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Bystander, from UN Women UK

It’s not all men, but it should be.

Over 70% of women in the UK say they’ve experienced sexual harassment in public.

When you see it happening, what do you do?

Women hold their keys in their hands, share their location, take the long route home just to feel safe.

But it’s not their responsibility to change their behaviour.

It’s on all of us.

Bystander is a new film from UN Women UK, calling on all men to speak up, step forward and take action to end sexual harassment in public spaces

With thanks to Media Trust and Banquet for bringing this film to life.

To every man,

It’s not all men but it should be.

All men standing up.
All men calling out.
All men speaking up.

When she's told to smile, when she's followed home, when no one says anything — it should be all men who speak up.

A simple “are you okay”, “need some help”, “got the time” can change a woman’s life.

It can be the difference between a moment escalating and stopping before it’s even started.

Because when we normalise ‘banter’, when we stay silent, when we keep walking past — we’re saying it’s okay. 

We’re saying that a moment of harassment is acceptable.

And that’s how it starts. That moment you saw on the street becomes his habit.

His habit becomes an abusive comment.
The comments switch to physical.
The physical becomes so much more.

It’s not all men but it should be.

All men stopping harassment.
All men changing the culture.
All men ending violence.

Together, we can call it out. Together, we can end sexual harassment.

That’s our promise.

This is for all men to sign — make sure the men in your life see it. Share the letter.

We’re calling for all spaces to be safe spaces, across the UK

Bystander is part of Safe Spaces Now, our programme working to make every UK space safer for every woman. Now.

When you don’t feel safe – whether it’s on your journey home, at your place of work or in a public space – your movements are restricted. Your life gets smaller.

It shouldn’t have to be that way. This is how life could be instead: safe, open and inclusive for all.

Imagine a world where…
…every woman felt safe, no matter what space she’s in
…every woman could go anywhere she chooses, without fear of harassment
…every woman could go out at any time she wants, without worrying about what might happen

That’s the world we’re building together.

Donate to UN Women UK

We live in a world where women are expected to change their behaviour. We’re building a different world where society changes for them.

This is how we build a future that is safe for all women and girls. By changing how society thinks — and how it's built. Our advocacy work exists to dismantle the structures that keep women and girls from safety, choice, and a voice.

Together, we can make that future possible. Thank you.

This film wouldn't be possible without the generous supporters who gave their time and expertise to bring Bystander to life, thank you:

Cast (in order of appearance)

Man at Bus Stop: Eben Figueiredo @ebenfigueiredo
Man in Pub: Mark Akintimehin @mark_akintimehin
Gamer: Kaine Davis @kainedavis2010
Man in Office: Timothy Bentinck @timothybentinck
Team Mate: Matthew Lloyd @matthew_lloydd
Woman: Maria Manuel @itsmariamanuel
Stranger: Lewis Santer @lewissanter.actor
Bus Driver: Ashley Jeremiah

Supporting Artists: Max Moreland, Noah Upton, Harry Spain, Connor Laslett, Ieva Petrav and Eno Mfon.

Production Credits

Client: UN Women UK @unwomenuk
Agency: Media Trust @media_trust
Production Company: The Banquet @banquetfilms

Producer: Adham Hunt @adham_hunt
Writer: Eno Mfon @enowrites
Director: Ian Roderick Gray @ianroderickgray

Executive Producers: Evie Wright @evaniakeziaoofs, Ian Roderick Gray and Adham Hunt

Coordinator: Lauren Taverner 
Head of MT Films: Celia Taylor @celiartaylor

First Assistant Director: Lexy Mill @encrypt_eternity

Cinematographer: Beatriz Delgado Mena @beatriz.delgado.dop
Focus Puller: Gabriel Jones @razor.sharps
2nd AC: Jessica Timbs @jessicatimbs
Camera Trainee: Taco

Key Grip: Matty MacCabe @mattymccabegrips
Grip: Joshua Bull @gorgeous.bull

Digital Imaging Technician: Alistair Holloway @alistairholloway

Sound Recordist: Grant Studart @studartsound

Sound Trainee: Damilola Alokolaro @dthrills

Gaffer: Hayden Jones @haydencfjones
Spark: Sebastian Hinds @chasing.frisson

Trainee Sparks: T. Humberstone @T.humberst0ne & Florence Winter-Taylor @flozwt

Production Designer: Ieva Petrav @ievapetrav
Assistant Art Department: Ana Filipa Galvão Pinho @afilipa_pinho

Head of Hair & Makeup: Emily Bliss @emilyblissmakeup
Head of Wardrobe: Lucy Williams @lucywilliamscostume

Runners: Sophie Bell @scottish.sophi.e & Ritik Mishra @riitikmishraart

Catering: Alec Tomasso (The Weeping Chef / Firepit Sandwich Co.) @Firepitsandwichco

Post-Production

Editor: Liz Deegan — Whitehouse Post @lizdeegedit
Visual Effects: Tim Mellem — Bubble TV @mellem_tim

Office reflections VFX: - Noah Kayma @noahkayma
Composer: Yumi Mashiki @yumimashiki
Sound Design: Edwin Matthews @edmatthews_sound
Grade & Online: Karol Cybulski — Harbor Picture Company @imkarol.colour

Special Thanks

UN Women UK: Tabitha Morton, Pip Christie and Kim Rowell

Silvertown Studios: Michal Kyschky @kysour & @silvertown.studios

Focus Canning @focuscanning & @leanneladbury & @benmitchellinfocus

SHL Lighting: Jack McAuley @shl.london & @jackmcau73y

Feral Grips: Andy Sauer @feralgrips & @feral_andy

We Love Hue: Alix Milan @we.love.hue & @the_alix_milan

Sunbelt Rentals: Jason Heritage @sunbeltrentalsuki

Whitehouse Post: Ella Sedgewick @whitehousepost & @ellasedgwick

Bubble TV: Sam Phinikas and Farai Brandon Mbudaya @bubble.tv_ @theillogicallibra

Harbor Picture Company: Sarah Banks @harborpictureco_uk & @saralbanksx

Arriva Bus UK: Yasmin Bishop, Head of Site Operations @arrivabusuk

UN Women UK: working to ensure all women & girls have access to safety, choice and a voice. In the UK and around the world.