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A YOUNG musician urged unions yesterday to step up measures to protect women in the entertainment industry after she was forced to move home by a stalker.
Scotland-based folk singer Elena Piras spoke in support of a successful motion against violence towards women in the media at this year’s TUC Women’s Conference.
The motion, moved by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), highlighted old and new forms of violence towards women, including the way in which “women’s voices are silenced as a result of the fear of online trolling, death and rape threats.”
Sharing her story with other delegates, Ms Piras said she had been left to deal with her stalker on her own.
“I am in the process of moving out of where I live in a very small community in Scotland into Wales because I need to blend into a bigger place,” she told the conference.
“This person knows where I live and if I move into the same place they will know where I am. When I advertise about a gig, they will know where I am.”
Ms Piras, who is blind and has a hearing impairment, said she was made more vulnerable by her inability to tell when her stalker was at her concerts.
“I feel that the whole thing has been put into question — now I have concerns about advertising myself,” Ms Piras told the Star.
“It is really difficult, because there is absolutely nothing, no legislation, no policies from a union, nothing to protect us against it.”
It urged trade unions to publicise the NUJ’s new guide on Reporting Sexual Violence, as well as encouraging members to “keep up the pressure to end such violence.”
