with Our Streets Now is going from strength to strength, she says there is more to be done until we “finally reach a country where women can feel safe in the street and lead the life they want to”.

Her group is also close to hitting 500,000 signatures on their petition to make street harassment a criminal offence.

Now Anya is encouraging schools to raise more awareness around the issue, by adding the resources provided by Our Streets Now to their curriculum.

She said:”There are too many women having to ask their friends to walk with them because they are scared of being followed and I don’t think that is fair

“Enough is enough – it is time for change.

For more information, visit ourstreetsnow.org.

To sign the petition, go to bit.ly/3FXoBh1.