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BACKING: Jamal Edwards (PA)

FAMOUS FIGURES including SBTV founder Jamal Edwards are throwing their weight behind a new campaign aimed at stopping young men abusing their girlfriends.

The Home Office’s This is Abuse campaign is being backed by social media and YouTube stars Charlie McDonnell, Mandem On The Wall, and Twist and Pulse.

The campaign, which has been launched today (Mar 13), features video blogs discussing issues such as “sexting”, consent and controlling behaviour, with the focus on addressing problems teenagers often experience as they experience relationships.

The video blogs went live this morning at 11am on each of the stars’ YouTube channels.

Crime prevention minister Norman Baker said: “Abuse in teenage relationships does happen, but boys often do not recognise the signs.

“That is why we have teamed up with these YouTube stars to get our message out there - that abuse is never acceptable. With their significant online followings they can inform teenage boys about what constitutes consent and abuse and how to recognise the signs.

“Early intervention is crucial in order to prevent abuse before it starts and our ‘This is Abuse’ campaign aims to prevent young people becoming victims or perpetrators of sexual violence.”

Fiona Elvines, operations co-ordinator for Rape Crisis, added: “We warmly welcome this campaign from the Home Office, particularly the use of targeted messages for young men, by young men.

“Too often sexual violence prevention with young people is either de-gendered or directed at changing the behaviours of girls and young women.

“Evidence tells us that the way young people understand sexual consent is heavily influenced by both gender stereotypes and compulsory heterosexuality.

“This means girls and boys experience pressure in different ways, with young men often using sex with young women as a way to prove themselves as men to other men. This campaign directly addresses this through opening up a conversation between young men about what sexual consent means in practice.”

The campaign is specifically aimed at boys, with the goal of raising awareness about the right and wrong types of behaviour involved in sexual relationships.