On 17 and 24 November our vigil will focus on Violence against Women. You can read the text of our leflet here, or download it from the link below.
Today we are standing, alongside women in many cities and countries, in protest against male violence against women. Nov 25 : International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Male Violence Against Women In Peace Time
National: In the year to March 2020, 207 women were killed in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). This means about one in four killings were of women. The number of female victims was lower than in the previous year, when 241 women were killed – the highest number in a decade. In the year ending March 2020, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 4.9 million women had been victims of sexual assault in their lives. This included 1.4 million who had been raped, or had faced attempted rape. (ONS))
Global: An estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life (30 per cent of women aged 15 and older). This figure does not include sexual harassment. The rates of depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV are higher in women who have experienced violence compared to women who have not, as well as many other health problems that can last even after the violence has ended
1037 women are killed by a member of their family every day. It is estimated that of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, more than half (50,000) were killed by intimate partners or family members. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
Nov 25 – Dec 10 : Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the Global 16 Days https://16dayscampaign.org/
Dec 10 : Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948 WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
Women in Black is an international network of feminists committed to peace and justice, opposed to war, militarism and other kinds of violence. We call for an end to violence, whether its purpose is state power, economic advantage, male dominance or personal control. We work to build bridges in conflict and we choose nonviolence in our actions, believing that a more respectful, equal, just, co-operative and caring way of life is possible.
We invite men who see our vigil today to take responsibility for challenging and ending the social shaping of masculinity in violent forms. We appreciate the solidarity with women shown by the WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN www.whiteribbon.org.uk who say “We’re a group of men who know that there’s never an excuse for violence against women. We pledge never to condone it, or to stand by when we know it’s happening. We’re part of a worldwide movement. There are thousands of us”. Join today!
Womenin Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue,
opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London WC2. Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black. We welcome all women who support our call for an end to militarism and war.
Contact us: Twitter @WIB_London FB @womeninblack.london http://london.womeninblack.org/
Donations for leaflets most welcome