Sadiq Khan has said lessons on tackling misogyny should be taught in primary schools in order to challenge inappropriate attitudes.

The Mayor of London said more needed to be done to address violence against women and girls and this could begin by teaching young boys how to behave in a more respectful way to females.

Launching a campaign aiming to challenging sexist and misogynistic attitudes, he said primary school children ought to be taught how to enjoy healthy relationships and young boys should also get lessons in what is appropriate and inappropriate in attitudes, language and behaviour.

In 2017, a report found that one third of schoolgirls had been sexually harassed in the classroom, with almost a quarter saying they had been the subject of unwanted sexual touching by fellow pupils.

The Mayor’s campaign, being supported by a number of leading football clubs, will include posters urging males to call it out when they hear sexist and misogynistic language.

Misogyny ‘should be made a hate crime’

Mr Khan said: “The reality is what can often begin as inappropriate attitudes and inappropriate behaviour can lead towards violence against women and girls.

“It’s heartbreaking that over the last 12 months across our country, 127 women have lost their lives at the hands of men. And this campaign is about making sure we, as men, aren’t bystanders when we know some of our mates may be acting inappropriately.

“We’ve got to start in primary schools in relation to relationship education for boys. What is a healthy relationship? What is appropriate and inappropriate attitudes and behaviour?

“The awful abduction and murder of Sarah Everard brought to the fore what many women and girls experience on a daily basis, which is sexual harassment, inappropriate touching, violence.”

Mr Khan said that “many women across our country, including in London, don’t go out at certain times of the day because they’re worried for their safety, they wear different footwear because they need to run quickly if they’re being chased, and there are certain parts of our city they don’t go to”.

He added: “That can’t be right in the most progressive, greatest city in the world.”

Mr Khan also called for misogyny to be made a hate crime and the sexual harassment of women in a public place to be made a criminal offence.