Thousands of people attended the women’s march held on Saturday, protesting against the “disgraceful” increase in violence towards women.
“Lots of people are at risk of experiencing sexual or gender-based violence and young women are particularly high risk, and that’s because of the way that young women and even sometimes teenage women, are viewed in society,” said Professor Nicole Westmarland, Director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse to City News.
Charity Women’s Aid on February 6th this year holds the Public Policy Summit, an event aimed at bringing together survivors and and experts across business, academia, government as well as those on the frontlines of violence against women and girls.
“We need to have real discussions with officials who can bring about real change. Activists should be given a seat at the table. Survivors should be given a seat too and listened to,” said Patsy Stevenson, Campaigner and Women’s Rights Activist to City News.
“There’s been a massive rise in violence against women and girls, women face sexism on a daily basis in the UK,” said Elisa Rowland, Co-Organiser of the Women’s March in London.
Despite the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in half over the next decade, campaigners argue that more work needs to be done, in both awareness and action.
“We are here today, we have all come out onto the streets to say we’re not going to do this anymore, we’re not going to have this anymore.
“I think a lot of people choose to ignore the issues, a lot of people choose to not hear. I think this march is an opportunity for us to be the louder, people need to listen,” adds Rowland.
“There is not one woman that I know that doesn’t have a story”
“There is not one woman that I know that doesn’t have a story, that doesn’t have a history of abuse whether be sexual or violent abuse,” said one of the marchers.
“I try not to go anywhere on my own at night, which is a bit immobilising, I would like to be able to go places on my own.”
Mentioning the risks to women’s safety walking alone, she adds: “I’m sharing my location wherever I am with my partner.”
“It’s not a safe environment”
“I can’t be sitting at home and letting things happen, I would prefer to make an effort and at least say I did something, I showed up,” said Estranha, 18.
According to the Office of National Statistics, one in two women feel at risk walking alone after dark, compared to one in seven men: “I am constantly turning my back to see if there’s anyone behind me, I can’t walk down the street alone sometimes, out of fear that I’m going to get attacked.”
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment to City News.
“I’m marching here today because I have two older sisters”
“I think of so many of my friends who have had to put up with things that they shouldn’t have had to put up with in the workplace and out on the streets,” tells Robin.
Talking about the police in mitigating the rising cases of sexual offences, he adds: “What depresses me with the police talking about violence against women is we still have this kind of presumption; it’s not taken seriously enough still.”
“I’m here to support my partner, showing solidarity for women’s rights”
“I can understand why women travelling around on their own at night feel more vulnerable to being hassled and also during the day as well, the fact that it exists makes people feel more self-conscious,” said one of the marchers.
“Why shouldn’t [women] be able to go out at night,” he ends.
As Keir Starmer in November pledged joint action to keep women and girls safe at night, figures recording violence against women and girls have continued to increase, now 37% higher since 2018.
Stevenson urges the significance of raising awareness: “People need to be aware of all systems of oppression and harm, how these all link together. In London women have always been at risk, but the risk is rising.”
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HeadlineUK Women’s March: ‘There is not one woman that I know that doesn’t have a story’
Short HeadlineWomen's March: 'I’m sharing my location wherever I am with my partner.'
StandfirstViolence against women and girls increased by 37% from 2018, with rape recorded every 1 hour across London.
Disclaimer: Content describes sexual assault.
Thousands of people attended the women’s march held on Saturday, protesting against the “disgraceful” increase in violence towards women.
“Lots of people are at risk of experiencing sexual or gender-based violence and young women are particularly high risk, and that’s because of the way that young women and even sometimes teenage women, are viewed in society,” said Professor Nicole Westmarland, Director of the Durham Centre for Research into Violence and Abuse to City News.
Charity Women’s Aid on February 6th this year holds the Public Policy Summit, an event aimed at bringing together survivors and and experts across business, academia, government as well as those on the frontlines of violence against women and girls.
“We need to have real discussions with officials who can bring about real change. Activists should be given a seat at the table. Survivors should be given a seat too and listened to,” said Patsy Stevenson, Campaigner and Women’s Rights Activist to City News.
“There’s been a massive rise in violence against women and girls, women face sexism on a daily basis in the UK,” said Elisa Rowland, Co-Organiser of the Women’s March in London.
Despite the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in half over the next decade, campaigners argue that more work needs to be done, in both awareness and action.
“We are here today, we have all come out onto the streets to say we’re not going to do this anymore, we’re not going to have this anymore.
“I think a lot of people choose to ignore the issues, a lot of people choose to not hear. I think this march is an opportunity for us to be the louder, people need to listen,” adds Rowland.
“There is not one woman that I know that doesn’t have a story”
“There is not one woman that I know that doesn’t have a story, that doesn’t have a history of abuse whether be sexual or violent abuse,” said one of the marchers.
“I try not to go anywhere on my own at night, which is a bit immobilising, I would like to be able to go places on my own.”
Mentioning the risks to women’s safety walking alone, she adds: “I’m sharing my location wherever I am with my partner.”
“It’s not a safe environment”
“I can’t be sitting at home and letting things happen, I would prefer to make an effort and at least say I did something, I showed up,” said Estranha, 18.
According to the Office of National Statistics, one in two women feel at risk walking alone after dark, compared to one in seven men: “I am constantly turning my back to see if there’s anyone behind me, I can’t walk down the street alone sometimes, out of fear that I’m going to get attacked.”
The Metropolitan Police declined to comment to City News.
“I’m marching here today because I have two older sisters”
“I think of so many of my friends who have had to put up with things that they shouldn’t have had to put up with in the workplace and out on the streets,” tells Robin.
Talking about the police in mitigating the rising cases of sexual offences, he adds: “What depresses me with the police talking about violence against women is we still have this kind of presumption; it’s not taken seriously enough still.”
“I’m here to support my partner, showing solidarity for women’s rights”
“I can understand why women travelling around on their own at night feel more vulnerable to being hassled and also during the day as well, the fact that it exists makes people feel more self-conscious,” said one of the marchers.
“Why shouldn’t [women] be able to go out at night,” he ends.
As Keir Starmer in November pledged joint action to keep women and girls safe at night, figures recording violence against women and girls have continued to increase, now 37% higher since 2018.
Stevenson urges the significance of raising awareness: “People need to be aware of all systems of oppression and harm, how these all link together. In London women have always been at risk, but the risk is rising.”
