Marching to end violence against women in city
PROTESTERS will be taking to the streets of Newcastle this weekend as part of an international campaign to end violence against women.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Northern is holding the annual Reclaim the Night march and rally in the city centre today.
Reclaim the Night is held every year to mark the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The TUC say violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent, and devastating human rights violations in our world today.
Between 2018 and 2020, 214 women were killed by a partner or ex-partner. Between 2019 and 2020, more than 600,000 women were victims of sexual assault.
Research by the TUC showed that more than half of working women have experienced sexual harassment at work. Younger women and those on zero-hours contracts were even more likely to be harassed.
Chair of the TUC Northern Women’s Group Pat Heron said: “This event is significant every year. But in light of the devastating murders of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa, the continued importance of the #MeToo campaign, and the recent increase in domestic violence rates, it feels more urgent than ever to raise awareness of the harassment, oppression and violence experienced by thousands of women every
day. I hope people from across the region will join us on Saturday to stand in solidarity and call for an end to this violence once and for all. The more of us on the streets this weekend, the stronger our voice will be.”
On Saturday TUC Northern, trade unions, local government, communitybased groups and individuals will stand together in Newcastle City Centre to raise awareness of the unacceptable statistics around violence against women, and call for it to end.
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, who is speaking at the event, said: “In the wake of the horrific deaths of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and sadly many others, women’s voices are getting louder, getting stronger and we’re all coming together in Newcastle on Saturday to fight for this and be heard.
“Women’s safety is a top priority for me and for our region and there’s lots of work happening to improve things for women at the times and places where they feel most vulnerable – on a night out, on our transport systems and in our parks when it gets dark. We need to change attitudes to really fix this though. Women want to feel and be safe and it’s time they are.”
It comes after Newcastle City Council unveiled a £300,000 plan to make people safer while on nights out in Newcastle.
The march will begin at 4pm at Old Eldon Square, before proceeding up Northumberland Street to the Civic Centre, where the rally will take place.
A candle-lit vigil will be held to remember all those lost to violence.