Flash mob in Oldham in a stand against violence towards women
Action to end violence against women (published 26/11/19)
I in 4 women in the UK experiences domestic violence in her lifetime
On average 2 women a week are killed by their partner or ex-partner
25th November is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – this opens 16 days of activism against gender based violence which ends on the 10th December, Human Rights Day
On Saturday 23rd November 2019 Inspire Women Oldham, Young Women Changemakers and Oldham Women’s Labour joined together to remember women who have lived through violence and those who have died as a result. We highlighted actions needed to challenge violence against women and in particular the need to invest in services like Women’s Refuges and organisations that support women and campaign to make it unacceptable to carry out gender based violence.
On Saturday 23rd November 2019 about 70 women marched from the Women’s Centre to Parliament Square, Oldham, to mark the day and to hear calls for action based on the lived experience of women in Oldham. We laid a wreath in memory of women who have been murdered by their partners at Annie Kenney’s statue.
The theme for the day in 2019 is: Orange the World: Generation Equality Stands against Rape!. Women participating in the event wore orange and our wreath was orange to support this.
Amy Gavin (who played Annie Kenney in the BBC programme ‘Suffragettes’) choreographed a flash mob and women from Young Women Changemakers and Inspire women called for action to end violence against women.
“There is no doubt that local government funding cuts along with cuts to services has impacted negatively on women and their children in Oldham and across the UK. More than 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse during her lifetime- that is 1.3 million women under 60 in the last year alone. 173 deaths in 2018, the highest number for five years. Women are calling the police and they are not turning up. Abusers are breaching bail and not being arrested these are the true stories. Legal aid has been cut, Women are turned away from refuges because they are full. Money for prevention work has all but dried up … this stuff makes a difference- enough is enough”
Debbie Abrahams joined the protest and called for an end to violence and coercive control.
More information about the United Nations campaign is here: www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/what%20we%20do/evaw/16-days-2019-concept-note-en.pdf?la=en&vs=1538
Published 23/11/19 :
Over 70 women marched through Oldham town centre and gathered at Parliament Square under Annie Kenny’s Statue this morning. They were standing together to stop violence against women. It was organised by Inspire Women Oldham to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Monday.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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