Girlguiding UK has wholeheartedly backed the No More Page 3 campaign, branding the publication of topless females in The Sun newspaper as “disrespectful and embarrassing”.

Voting overwhelmingly to support the No More Page 3 campaign started by Lucy Holmes in the summer of 2012, 88% of Girlguiding respondents aged between 16 and 25 said The Sun should end the publication of Page 3 models.

The Girlguiding network was spurred into action by the Girlguiding Advocates: a panel of young women aged between 14 and 25 who decide the big issues faced by Girl Guides today.

Explaining their decision to support the No More Page 3 campaign, the Advocates said: “The Sun is a family newspaper. Anyone can pick it up, turn to Page 3, and think that it is normal for young women to be treated as objects. This is just wrong.

It is impossible to nurture your ambitions if you are constantly told that you aren’t the same as your male equivalent. It is disrespectful and embarrassing. We need to get used to the idea that women are not for sale.”

In addition to formally signing the No More Page 3 petition, the Advocates have also sent a letter to The Sun’s editor, Dominic Mohan, explaining why they believe Page 3 should be stopped.

Rupert Murdoch, owner of The Sun newspaper and chief executive of News Corporation, has recently hinted that he may indeed call time on the publication of topless Page 3 models, Tweeting in response to a No More Page 3 campaigner: “page three so last century! You maybe right, don't know but considering. Perhaps halfway house with glamorous fashionistas”.

However, with more than half a million members, Girlguiding UK’s decision to back the campaign against Page 3 will help to add further pressure and will hopefully turn Murdoch’s intimations into firm action.

To find out more about the No More Page 3 campaign visit nomorepage3.org

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Picture credit: nomorepage3.org

Girlguiding UK supports No More Page 3 campaign