Features / VAWG
Candlelit vigil held to raise awareness of impact of violence against women and girls
A candlelit vigil to raise awareness of the impact and prevalence of male violence against women and girls (VAWG) was held on Monday, drawing crowds of more than 200 people.
The vigil which was held at College Green, was led by charity Next Link in collaboration with groups and services across Bristol who support people affected by domestic abuse.
Signs covering the vast issues that make it challenging to tackle VAWG – photo: Rob Browne
The occasion marks the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the launch of global 16 Days of Action.
is needed now More than ever
Next Link CEO Sarah O’Leary who led the march down from their offices to College Green said that the turn out “was the most amount of people they had ever had.”
Emily Clarke, a Labour councillor for Bedminster was the first of three speakers that night.
“I know everyone here will have their own story. Many of you will be survivors or will have close loved ones who are. Some of you may have lost people to domestic abuse and sexual violence.
“To the people whose stories we haven’t heard for the people feeling hurt, angry, in grief or despair, I want to say we see you and we stand with you.
“Some of you may have voices in your head telling you in some way that it was your fault, I want to remind each survivor and their loved ones that you were never to blame. Every time something felt wrong it was because it was wrong.
“It never should of happened and I’m so sorry that it did.”
The councillor then took a moment to reflect on the women across the world who are victims of conflict related harm and sexual violence.
Bristol City Council have promised to halve VAWG in ten years time, Emily pledged that she would do everything she can to keep this issue on the top of the agenda.
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The second speaker, Viv Gordon, a theatre maker and a survivor activist, read a monologue that came out of a research project they did using testimonies from a group of adult survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA).
The monologue is about coming out of isolation and into community. She described themes of being oppressed and going through that transformation of reclaiming joy.
Police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset Clare Moody gave the closing speech, in it she said: “This is still an urgent issue for us to deal with. We know the statistics, but these aren’t numbers, these are people, they’re the young girl that is anxious, that is afraid to go to school because of the harassment of the boys she will meet there.
“The woman fleeing her home with her children, fearing for their lives as they live. And it is those parents who mourning the lives of their daughters.
“Violence against woman and girls is not inevitable, and we must never accept that is might be. It can and must be prevented.
“This is an issue that I’ve been working on for a very long time. But when we talk about how we end this, we know there is not a simple answer to that.
“We must start with work in schools. We have to change those attitudes and the misplay in society and the assumption made about girls and women.”
Masses of people filled the hall of the Wills Memorial Building – photo: Hannah Massoudi
A minute’s silence was observed to allow gatherers to pay their respects to those who lives have been affected by domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault.
Two large candles were then lit to symbolise the girls and women killed by male violence, before two former service users read out their poetry and brought the vigil to a close with a song.
The evening came to a close with a song – photo: Hannah Massoudi
Next Link is a charity that provides a complete service for what a domestic violence victim may need, including running a safe house for women and families, safe houses for men, community outreach, dedicated services for children and young people and dedicated services for black and ethnic minorities.
The charity then has two other branches that come under the Next Link umbrella called Missing Link and Safe Link, the former is a mental health and housing service for women, and the latter provides support for victims of rape and sexual abuse, both are run from the same office.
The vigil was a collaboration of organisations across Bristol – photo Hannah Massoudi
Main photo: Rob Browne
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