March to be held in Derry demanding end to gender-based violence
The Reclaim the Night movement will hold simultaneous marches in the two cities for the first time in its history
Hundreds of people will take to the streets of Derry and Belfast this Saturday (November 30) to demand an end to gender-based violence.
The Reclaim the Night movement will hold simultaneous marches in the two cities for the first time in its history.
The event, the 11th since it was revived in 2014, takes place against a backdrop of increasing violence against women across Northern Ireland, with six women being murdered this year.
Crowds will gather at both Ebrington Square andWriters Square to hear from speakers on issues around gender based violence, before marching through the city streets reclaiming public space for all.
The marches will take place at around 5.30pm.
Co-Organiser Danielle Roberts said that Reclaim the Night movement was building on decades of similar actions by motivated women, adding it was continuing to grow from strength to strength.
“While Stormont has returned and has launched the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which we welcome, we need to see how this will be implemented and resourced. Disappointingly Relationship and Sexuality Education, which should include teaching young people about healthy relationships and consent, is delayed again by a ‘mini-inquiry’ despite the law changing five years ago."
Helen Crickard of Reclaim the Agenda said the movement’s 16 Days programme runs from the International Day to End Violence Against Women on November 25 to Human Rights Day on December 10 with a range of talks, workshops and webinars.
She added: “In the past year we’ve seen an increase in racist hate crime and intimidation, a recent string of attacks in Derry, and six women murdered. We also note the disproportionate impact of conflicts around the world on women in places like Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine and many more.’”
Kellie Turtle, chair of Reclaim the Agenda concluded: “Reclaim the Night is a chance for us to hear how Gender Based Violence impacts particular groups, as well as a space for us to come together in solidarity with victims and survivors. On Saturday we’ll be raising our collective voices across the province and reclaiming public space for all.”
The original Reclaim the Night rally took place on the streets of Leeds in 1977 as a protest against the West Yorkshire police’s advice to women to stay at home at night in response to 13 murders carried out by the Yorkshire Ripper.
Feminists in Belfast held a number of events in the 1980’s before it was revived ten years ago in the midst of rising levels of sexual violence and assault. The campaign has expanded to include all gender-based violence.
For more information visit Reclaim the Night Belfast 2024 — Reclaim the Agenda