UK Broadcasters Back Creation of Anti-bullying and Harassment Organisation CIISA

CIISA is set to go live and to take cases next year in a bid to help prevent and tackle bullying and harassment in the creative industries.

The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky have all backed the creation of the organisation, as have British talent including Dame Heather Rabbatts, Barbara Broccoli, Rebecca Ferguson, Stephen Graham, Keira Knightley, Lord Puttnam, Sule Rimi, Varada Sethu and Ruth Wilson.

TIME’S UP UK, which has campaigned to improve standards of behaviour across film and TV called for the creation of an independent standards authority back in 2021.

Since then, TIME’S UP UK has spearheaded this initiative supported by the creative industries round table set up by Creative UK and the Secretary of State, in the wake of yet further media stories about abuse in the industry.

The proposed CIISA will initially cover film, television, music and theatre.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Frazer MP, said, “We want to maximise the potential of our creative industries to create growth and jobs across the country. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a creative career, while feeling safe and working in a professional environment. It’s important that industry comes together to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination, so Britain’s creative sectors remain some of the best in the world to be a part of.”

Jen Smith, the interim CEO of CIISA, said, “CIISA has one clear purpose, to make the creative industries a safer working environment for our talented colleagues who make the film, TV, music and theatre that we all love and enjoy. Leading organisations and industry figures are demonstrating their visible commitment to a safer working environment too, by supporting CIISA and championing us by name. There is overwhelming evidence for the need for CIISA and bringing collective accountability to our sector, and the more quickly others join us, the more quickly we will have an independent body in place to support the whole ecosystem of the creative industries. We look forward to this final phase of development being ably supported by PA Consulting, who are the leading global experts in establishing new organisations of this nature.”

Tim Davie, Director General, BBC, said, “CIISA will be a force for good across the entire industry. We all need to do everything we can to create an industry where everyone feels totally safe to do their best work. That’s why the BBC is actively working with others to support its development.”