A FESTIVAL-GOER’S horrific experience of upskirting has sparked a nationwide debate on the ill-defined offence.
But who is Gina Martin, and what provoked her fearless fight? Here’s what we know the victim campaigning for a safer world for women.
Who is Gina Martin and when was she a victim of upskirting?
Gina Martin is a freelance writer, whose campaign to make up-skirting illegal has made the offence a national talking point and is set to bring about a groundbreaking change in the law.
The 26-year-old began her campaign after catching two men taking a picture up her skirt at a British Summer Time music festival in Hyde Park last year.
She was with her sister waiting for The Killers to take to the stage when two men near them started chatting them up.
Gina told the BBC how one of the men was “worse” than his friend and “rubbed up against me” before taking pictures of her crotch in broad daylight.
She took the perpetrator’s phone to show security guards, who called the police.
But after telling the offender to delete the photo, she was told that the case was closed – that there was “not much” that could be done.
How has she changed the law?
Gina’s campaign was catapaulted after her posts on social media – showing the two men in the background of the photo – attracted a barrage of feedback, both positive and negative.
Despite trolling, Gina decided to launch her fight to make upskirting a criminal offence so that perpetrators don’t go unpunished.
Currently, there isn’t a law specifically criminalising upskirting in England and Wales.
The “voyeurism” offence only covers crimes where someone observes another person “doing a private act” for sexual gratification and without consent.
But this doesn’t cover the majority of upskirting cases, which are often taken in public places such as the Tube or the London Underground.
Another offence – “outraging public decency” – also doesn’t cover the majority of case of up-skirting, which is thought to affect hundreds of women a year.
Gina’s year-long campaign has won her widespread support and the backing from MPs, with the expectation that the bill outlawing the offence would sail through Parliament on Friday.
However, MP Christopher Chope‘s objection provided a stumbling block – with his lone “object” derailing the bill.
Theresa May PM said: “Upskirting is an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed.
“I am disappointed the Bill didn’t make progress in the Commons today, and I want to see these measures pass through Parliament with government support soon.”
Writing on Twitter on Sunday, Gina released a statement saying she had spoken to Sir Christopher and they had arranged to meet up to discuss the bill.
She wrote: “Unlike Friday, today is a good day for the campaign, and when our bill goes through it will be a brilliant day for women and girls across the country.”
The Government made clear it supports moves to criminalise the act.
A bill has now been passed to make upskirting a sexual offence in England and Wales.
This has been accepted by the House of Lords and will mean offenders will face up to two years in jail.
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When did she go on Lorraine?
Gina went on Lorraine on January 17 to share her success story.
She told the morning talk show host: “I’m glad it happened to me and not a younger girl because I could do something about it.
“This is happening to kids and women and teachers. Its happening now.”
The freelance writer added that since successfully spearheading her campaign, she wouldn’t rule out a career in politics.
She said: “Before I was too scared. I’m not going to rule it out.”
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