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It has been almost four months since Farmers Weekly first brought to light the issue of sexual assault at young farmers’ parties, sparking a national conversation on the treatment of young girls in rural areas. In response to this, the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has taken steps to address the issue through their “YFC is for Everyone” initiative, focusing on wellbeing, respect, and inclusion in YFC.
As part of this initiative, a membership survey is currently being conducted to gauge how safe and included members feel in YFC. The survey also allows respondents to provide feedback on what changes they would like to see in YFC. While some believe that NFYFC’s efforts do not go far enough in addressing sexual harassment and assault, NFYFC maintains that the welfare and safety of its members are a top priority and encourages all members to participate in the survey for positive changes to continue.
NFYFC is also working on increasing visibility of the code of conduct and enforcing it at YFC activities. They are providing support materials on behavior and creating awareness around reporting incidents through QR codes and other methods. Additionally, NFYFC has launched a “YFC is for Everyone Action Group” to address issues within the organization and provide support for necessary changes.
The organization is also focusing on promoting reporting of sexual assault incidents and training members to be active bystanders who intervene in inappropriate behavior. Anyone affected by an incident at a YFC event is encouraged to report it to the designated welfare and safeguarding officer or the NFYFC safeguarding team.
Efforts are also being made by the Young Farmers Community, which organizes events like the DIY AGM, to improve reporting mechanisms for incidents of sexual harassment or assault. While acknowledging the need for improvement, the Young Farmers Community has not provided details on the steps taken to address these issues.
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Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.