Call for urgent change amid ‘epidemic’ of violence against women and girls

Campaigners are calling for urgent change amid an “epidemic” of violence against women and girls.

Bristol Women’s Commission chairwoman Penny Gane described a “perfect storm” for women’s rights equality and safety as she highlighted stark figures.

“In a single year in Avon & Somerset, there were five domestic homicides and six suicides in the context of domestic abuse,” Gane told members at a full council meeting

“In 2019 in Bristol more than 11,000 incidents of domestic violence were recorded where women were the victims, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

She said the real figure was five times greater and that Black, Asian and minority ethnic and disabled sufferers of abuse were less likely to report it.

Gane added: “There is an epidemic of violence against women and girls at the hands of men and boys.

“This needs to be at the top of everyone’s agenda, every council department, all our partners and stakeholders, our businesses and our communities.”

Meanwhile, more than 20 Bristol schools and colleges were named earlier this year among thousands of anonymous reports of sexual assault and harassment posted by victims on a website called Everyone’s Invited, which aims to expose “rape culture” in the UK.

Councillors pledged to restore the city’s White Ribbon status, which lapsed in 2015, two years after Bristol became part of the accreditation scheme run by a charity of the same name that works to engage men and boys to end violence against women.

Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS) is launching a campaign to tackle sexual violence against women and girls – as part of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – and is calling for public support.

The charity is focussing on the rights of women and girls to reclaim their right to live free from the threat and reality of rape, sexual abuse and sexual harassment at home, in the workplace and school, on the streets and in our communities.

SARSAs is focussing on the rights of women and girls to reclaim their right to live free from the threat and reality of rape, sexual abuse and sexual harassment – photo courtesy of SARSAs

SARSAs CEO Claire Bloor says urgent change is needed to address the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Speaking at the full council meeting, Labour cabinet member for women Helen Holland said it’s time to redouble efforts to tackle gender-based violence. She said Avon & Somerset’s new chief constable Sarah Crew agreed this was a “watershed moment” and that things must change.

Ani Stafford-Townsend, a Green councillor for central ward, said: “Quite rightly the conversation must centre female voices and be led by female voices, all female voices.

“But the change we need for women, girls and those perceived female isn’t just our battle. It is the battle of all of us sat here.”

White Ribbon Day on Thursday will launch a 16-day campaign to end violence against women, asking people in their communities, organisations and workplaces to come together and say ‘no’ to violence against women.

https://twitter.com/SARSAS_uk/status/1463071084002091010

Claire Bloor will be joined in conversation by writer, activist and SARSAS Patron Laura Bates on Thursday to discuss what needs to happen to bring about urgent change in the epidemic of violence against women and girls.

“At SARSAS, we believe that everyone has the right to live a life free from rape and sexual abuse,” said Boor. “Let’s reclaim the rights of all women and girls to live free from sexual violence, not just for the next 16 days but every day and wherever they are in the world.”

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol

Read more: New book documents the history of the fight against domestic violence 

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