Your say / domestic violence
‘We need to keep talking about violence against women and girls’
**Content Warning: Domestic and sexual violence**
As women, our lives have been shaped by the constant awareness of men’s violence.
We’ve both had those moments where we felt our heart quicken on a quiet street, clutching our keys, or texting a friend when we got home just to make sure someone knew we made it back safely.
is needed now More than ever
And if, as a woman or non-binary person, you’re reading this, you’ve probably had those moments too.
We’re taught these “safety measures” from a young age but, deep down, we know they don’t truly keep us safe.
The Bristol Feminist Collective, pictured here during a march in 2022, march annually on International Women’s Day – photo: Rob Browne
This isn’t just about personal fear: it’s about living in a world where the reality of men’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) is ever-present in our lives.
The statistics are stark—71 per cent of women have experienced sexual harassment in public places, 1 in 4 women have experienced sexual assault as an adult and 47 per cent of girls and young women aged 7-21 feel unsafe due to sexism. A woman is killed by a man every 3 days.
This isn’t something that happens to someone else. It’s our collective experience, and we need to keep talking about it.
View this post on Instagram
Across Avon and Somerset, there are seven reported rapes and 63 domestic violence incidents a day. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
We know many survivors never come forward due to feelings of shame or stigma or fear of not being believed.
Every number in these statistics represents the life of a real person and the lives of those who know and love them, devastated by violence.
Across Avon and Somerset, there are seven reported rapes and 63 domestic violence incidents a day – photo: Martin Booth
The trauma from domestic and sexual violence can be both life-changing and lifelong.
It affects everything—mental health, family life, work, and community. The cost to society is huge.
We’ve seen the ripple effects in our own lives, whether it’s ourselves, a friend, a family member or someone we represent.
It’s estimated that one in 20 people in England and Wales are perpetrators of VAWG every year, though the real number is likely much higher.
These are people who interact with healthcare, schools and local authorities but opportunities to intervene are missed.
These missed chances often mean more lives damaged by abuse and violence.
View this post on Instagram
To be clear: men can also be victims of domestic and sexual violence and they deserve the same support and access to justice.
However, women are disproportionately affected and 91 per cent of people prosecuted for sexual offences are men.
Many rapes happen in the victim’s own home, most commonly by someone they know, challenging the belief that it’s about being in the ‘wrong place at the wrong time’.
This isn’t about whether we walk home alone at night; it’s a deep-seated cultural problem. This is why it’s so important to keep talking about VAWG, not just as councillors but as individuals who want to see a better world.
Every year, on the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, Next Link hosts a candlelit vigil – photo: Next Link
We can’t just rely on governments and the police to fix this issue. It starts with all of us.
We need to challenge the offhand comments, the so-called ‘jokes’ that normalise misogyny.
We need to teach our sons and the men in our lives how to respect boundaries, accept rejection and treat women as equals, not objects.
View this post on Instagram
The Labour Government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls and, here in Bristol, we’re also trying to play our part.
In July, Bristol Labour councillors put forward a motion, which was passed with cross-party support, to ensure the council has tackling VAWG at the top of its agenda.
This includes making sure all councillors and staff are trained to recognise the signs of domestic abuse and know how to respond to disclosures along with ensuring funding for specialist organisations.
We believe Bristol can lead the way on VAWG and will continue to work with the council, local police and specialist organisations to make sure this urgent issue is addressed.
We must also ensure that the approach is inclusive and recognises the additional barriers often faced by disabled women, women of colour, LGBTQ+ people and women from marginalised backgrounds when it comes to accessing support and justice for their experiences.
We will be joining the vigil hosted by specialist organisations on Monday November 25.
A minute’s silence will be observed to allow gatherers to pay their respects to those whose lives have been affected by domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault.
We will honour them and continue to campaign. We won’t stop until every woman and girl in Bristol and beyond can live their life free from the threat of violence and abuse.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse or sexual violence, support is available.
Next Link (Bristol & South Glos): 0800 4700 280
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
The Bridge (Rape and Sexual Assault Support): 0117 342 6999
Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS): 0808 801 0456
This is an opinion piece by Emily Clarke, Labour councillor for Bedminster; and Lisa Durston, Labour councillor for Filwood
Main photo: Bristol Labour
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
