UK Worst Country For 'In Your Face' Sexism

Britain's "boys' club" culture, with wolf-whistling and Page 3, makes sexism more prevalent than in other countries, a senior UN official has warned.

Rashida Manjoo, the special rapporteur on violence against women, also argued spending cuts were having a "disproportionate impact" on women.

Speaking at the end of a 16-day visit to the UK, she said: "Have I seen this level of sexist culture in other countries? It hasn't been so 'in your face' in other countries.

"I haven't seen that so pervasively in other countries. I'm sure it exists, but it wasn't so much and so pervasive."

She said she was unsure what it was about Britain that gave rise to more visible "sexist portrayals of women" than elsewhere.

"What is clear is that there is a boys' club sexist culture that exists and it does lead to perceptions about women and girls," she added.

Ms Manjoo also talked about "the easy availability of porn" and said social media could influence children.

The South African law professor was responding to a question about a Facebook group called "Women Who Eat On Tubes", which displays photographs of women eating while travelling.

"When you're sitting on public transport and it's OK to harass someone, to inappropriately touch them, it's sexist culture," she said.

"If I was walking down the street and there were whistles, which wouldn't happen at this stage in my life, that's sexist culture."

The UN official was visiting the UK in order to study its approach to violence against women.

"Access to trauma services, financial support and housing are crucial, yet current reforms to the funding and benefits system continue to adversely impact women's ability to address safety and other relevant issues," she said, arguing the cuts had a specific impact but also a more general one on poverty and unemployment.

She said she had wanted to visit Yarl's Wood immigration centre in Bedfordshire where there have been claims of abuse against women but claimed she was blocked, believing the order came from the Home Office.