Social Enterprise Aims to Prevent Violence Against Women
On The Human Risk Podcast, Amy Watson, founder of the social enterprise HASSL, detailed her organization's strategy for preventing violence against women and girls. The approach shifts focus from victim safety advice to systemic prevention, engaging men as allies and building a volunteer network of over 3,000 people across 120 countries.
- HASSL was founded in the UK in October 2024 by Amy Watson, who was motivated by personal experiences of harassment. The social enterprise rejects advice that places the onus on women to "stay safe" and instead focuses on tackling the root causes of harassment and violence. - The organization operates on a five-stage plan that combines technological tools, training, and awareness campaigns to create systemic change. A key part of this long-term strategy is the development of a reporting tool designed to make it easier for victims to seek justice and to increase conviction rates. - Instead of operating as a charity reliant on donations, HASSL is a social enterprise. It generates revenue through workplace training programs, and the sale of merchandise to fund its initiatives and ensure sustainable, scalable growth. - In just over a year, HASSL has grown into a global movement with over half a million social media followers and campaigns that have reached millions of people organically. - Founder Amy Watson was nominated for a 2025 NOVI Award, which recognizes innovators driving social and cultural impact. Her work with HASSL has also led to her acceptance into UN Women UK's GenEq Guild. - HASSL's strategy includes specific initiatives like "HASSL Men," which aims to involve men in creating solutions. A global survey conducted by the organization found that 82% of respondents believe training programs for men and bystanders would help reduce public harassment. - The organization focuses on several key areas for systemic change: improving the design of public spaces, increasing awareness, combating systemic sexism and misogyny, and breaking down barriers to reporting incidents. - Prior to founding HASSL, Amy Watson had a background in entrepreneurship and worked as the COO of a health tech startup, honing her skills in scaling a mission-driven company.
